Metaphysics
PHL. 461, sect. 1
Spring 2004
Professor:
Dr. Jennifer Susse
Office: 519 South Kedzie
Office Hours: Tuesday
E-mail: susse@msu.edu
Class
News
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The updated syllabus is available below!!
During the last three days we will be
reading feminists’ takes on personal
identity. I’ll know more specifics in a
few weeks.
I’m not sure whether I can make it to class on March 15th
(I’m scheduled to close on a house). If I can make it to class we will read
some material from David Lewis. Again,
I will know more in a few weeks.
Text: I am still in the process of determining the reading
assignments for this course. Most of the articles are available in Metaphysics
An Anthology, edited by Jaegwon Kim and Ernest Sosa. Additional articles
will be available for photocopying during regular business hours at 515 South
Kedzie.
Course Description
The study of metaphysics is the study of the nature of reality. The goal of this course is to acquaint you with some important metaphysical problems. In the first half of this course, we will take up some basic metaphysical questions about the nature and existence of objects. Questions such as: what is the relationship between an object and its characteristics or properties; how do objects persist through time and changes; what is the relationship between an object and its constituting matter; and how should we understand an object’s modal properties? In the second half of this course, we will consider metaphysical questions that arise with respect to a particular class of objects, namely persons. Questions such as: what is the relationship between a person and her body and what makes a person the same person over time? The answers to these questions have important implications for issues in psychology, morality, law, and medicine.
Contact Information
My office is located at 519 S. Kedzie. My official office hours are from 1:00- 3:00 on Tuesday, although I am available by appointment at other times. I invite you send questions or comments to me via email. I will do my best to respond promptly (within a day or two).
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Copyright Notice
Many of the materials
for this course are the intellectual property of the instructor. This includes,
but is not limited to, the syllabus, lectures, course notes, tests, and
overhead transparencies. Except to the extent not protected by copyright law,
any use, distribution or sale of such materials requires the permission of the
instructor. Please be aware that it is a violation of university policy to
reproduce, for distribution or sale, class lectures or class notes, unless
copyright has been explicitly waived by the faculty member.