Topics in the History of Philosophy

An advanced seminar that involves the careful study of some particular movement, philosopher, or issue in the history of philosophy. Examples: Aristotle, Ibn Sina, Kant, German Idealism, theories of causation in Indian philosophy, vice in the global history of philosophy. The topic of this seminar is the philosophy of David Hume [1711- 1776], often considered to be the greatest philosopher to have written in English. Specific sub- topics for examination and discussion include Hume’s treatments of mental representation, space and time, inductive reasoning, belief, probability, causation, knowledge of the external world, epistemic normativity, free will, motivation, moral epistemology, moral normativity, natural virtues, justice, politics, and economics. Recurring themes will include the nature and consequences of his empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism and the systematic interrelations among the various elements of his philosophy. Emphasis will be placed throughout on Hume's significance for issues in contemporary philosophy.