colorado summer seminar in philosophy 2015

Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy
Matters of Life and Death
July 20 - August 6, 2015

Director: David Boonin
Department of Philosophy
University of Colorado

course description: This team-taught course offers graduate-level treatment of a number of philosophical issues involving life and/or death. It presupposes a strong undergraduate background in philosophy but does not presuppose any familiarity with the particular texts or issues to be discussed.

course format: This course is a seminar, limited in enrollment to 20 students, that involves a mixture of lecture and class discussion.

required readings: All required readings are listed below and are available as electronic texts linked to this syllabus. Students are expected to come to class having done the required readings. To make this possible, students should do a good amount of the readings prior to arriving in Boulder.

course requirements: All students are required to write two five-page papers on subjects of their choosing. The first paper is due at the start of class on Monday, July 27th and the second is due at the start of class on Monday, August 3rd. In addition, in order to receive credit for the course, students must submit a 15-20 pp. term paper by August 31st. The term paper may be an expanded and revised version of one of the five-page papers. For students who take the course for credit and who choose the letter grade option, the final grade will be based primarily on the term paper, but class participation and the short papers will also be taken into account.

additional policies: Click here for information on policies regarding the honor code, classroom environment, disabilities, religious observances, and discrimination and harassment.

class schedule: The class meets in Hellems 269. The meeting time is 9:00 - 12:00 unless noted otherwises. In addition, there will be guided discussion sessions in the afternoons led by one or two CU graduate students. Details will be posted in advance of the start of class.

July 20: What is Life? -- Part I (Carol Cleland)
        Carol Cleland, The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life (forthcoming), Chapter 2
        Carol Cleland, The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life (forthcoming), Chapter 3
        Carol Cleland, "Life Without Definition" (optional)