Hum 10a: Morality, Society, and Politics

"Theories of morality and politics have generally been shaped not only by the broader intellectual climate of their time, but also by the perceived virtues and defects of the social and political conditions of the time. This two-quarter sequence will provide an introduction to the moral and political theories which helped shape Western societies, with the emphasis on the 17th century to the present. The first quarter will concentrate on moral theory and the second quarter on political theory. Each theory will be presented in historical context but will also be assessed for its relevance to contemporary life and politics."
--Caltech Catalog, 1994-95

Note: this term, we are focusing on morality, and in keeping with the emphasis on the 17th century to the present, we are starting with 4 weeks of Aristotle.

"Unless you love philosophy, I advise against taking this class. The professor, David Hilbert, doesn't always listen well to arguments students have, and says an average of 200 umm's per hour. It wasn't a total loss, though - I learned how to write logical essays. It was an easy class."
--C.L.U.E. Review #2

"Hum10a is best described as a beginning philosophy class. The class is pretty cool. The lectures were straightforward and there were plenty of discussions if you wanted to talk, or you could just sit back and listen. The only problem with this class was the time - 9-11 in the morning is hard to handle. It's easy to start losing interest after the first hour and a half."
--C.L.U.E. Review #3

Instructor: David Hilbert
Office: Dabney 206
Office Hours: Mon. 10:00-12:00, Thurs. 1:00-3:00

Requirements:
"Four papers (4-5 pages). No midterm, no final. Occasional in-class quizzes. Satisfactory completion of all requirements is necessary to pass the course. In other words, if you fail one paper you fail the course. Students will be given the opportunity to rewrite failing papers. Class attendance is mandatory. More than three absences will result in failure."
--Course Intro Sheet

Required Books