PHIL 560 (M1) - Philosophy Through Fiction

Philosophy Through Fiction

Credits: 4.0
Term: Spring 2024 - Full Term (01/23/2024 - 05/06/2024)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Class Size:   20  
CRN: 55569
Philosophical implications of representative literary works, read in tandem with philosophical literature. The content will vary. The literary works explored may be drawn from ancient times through modern times. For examples, the classic Greek tragedy "Antigone" might be explored for its implications regarding moral, political, and feminist philosophy, or the philosophical implications of an anti-utopian contemporary work like "Brave New World" might be explored, or short stories drawn from science fiction and other speculative fiction might be used to explore the possibility of time travel or of machines with mental lives.
Registration Approval Required. Contact Instructor or Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course, Inquiry (Discovery)
Instructors: Phillip Deen

Times & Locations

Start Date End Date Days Time Location
1/23/2024 5/6/2024 TR 1:10pm - 3:00pm PANDRA P531
Additional Course Details: 

This course is on philosophy and literature, in two ways: One, we will read literature that contains philosophical themes. We will discuss stories about a variety of subjects like personal identity, the nature of faith, sharing others’ experiences, equality, what is morally right, and others. Two, we will read philosophical texts about literature itself. We will raise questions like: Why do we get emotionally involved in fictional people’s lives? Who determines the story’s meaning? Can literature make us better people?