PHIL 3310, PHIL 3345 -- Spring 2022

Returning to MTSU

January 2022

PHIL 3310, Atheism & Philosophy

T & Th, 2:40 pm, James Union Building 202

This year’s theme: Atheism, humanism, and secularism (& other related 'isms)

TEXTS

• Atheism: A Very Short Introduction, by Julian Baggini

"Atheism is often considered to be a negative, dark, and pessimistic belief characterized by a rejection of values and purpose and a fierce opposition to religion. Baggini shows how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral."

• Humanism-A Very Short Introduction, by Stephen Law

"The humanist is not simply one who denies the truth of religious belief, but one who believes we can enjoy meaningful, purposeful, and good lives without religion. And far from embracing moral nihilism, humanists are often deeply committed people, to be found at the forefront of many important ethical campaigns."

• Secularism: A Very Short Introduction, by Andrew Copson

• The Little Book of Humanism: Universal lessons on finding purpose, meaning and joy by Alice Roberts and Andrew Copson 

• Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism, by Philip Kitcher

"Kitcher thoughtfully and sensitively considers how secularism can respond to the worries and challenges that all people confront, including the issue of mortality. He investigates how secular lives compare with those of people who adopt religious doctrines as literal truth, as well as those who embrace less literalistic versions of religion. Whereas religious belief has been important in past times, Kitcher concludes that evolution away from religion is now essential. He envisions the successors to religious life, when the senses of identity and community traditionally fostered by religion will instead draw on a broader range of cultural items—those provided by poets, filmmakers, musicians, artists, scientists, and others."

• Pragmatism as Anti-Authoritarianism, by Richard Rorty

"Anti-authoritarianism, on this view, means acknowledging that our cultural inheritance is always open to revision because no authority exists to ascertain the truth, once and for all. If we cannot rely on the unshakable certainties of God or nature, then all we have left to go on—and argue with—are the opinions and ideas of our fellow humans. The test of these ideas, Rorty suggests, is relatively simple: Do they work? Do they produce the peace, freedom, and happiness we desire?"

For more info: phil.oliver@mtsu.edu 

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 Returning to MTSU, January 2022-

PHIL 3345,

TTh 4:20-5:45 pm, James Union Building (JUB) 202

Supporting the philosophical study of bioethics, biomedical ethics, biotechnology, and the future of life, at Middle Tennessee State University and beyond... "Keep your health, your splendid health. It is better than all the truths under the firmament." William James

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Our anchoring theme: the psychological and social dimensions of medicine and the life sciences from birth to death, with a special emphasis this semester on the ethics of pandemic and public health.

Texts 2022. We’ll begin with these texts:

• Bioethics: The Basics (Campbell) ”...the word ‘bioethics’ just means the ethics of life…” 
• Beyond Bioethics (Obasogie) “Bioethics’ traditional emphasis on individual interests such as doctor-patient relationships, informed consent, and personal autonomy is minimally helpful in confronting the social and political challenges posed by new human biotechnologies…” 

Each student will also choose and report on additional relevant texts pertaining to public health, thus enabling us to extend our study of the field by “crowd-sourcing” many more of the crucial issues it raises.

For more info contact phil.oliver@mtsu.edu