PHIL 322
Hume's "Treatise of Human Nature"
Last Offered Spring 2014
Division II Writing Skills
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Class Details

Hume’s A Treatise of Human Nature, one of the greatest books in the history of philosophy, still exerts a considerable influence on contemporary epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of science, philosophy of action, ethics and moral psychology. Unfortunately, the relevance of Hume’s ideas and arguments for particular philosophical disciplines has too often led to a piece-meal reading of his work: the three books of Treatise (“Of the Understanding,” “Of the Passions” and “Of Morals”) are typically considered in isolation from one another. Epistemologists don’t seem to think that Hume’s account of human psychology, morality and taste can in any way illuminate his treatment of skepticism and natural belief, while moral philosophers often neglect Hume’s conclusions about the limits of our knowledge in analyzing his conception of motivation, action, obligation and virtue. In contrast with this interpretive tendency, this tutorial will focus on Hume’s” science of human nature”–his overall philosophical project in Treatise–and cultivate the discussion of different philosophical issues and arguments in light of this general aim of the work as a whole. We will start by situating Hume’s project within the historical tradition in which he thought and against which Treatise was directed. For clarification and discussion of the points made in Treatise, we will read parts of Hume’s later works, especially the two Enquiries. Our reading of Hume will be supplemented by historical and interpretive essays on his work. Throughout the course, our focus will be on three broad issues: Hume’s conception of theoretical rationality, his conception of practical rationality, and his views about the role and relevance of non-rational (on some readings, irrational) elements in a good life of a wise person.
The Class: Format: tutorial; one two-hours long seminar meeting in the first week of classes; in subsequent weeks, tutorial pairs will meet with the instructor for 75 minutes a week
Limit: 10
Expected: 10
Class#: 3340
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: each student will write a 5-page paper every second week, and comment on the tutorial partner's paper on alternate weeks; in the last week of classes, all students will write a paper and comment on the tutorial partner's paper
Extra Info: may not be taken on a pass/fail basis; not available for the Gaudino option
Prerequisites: PHIL 202 and two other PHIL courses; or permission of the instructor
Enrollment Preferences: Philosophy majors
Distributions: Division II Writing Skills

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