Eric Palmer Philosophy Main Page Philosophy and Religious Studies Department Page
Eric Palmer
Courses
Current and forthcoming courses (further material is available only if there is a link).
College-wide courses
Freshman Seminar: Rights, Rebellion and Civil Disobedience. Fall 2004
All resources for this course
When might it be right to rebel or disobey the law? Political theories of justice with regard for rebellion and civil disobedience, and related historical events will be studied. Representative authors include Martin Luther King, Lani Guinier, Huey Newton, and Mikhail Bakunin; relevant events include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the case of Mumia Abu Jamal, the condition of women in contemporary Afghani society, and recent events related to the Austrian government. This course has a substantial student-produced web component. Click here to see details.
Freshman First Seminar: The Evolution of Social Organization. Fall 2000, MW 12:00-1:15
Syllabus Fall 2000
Web Resources for the course
Why do people arrange themselves in the social units that they do? The evolutionary basis for the origins of family structure is clear: though the point requires careful study, it seems evident that families have been necessary to support the successful growth of children. An evolutionary explanation then follows: Families became common because those who tended to choose other forms of social organization didn't survive. But why does government happen? Can this sort of argument also be applied to a higher level of social organization? This course will investigate the thesis that governments, and even democracy, may have arisen as they have done despite human intentions: The stable structure of organization of government may provide a clearer explanation for its development than does human striving.
Philosophy Courses
130 Values and Knowledge Section 2, Fall 2005, MWF 11-11:50
Course information/syllabus page
An introduction to the connections between the values and the ways of knowing
(Professor Bywater teaches this course also, at a parallel time, and we switch classes half-way through the semester)
that are characteristic of modern western culture. The course focuses upon the
pursuit and justification of knowledge and scientific understanding, and the ethical
and political values that are implicit in those endeavors.150 Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge, next taught Spring 2006
Syllabus: Spring 2004What do you really know, and how can you justify your claims to know? This
course examines the ways in which philosophers have attempted to answer these
questions. It considers skepticism about the possibility of any certain knowledge,
presents analysis of reasonable and unreasonable uses and interpretations of the
term "truth," and explores recent failed attempts to provide foundations for
knowledge in empirical evidence.
230 Science in its Cultural Setting, To be next taught 2005-6 year
Syllabus Fall 2005
A study of the activities of scientists and the process of scientific theory
development. Cultural and philosophical grounds for the historical development of
science are of primary concern. Each time the course is offered it focuses upon
one or two revolutionary episodes in the history of science, such as the
Copernican revolution, the scientific revolution, the chemical revolution, the
Darwinian revolution, or 20th century biology. Prerequisite: One course in natural
science or permission of the instructor.
240 Mind and Brain, To be next taught 2006 spring
A philosophical exploration of historical and 20th century attempts to understand
Syllabus Fall 2001
Laboratory and exam documents, Fall 2001
and to model human thought. A study of episodes in the long tradition of the study
of mind and brain in philosophy is connected to current work within the
disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Students
read the writings of past and contemporary philosophers and practitioners within
the other disciplines mentioned. Prerequisites: Philosophy 130 or 150 or
permission of the instructor.
270 Early Modern Philosophy: Science and Knowledge, Next offered 2006-7
Syllabus: Spring 2005
A study of translated writings from European thinkers of the 17th and 18th
centuries on epistemology, the description of the human mind, and the justification
of scientific understanding. Authors may include Galileo, Descartes, Leibniz,
Locke, Hume, and Kant. The authors present positions relevant to a number of
philosophical movements, including the Mechanical Philosophy, Rationalism,
Empiricism, and Transcendental Philosophy. Prerequisites: Philosophy 130 or
150 or permission of the instructor.
310 Global Justice Next taught Spring 06
An examination of the difficulties facing the ideals of democracy, international aid
and development as global and multicultural movements
451 Social and Political Philosophies, (Professor Bywater ordinarily teaches this course)
A study of contemporary issues in social and political philosophy such as the
meaning and impact of postmodernism and current criticisms of liberalism.
Prerequisite: Philosophy 130, 140 and 150.
452 Theory of Knowledge, To be next taught 2006-7 year
An advanced seminar focused upon topics within contemporary epistemology or
philosophy of science. Prerequisite: Philosophy 130, 140 and 150.
580 Junior Group Tutorial, To be next taught 2005-6 year
An advanced study of a problem or central figure in philosophy. Course content
changes substantially from year to year. See instructor for details.
590 Independent Study: Taught on Request. Please come with your own syllabus ideas.
600 Senior Project Tutorial: taught to advisees
Preparation for the Senior Project; preliminary research and project proposal
including a discussion of how work done outside the department for the major will
be integrated into the project. Credit: Two semester hours. To be taken on a
Credit/No Credit basis.
605 Senior Project: taught to advisees
Final research, presentation, and defense of the Senior Project.
Expectations for student work may be found here.No, not Jean-Paul Sartre
Eric Palmer Philosophy Main Page Philosophy and Religious Studies Department Page