PHIL 420–THE PHILOSOPHY OF A. N. WHITEHEAD

 

INSTRUCTOR:  James A. Keller                     OFFICE:  Daniel 217   PHONE:  4594

 

OFFICE HOURS: 11:00-11:45 T (except on days when there is a convocation); 11:00-11:30 MWF; and by appt.

"CONTACTING ME: Call my office. If I am not there, leave a voice-mail message. Or you may contact me by e-mail at kellerja@wofford.edu. I check both regularly, so they give you two ways to contact me. If you need to reach me quickly and neither of these work, you may call me at home; my home phone number is 579-7313.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course aims at acquainting you with the philosophical system of Alfred North Whitehead and with some of the work done by philosophers who work in the tradition which he began.  We will start by reading and discussion of selected portions of Process and Reality contained in Sherburne’s book; at its conclusion, you should be able to read with good understanding material that employs Whitehead's difficult terminology and should understand the overall structure of Whitehead's philosophy;  About two or three weeks into the semester we will also start reading Griffin’s work; this will give you a good idea of the sort of answers process philosophy gives to classical philosophical questions.  Then each of you will write a critical review of some work in or on process philosophy; your papers will be distributed to everyone in the class and will serve as a basis for class discussion.

 

TEXTS:            A Key to PROCESS AND REALITY by A. N. Whitehead, ed. by Donald                                Sherburne.

Reenchantment without Supernaturalism by David Griffin

Other articles may be added; these will be handouts or reserved books.

 

GRADING:

Tests                                        60% (two test worth 30% each)

Paper                                       40%

Class participation may affect borderline grades.

 

POLICY ON TESTS AND PAPERS:  You are expected to take all the tests and to turn in all the written work at the assigned times.  The only legitimate reasons not to do so are circumstances beyond your control.  Failure to be ready does not constitute a legitimate excuse unless there is some reason (such as illness) beyond your control that kept you from being ready.  If you anticipate problems in taking a test or in turning in written work at the assigned times, I urge you to see me as far in advance as possible.  If you have not spoken to me in advance and you miss a test or written assignment, you will have to obtain validation of your excuse through the Office of the Dean of Students.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION:  Whitehead's prose is not easy to read, primarily because it contains many technical terms.  If you are to learn to read it  with some facility, it is important that you read and discuss as we go along.  Much of the time we spend in class will be devoted to clarifying the texts.  You should plan to participate as a way of gaining mastery of the terminology and thought of Whitehead.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:  Because I wish to progress at a pace the class is comfortable with, I will not hand out a list of assignments and dates.  But I can say that  we will read Sherburne’s book first, and then Griffin’s.

 

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM:  Any instances of suspected cheating or plagiarism will be turned over to the Judicial System.

 

TURNITIN.COM: The final version of your term paper must also be submitted to TURNITIN.COM.  Instructions for doing this will be given in class.