Office: A204-I, phone x4528                                                            Office hrs: M,W  11:30-12:30
Home phone: 243-8261 M,                                                                                     W     4:30- 5:30
E-mail: moen@mail.hartford.edu                                                                            R     2:00- 4:00
Homepage: moen@mail.hartford.edu/~moen                                              & by appointment

 I. Description of Course Content: This course concentrates on major thinkers and themes
    during the "classical" period of American philosophy (1870-1945) in the United States. It
    sets the background for the classical period by introducing some earlier U.S. thinkers, and
    then turns to its focus on C.S. Peirce, William James, Josiah Royce, John Dewey and G.H.
    Mead. It includes also W.E.B. Du Bois, Alain Locke, Jane Addams, Charlotte P. Gilman,
    and George Santayana. The purpose of the course is to reach an understanding of the
    authors’ reasoning—an understanding that is both empathic and critical, and is mindful of
    the historical and cultural contexts to which the authors were responding. The course ends
    with discussion of the contemporary renewal of interest in "pragmatism"—the most
    distinctive strand of American philosophy—and diverse directions present within that renewal.

II. Texts:
    A. Required texts for purchase:
          1. Stuhr, John, ed. Classical American Philosophy: Essential Readings and
                Interpretive Essays. Oxford & New York: Oxford UP, 1987. [hereafter "Stuhr"]

2. Rosenthal, Sandra, C.Hausman and D Anderson, eds. Classical American
    Pragmatism: Its Contemporary Vitality. Chicago: U Illinois Press, 1999.
    [hereafter "RHA"]

• Other materials on reserve for the course in Mortenson will be mentioned
    from time to time as recommended readings. These materials will also
    serve as good starting points for your research papers.

III. Goals and Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course will be
        able to meet the following objectives:
 
          • to identify main themes of classical American philosophy, its major
            contributors, and some specific contributions of each of the latter
          • to identify historical and cultural conditions in and through which those
            themes emerged, and those contributors attained voice and recognition
          • to compare and contrast distinct agendas and methodologies put
            forward by different thinkers within our classical period (1870-1945

• to read and understand primary source material in philosophy, by practicing
    both  modes of analytical reading: the empathic and the critical
• to extract significant concepts and arguments from primary texts
• to begin to evaluate these arguments with regard to their strengths and
   limitations; their implications   for further inquiry; and their potential impact
    on ‘real-world’ issues

• to conduct inquiry for a short independent project. This means to sense the
   presence of a conceptual and/or practical problem; to specify the problem;
   to gather relevant  information as needed and interpret that information
   conceptually
• to assess the results of the inquiry project and to suggest further directions
   of inquiry

• to express the results of interpretive study, and the results of inquiry, in prose
   that is clear, logically sound, and effectively structured.

These specific course objectives are in keeping the the general goals of the
Philosophy Department, which are to foster students’ growth in four areas:
(1) basic knowledge of philosophical history and practice; (2) analytical-interpretive
reading; (3) design and conduct of inquiry; and (4) expression/communication,
especially in speech and writing.
 

• Ten (10) "daily" writing assignments @ 10 points each                       100 points
These will average 1-2 pages each.

• Three (3) take-home exams (essays) @ 100 points each                   300 points
These should be 3-5 pages each.

• Independent research paper, 8-10 pages                                              100 points
You will also report briefly to the class on your research.

• Participation: attendance, appropriate participation in class
discussions and small-group work, occasional on-line
assignments, and maintenance of a "portfolio" consisting
of your collected written work for the course.                                           100 points

                                                                                                            total: 600 points

1. Attend every class. Have assignments for the day completed. Be respectful of
    your  co-learners  (classmates and professor).

          Ordinarily late assignments will suffer a grade penalty and will not be
           accepted at all after one week. (Penalty: 20 points for each late day on
           exams and papers worth 100 points; 2 points per late day on daily writing
           assignments worth 10 points each.) Exceptions will be made in special
           circumstances such as serious illness, travel with athletic teams, etc.

2. You are encouraged to study together; you may brainstorm together in
    preparation  for papers; but in the end, your written work must be your own.
    Plagiarism consists of presenting someone else’s work as though it were
    your own. The penalty is failure for the entire course. While working on your
    independent research paper, be sure to  use proper documentation. Ask
    for advice if you are uncertain.

VII. Other Relevant Information Regarding Assignments: