Spring 2006. MWF, 11:15-12:05, Herter 113.
Prof. Brad Skow. (follow link for contact information.)
Schedule subject to change; check this page for updates.
Last update: 30 March 2006
"(CP)" indicates readings in the course pack; "(L)" indicates readings in LePoidevin and MacBeath.
| 2/1 | Introduction | |
| Time and Space | ||
| 2/3 | Schlesinger, Chapter 1 | |
| 2/6 | Pryor, Guidelines on Reading Philosophy Schlesinger, Chapter 1, continued |
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| 2/8 | Quinton, "Spaces and Times" (L) | |
| 2/10 | Class Discussion | |
| Time's Passage | ||
| 2/13 | Schlesinger, Chapter 2 | |
| 2/15 | Smart, "The River of Time'' [jstor] | |
| 2/17 | Pryor, Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper Schlesinger, Chapter 2, continued |
|
| 2/21 | Mellor, "Thank Goodness That's Over" | Assignment 1 due |
| 2/22 | Prior, "Changes in Events and Changes in Things" (L) | |
| 2/24 | Class Discussion | |
| McTaggart and the Unreality of Time | ||
| 2/27 | McTaggart, "The Unreality of Time" (L) | |
| 3/1 | Schlesinger, Chapter 3 | |
| 3/3 | Class Discussion: Time Travel | |
| Other Topics | ||
| 3/6 | Shoemaker, "Time Without Change" (L) | Assignment 2 due |
| 3/8 | Dummett, "Bringing about the Past" (L) | Course Packet Available |
| 3/10 | Class Discussion | |
| 3/13 | Discussion of Assignment 2 | Assignment 3 distributed |
| 3/15 | Lewis, "The Paradoxes of Time Travel" (L) | |
| 3/17 | Macbeath, "Time's Square" (L) | Assignment 3 due |
| Fatalism | ||
| 3/27 | Taylor, "Fatalism" | |
| 3/29 | Van Inwagen, An Essay on Free Will Chapter 2 (CP) | |
| 3/31 | Van Inwagen, continued | |
| 4/3 | Class Discussion | |
| Time and Well-Being | ||
| 4/5 | Feldman, Pleasure and the Good Life chapter 1 (CP) Kagan, Normative Ethics pp.30-41 (CP) Heathwood, "Desire Satisfactionism and Hedonism", first three paragraphs of section 2 |
Assignment 4 distributed |
| 4/7 | Slote, "Goods and Lives" (CP) | |
| 4/10 | Velleman, "Well-Being and Time," pp. 56-74 (CP) | Assignment 4 due |
| 4/12 | Velleman, "Well-Being and Time," continued | Paper Topics |
| 4/14 | Velleman, "Well-Being and Time," continued; | |
| Rationality and Time | ||
| 4/19 | Parfit, Reasons and Persons pp.3-4; 117-126 (CP) | |
| 4/21 | Parfit 149-158 | |
| 4/24 | Parfit 158-165 | |
| 4/26 | No class; instructor away | |
| 4/28 | No class; instructor away | |
| 5/1 | Parfit 165-174 | |
| 5/3 | Parfit 174-186 | |
| 5/5 | Kelly, Sunk Costs, Rationality, and Acting for the Sake of the Past | |
| 5/8 | Kelly, continued | |
| 5/10 | Class Discussion | |
| Other Topics | ||
| 5/12 | Harman, "Desire Across Time" | Papers due |
| 5/15 | New, "Time and Punishment" (CP) Smilansky, "The Time to Punish" |
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| 5/17 | Class Discussion | |
| 5/25 | Final Exam, 8:00am, Bartlett 206 |