American Philosophy

HUHI 6314.051 Thought Culture and Society in the United States
Summer 2019 – Monday, Wednesday – 1:00pm-5:15pm
Schedule an Appointment

Course Description

This course will provide an introduction to the tradition of American Philosophy, focusing especially on American Pragmatism. We will focus on this tradition, not as a subject for mere historical investigation, but rather as a living philosophical tradition. American Philosophy provides an important, relevant alternative the more well-known Analytic and Continental traditions, one that focuses, among other things, on resistance to absolutism and closed-mindedness, the relations between theory and practice, the relation of belief and knowledge to action, the nature of community and democracy, pluralism, growth and change, and the meaning of knowledge and principles in lived experience.

Textbook

American Philosophy: From Wounded Knee to the Present by Erin McKenna and Scott Pratt [AP]

The book is on order at Off Campus Books at 561 W Campbell Rd #201 (behind Fuzzy’s).

Schedule of Readings & Assignments

5/29 – Intro, Native American Philosophy & Transcendentalism

6/3 – Peirce & James – Truth and Consequences

6/5 – Addams & Goldman – Feminism, Democracy, and Anarchism

6/10 – Royce & Calkins – Pragmatism, Idealism, and Community

6/12 – John Dewey – Democracy and Inquiry

6/17 – Du Bois & Baldwin – Philosophy and Race

6/19 – Kallen & Follett – Pluralism and Integration

6/24 – Lewis & White – Pragmatism and Analysis

6/26 – Writing Day – Work on Presentation and Paper

And read for the following class.

6/28 – Presentations + the Future of American Philosophy

(Class is from 2-4:45pm)

We’ll start with presentations, which will take up about about an hour and 45 minutes of class, with just under an hour left for a wrap-up discussion. Read what you can from the below before class.

6/30 – Final research proposal due before midnight

Grades and Assignments

  1. Attendance and participation in class discussion
  2. Research project initial proposal (200-300 words)
  3. Research project final presentation (10 minutes)
  4. Research project final proposal (500-1000 words plus annotated bibliography of 10+ sources)

Course and Instructor Policies

Classroom expectations

You are expected to have read the assignments before class, and it would be to your benefit to also read them again after class. You are expected to bring a hard copy of assigned readings for each day’s class, and have them available to refer to. You are expected to listen respectfully to the professor and your fellow students, and participate in class discussions and activities.

Clear failure to abide by these expectations will result in you being asked to leave the classroom and being counted absent for the day.

Late Work, Make-Up, and Completion

No late work or make-up exams will be allowed without consent of the professor prior to the due/exam date, except in situations where University policy requires it, or in case of truly dire circumstances, where evidence can be provided.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Don’t do it! If you incorporate any work that is not your own into any project that you do, and you do not cite the source properly, this counts as plagiarism. This includes someone doing the work for you, taking work done by another student, verbatim copying of published sources, paraphrasing published work without citation, and paraphrasing in a inappropriate way even with citation. Re-using work created for another course also counts as plagiarism in most contexts. Unless group work is explicitly permitted or required, it is expected that all of the work that you turn in is original and your own, and that any sources that you make use of are correctly cited.

If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing, it is absolutely mandatory for me to turn you in to the Dean of Students Office of Community Standards and Conduct.

Class Attendance

Attending class is mandatory. Missed classes may count against your final grade, and egregious absenteeism will be grounds for an F in the course. Homework assignments due in class can only be turned in personally the day of that class (or before). In-class assignments and activities likewise cannot be made up. Tardy arrival or early departure will also count against you, typically at the rate of a half-absence.

Electronic Devices

Electronic devices will not be needed in this class except for accessibility purposes. It is strongly recommended that you have a paper copy of the textbook and readings that you bring to class with you. You’ll be better off (and research supports this) if you take notes on paper and transcribe it onto your computer than if you type your notes directly. Furthermore, many of the logical notations used in this class are difficult to transcribe electronically.

Please don’t distract others by checking email or social media on your phone, tablet, or laptop, using a music player or headphones, or doing work for another class during our discussions. For the most part, you should put away your computer, silence your phone, turn off your music, and engage with your classmates and I. Students making distracting use of electronic devices will be asked to leave and counted absent for the day, without being warned. Students who require devices for accessibility purposes are encouraged to notify the professor, who is happy to work with you to make any accommodations.

What to Call Me, Other Faculty, and TAs

I prefer to be called “Matt,” “Matthew,” “Professor Brown,” or “Dr. Brown.” My preferred pronouns are he/him/his. Professors regardless of gender should be referred to by title or degree, “Professor X” or “Dr. X.” Teaching Assistants who have not obtained a doctoral degree should be referred to as “Mr. Y” or “Ms. Z,” never using “Miss” or “Mrs.” unless the teaching assistant instructs you otherwise.

Concealed Handguns on Campus

As of August 1, 2016, concealed handgun license holders are permitted to carry their weapons onto the campus and into the general buildings of the University. Unlicensed individuals may not do so, and unconcealed weapons are not allowed. You are not required to disclose whether your status as licensed carrier, nor whether or not you are carrying a handgun at any particular time, to me or anyone other than an official peace officer. Nevertheless, I ask that you voluntarily refrain from bringing weapons into the classroom. Furthermore, I will designate my office as an exclusion zone, prohibiting the concealed carry of a handgun in that space. You will be provided with oral notification to that effect upon visiting my office.

University Policies

The information contained in the following link constitutes the University’s policies and procedures segment of the course syllabus: http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

A syllabus is a living document. This descriptions, timelines, and policies contained in this syllabus are subject to change in the interest of improving the quality of the course, at the discretion of the professor. Adequate notice will be provided for any changes, and in many cases they will be discussed with the class.