Phil 492: Problem of Evil Seminar Reading Schedule, Spring 2003

Course Introduction
F, 1/10: Introduction

What’s it all about?
M, 1/13: Establishing course parameters:
    ML xiv-xxx
    What is Philosophy?
    What is Theology?
    What’s the difference?
    Why is the Problem of Evil a problem?
    Select paper dates in class

The Pesky God Question
W, 1/15: Swinburne, Is There A God? 1-47
F, 1/17: Swinburne, Is There A God? 69-141 (skim 48-68 when you have a chance)

M, 1/20: No Classes: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

The Genesis of Judeo-Christian Theodicy (with a quick overview of Christian history)
W, 1/22: Genesis 1-11 (please read in either the RSV or NRSV version)
F, 1/24: The 50 minute introduction to Christian history

M, 1/27: Job (please read in its entirety in either the RSV or NRSV version)

What the Ancients Said
W, 1/29: Seneca, ‘"On Providence’" ML 19-22
    Epictetus, Encheiridion ML 23-27
    Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heretics ML 28-34
F, 1/31: Sextus Empiricus, ‘"God’" ML 35-37
    Plotinus, ‘"Providence: First Treatise’" ML 38-45
    Lactantius, The Wrath of God ML 46-52

The Christian Middle Ages
M, 2/3: Augustine, City of God ML 53-61
    Augustine, "The Problem of Free Choice" handout
    Pseudo-Dionysius, On the Divine Names ML 62-66
    Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy ML 69-74

Philosophy Before the Theodicy Concept
W, 2/5: Anselm of Canterbury, On the Fall of the Devil ML 78-81
    Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica ML 95-102
    Thomas Aquinas, "On Evil" handout

More on Job
F, 2/7: Moses Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed ML 88-94
    Martin Luther, Preface to the Book of Job ML 135
    John Calvin, The Institutes ML 140-144
    Julian of Norwich, Showings ML 123-128

First Thoughts on Justification
M, 2/10: John Milton, Paradise Lost ML 155-162

Ah, Theodicy
W, 2/12: The Lisbon Earthquake–article to come (handout)
F, 2/14: Longer Paper Discussion: Emilee Shultee
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

M, 2/17: No Classes: Presidents’ Day
W, 2/19: Pierre Bayle, "Manicheans"; Note D ML 184-190
    G.W. Leibniz, Theodicy ML 191-200
    EMT 113-128
F, 2/21: Longer Paper Discussion: Rebekah McClaskey
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

M, 2/24: Longer Paper Discussion: Jessie Polenz
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle
W, 2/26: Longer Paper Discussion: Sarah Cozort
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle
F, 2/28: EMT 1-18
   **Midterm Examinations Due

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

M, 3/10: Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man ML 201-203
    Voltaire, "The Lisbon Earthquake" ML 204-209
    Jean-Jacques Rousseau, "Letter" ML 210-215
    EMT 14-57
W, 3/12: Longer Paper Discussion: Megan Mohr
Be prepared to discuss and wrangle
   **Essay One Due
F, 3/14: Longer Paper Discussion: Francie Michels
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

The Move to Modernity
M, 3/17: Friedrich Nietzsche, "On the Genealogy of Morality," ML 283-290
W, 3/19: Longer Paper Discussion: Sarah Turner
    Be prepared to discuss and wrangle
F, 3/21: Longer Paper Discussion: Kyra Richendifer
Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

Freud’s Take on Religion and Evil
M, 3/24: Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion, I-V
W, 3/26: Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion, VI-X
    EMT 227-237
F, 3/28: Longer Paper Discussion: Karl Lehman
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

M, 3/31: Longer Paper Discussion: Heather Hansen
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

Jung’s Interpretation of Evil
W, 4/2: Carl Jung, "Introduction," JE 1-21
    "The Problem of the Fourth," JE 49-71
F, 4/4: Jung, "Two Letters to Father Victor White," JE 72-83
    "The Shadow," JE 95-97

M, 4/7: Jung, "Answer to Job," JE 119-173
    Ronald Hayman, excerpt from his A Life of Jung, handout attached
W, 4/9: Longer Paper Discussion: Greg Bischoff
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle
F, 4/11: Longer Paper Discussion: Tina Beguin
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

M, 4/14: Longer Paper Discussion: Reggie Hunt
   Be prepared to discuss and wrangle

The Holocaust (handouts from here forward will be distributed in class in late March)

W, 4/16: Read Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz–text will be discussed and referred to during the next few meetings
    Theodor Adorno, "Meditations on Metaphysics," handout
    Franklin Sherman, "Speaking of God after Auschwitz," handout
F, 4/18: No Classes: Good Friday

M, 4/21: No Classes: Easter Holiday
W, 4/23: C.S. Lewis, "Animal Pain," ML 329-333
    Peter Singer, excerpts from Animal Liberation, handout
F, 4/25: Emmanuel Levinas, "Useless Suffering," handout
    Karl Rahner, Does God Allow Us To Suffer?" handout
    Please read Diego Gambetta, "Primo Levi’s Last Moments," available at http://bostonreview.mit.edu/BR24.3/gambetta.html
    **Essay Two Due

M, 4/28: Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, excerpt from Hitler’s Willing Executioners, handout
    Emil L. Fackenheim, "The Holocaust and Philosophy," handout

September 11^th
W, 4/30: George Lakoff, "Metaphors of Terror," handout
    Mark C. Taylor, "Awe and Anxiety," handout
F, 5/2: Carl Jung, "After the Catastrophe," 181-199
    Charles Bernstein, "Report from Liberty Street," handout
    Last Day of Class