Philosophy Overview: The Philosophy of William James
Instructor Information:
Dr. Bruce Umbaugh
office: Pearson House basement phone: 961-2660 x7826 (office)
968-7170 (PHIL office)
e-mail: bumbaugh@webster.edu office hours: Tu 11:30-12:00
and by appointment
Course Description:
William James was at the height of his career as public and professional philosopher a century ago, having already contributed mightily to establishing psychology as an independent discipline. He wrote and gave speeches for a popular audience, gave expression to the peculiarly American philosophical doctrine of pragmatism, and left his intellectual imprint on generations of professional philosophers.
Although he strove to make his work understandable for ordinary, educated people, he nevertheless tackled the deep philosophical issues:
Although he coined the term, "pragmatism," he wrote no single, canonical work expressing his views (not even Pragmatism). In the Overview, we will aim to discern what pragmatism is and what is involved in adopting it as a philosophical approach; to appreciate James' application of the doctrine to several key philosophical problems; to consider some of the objections to his approach; to understand James' overall positive philosophy; and, ultimately, to evaluate James' theory and central claims. We will read a number of James' "essays in popular philosophy," his unfinished introductory textbook, and his Hibbert Lectures on "the Present Situation in Philosophy." In addition, we will read the work of several others responding to James-mainly as selected by students in the Overview.
Textbooks
Required (all by William James):
Some Problems of Philosophy: A Beginning of an Introduction to Philosophy.
A Pluralistic Universe.
The Will to Believe and other essays in popular philosophy.
Recommended:
On Berkeley, Bruce Umbaugh, Wadsworth, 2000.
On Kant, Garrett Thomson, Wadsworth, 1999.
I expect that some details of the course will be negotiated with students. Some will be ruthlessly imposed by me. Details ruthlessly imposed include the intended reading schedule below, the requirement that students taking the course to fulfill their overview requirement complete a substantial, professional-style paper, that student papers be discussed in a collegial fashion with those associated with the department during our final examination period, and the expectation that other requirements involve a mix of written and oral work. Some aspects of the schedule are negotiable, I expect. The precise nature and the mix of "other" work are open for discussion the first week of the course. I'll say some more about that--including my thoughts about what other forms of work seem possible--at the first class meeting.
Schedule:
January 18 Introduction.
20 Some Problems of Modern Philosophy.(1)
25 Kant.
27 After Kant.
February 01 Philosophy, Being, Percepts, Concepts. Read Some Problems through Chapter Four.
03 Justification of Belief. Read "The Will to Believe."
08 Experience, Knowledge. Read Some Problems, Chapters Five-Seven.
10 Being Free. Read "The Dilemma of Determinism."
15 Novelty, The Block Universe. Read "On Some Hegelisms," Some Problems, Chapters Eight-Ten.
17 Novelty, Causation. Read Some Problems, Chapters Eleven-Thirteen.
22 Belief, again. Read "The Sentiment of Rationality," "Faith and the Right to Believe," and "Great Men and Their Environment."
24 Mid-Term Examination: Compare and Contrast. Secondary literature distributed.
29 Replies to Critics.
March 02 An Open Letter to William James.
07 Pluralism. Read A Pluralistic Universe, Lectures 1-2.
09 Pluralism. Read A Pluralistic Universe, Lectures 3-4.
14 Spring recess.
16 Spring recess.
21 Pluralism. Read A Pluralistic Universe, Lectures 5-6.
23 Pluralism. Read A Pluralistic Universe, Lectures 7-8.
28 Replies to Critics.
30 Replies to Critics.
April 04 TBA (@ CFP)
06 TBA (@ CFP)
11 Retrospect and Prospect.
13 Assessment.
18 Where things stand.
20 Papers due.
25-27 Paper presentations.
May 02 Paper presentations as needed.
04 Review.
May 9, 11:00-1:00 Departmental Colloquium. (Time provisional.)
Grading:
Grading details will be announced when they are finalized, following discussions and negotiation. Some indication what I mean by "professional-style paper" is attached.
Policy on Academic Honesty:
Students in this class are expected to do their own work and not to rely on the work of others. While students are welcome to work with one another to understand the material, any student plagiarizing, cheating, aiding another student to cheat, or committing any other act of academic dishonesty will be referred for appropriate disciplinary action. Please consult with me if you have any questions in this regard, either about your own work or that of another person.
1. BUT class given over to search, Jan. 20, 25, 27, Feb. 1.