As you know, I provide detailed comments regarding the compositional, expository, and the critical elements of your papers. In order to facilitate my goal of enhancing your ability to provide balanced exposition and examination of philosophical problems, positions, and methodologies; in an individual course I review the comments from earlier papers prior to reading later ones so that I can assess continuing progress and problems. Since you have already taken a course (or several courses) from me, I generally review my comments on your earlier papers from prior semesters prior to reading your first paper for this course so that I can more carefully assess your continuing progress and identify any continuing problems.
As you write your papers for this course (and, of course, while you are reading and thinking about the current readings, lectures, and discussions), I encourage you to endeavor to integrate the knowledge you have acquired in your other philosophy courses (both those taken with me, and those taken with my colleagues), and from the other courses you have taken outside the Department with the material you are currently studying. Part of what is involved in developing a critical perspective is the ability to integrate and inter-relate materials from a variety of sources, disciplines, and areas. In class (and outside of class) I am happy to attempt to answer questions which are related to such integrative attempts, and I am willing to seriously consider paper proposals which attempt this activity in lieu of one of the assigned topics in this course.
Last revised: 12/29/2006.