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.