Philosophy 100: Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2003
Prof. David A. Salomon

M, 3/3-F, 3/7: No Classes: "Spring Break"

M, 3/10: G. Lynn Stephens, "Descartes and the Problem of Our Knowledge of the External World," 237-260
W, 3/12: Plato, "The Allegory of the Cave," reserve reading
F, 3/14: Rene Descartes, "Meditations on the First Philosophy," 261-270

Ethics
M, 3/17: James Rachels, "Nietzsche and the Objectivity of Morals," 385-414
W, 3/19: Friedrich Nietzsche, Selections, 414-423
F, 3/21: Peter Singer, "Justifying Voluntary Euthanasia," reserve reading

M, 3/24: Gregory Pence, "Four Questions About Ethics," reserve reading
    Begin film: "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
W, 3/26: Film: "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
F, 3/28: Conclude film: "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and discussion
    Aristotle, selections from Ethica Nichomachea, reserve reading
    Article on "Crimes and Misdemeanors," handout coming

Postmodern Philosophy and Postmodern Literature and Film
M, 3/31: Introduction to Postmodernism/What is Beauty?
    Reread Rachels, "Nietzsche’s Perspectivism," 394-98
W, 4/2: Frederic Jameson, from "Postmodernism and Consumer Society," handout*
F, 4/4: Jean Baudrillard, Simulations

M, 4/7: Jean Baudrillard, Simulations
W, 4/9: Jean Baudrillard, Simulations
F, 4/11: Jean Baudrillard, Simulations
    **Essay Two Due

M, 4/14: Film, "Synthetic Pleasures"
W, 4/16: Film, "Synthetic Pleasures"
F, 4/18: No Classes: Good Friday

M, 4/21: No Classes: Easter Monday
W, 4/23: Michael Bérubé, from "Public Access," handout*
F, 4/25: Terry Harpold, "Conclusions," handout*
    Michael Joyce, from "afternoon, a story," handout*

M, 4/28: Film, "Run Lola Run"
W, 4/30: Film, "Run Lola Run"
F, 5/2: Film, "Run Lola Run" and discussion
    Last Day of Class

*from Postmodern American Fiction: A Norton Anthology. Ed. Paula Geyh, Fred G. Leebron, Andrew Levy. New York: Norton, 1998.