Philosophy 4000: The Scottish Enlightenment Professor Collier UMM Spring 2007 Tu Th 4:00-5:40 Humanities 111 Course Description: The Scottish Enlightenment is widely recognized as a unique age of genius. In the period from 1720 to 1790, Scotland led the world in almost every area of human inquiry. This course will focus on the extremely influential ethical doctrine that was fashioned by the major thinkers of this period: “moral sentimentalism”. The sentimentalists put forth the radical claim that human morality depends primarily upon our passionate natures rather than our cognitive faculties; they also defended the controversial thesis that human beings are genuinely capable of altruistic behavior. Readings for the course will come mainly from historical figures such as Hobbes, Mandeville, Butler, Hutcheson, Hume, Smith, Kames, and Reid. We will also examine evidence for and against moral sentimentalism from current research in game theory, psychology, and neuroeconomics. Course Readings: The Butler and Hume books will be available for purchase at the UMM bookstore. All other readings for the course are available on electronic reserves at the Briggs Library. Course Requirements: This course will be structured around a combination of lectures, class discussions, and group work. This means that you should come to class well-prepared (i.e. with a solid understanding of the readings for the day and questions for discussion). You will be expected to make significant contributions in class discussions. Grade Distribution: Two in-class exams: 25% each, 50% total Final paper (8-10 pages, due last day of class): 25% Class participation: 25% Schedule of Topics: I. Historical Background: Egoism and the Social Contract Tradition 1. Hobbes: Leviathan, Chs. 6, 10, 13-15; cf. Human Nature, Chs. 1, 7-9, 12, 14. 2. Mandeville: “Enquiry into the Origin of Honour”. 3. Kavka: Hobbesian Moral and Political Theory: Ch.2 “Human Nature”, pp.29-51, 64-81; Ch. 3 “Conflict in the State of Nature”, pp.83-125; Ch. 4 “Cooperation in the State of Nature”, pp. 126157. 4. Gauthier: “Morality and Advantage” and Logic of Leviathan, pp.76-89. 5. Hampton: Hobbes and the Social Contract Tradition: Ch. 2 “What is the Cause of Conflict in the State of Nature?” 6. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on “Game Theory”. II. In Defense of Benevolence: Butler and Hutcheson 1. Butler: Five Sermons and Dissertation Upon the Nature of Virtue. 2. Hutcheson: “An Inquiry Concerning Moral Good and Evil” in Selby-Bigge (ed) British Moralitsts, Volume I, pp. 68-187.
3. Sober and Wilson: Unto Others: the Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior, pp.223327. 4. Stich: “Evolution, Altruism, and Cognitive Architecture: A Critique of Sober and Wilson’s Argument for Psychological Altruism”, Biology and Philosophy (forthcoming). III. Humean Ethics 1. Hume: Treatise: “Moral distinctions not deriv’d from reason”, “Of the influencing motives of the will”; Second Enquiry: “Of the general principle of morals”, “Concerning moral sentiment”; cf. Hutcheson “Illustrations upon the Moral Sense” in Selby-Bigge (ed.) British Moralists, Volume I (appendix), pp. 401-418. 2. Nichols: “Is It Irrational to Be Moral? How psychopaths threaten moral rationalism”, Sentimental Rules, pp. 65-82. 3. Hume: Treatise: “Moral distinctions deriv’d from a moral sense”, “Of the origin of the natural virtues and vices”; Second Enquiry: “Of benevolence”, “Why utility pleases”, “Of self-love”, “Conclusion”; cf. “Two Letters to Francis Hutcheson” from Raphael (ed) British Moralists 16501800, Volume I, pp. 108-111; cf. David Hartley: “Observations on Man”, from Raphael (ed) British Moralists 1650-1800, Volume II, pp. 115-127. 4. Nichols: “Mindreading and the Core Architecture of Moral Psychology” (online) 5. Kennett: “Autism, Empathy, and Moral Agency”, Philosophical Quarterly, 52, 2002. 6. Hume: Second Enquiry: “Of justice” and “Some farther considerations with regard to justice”. 7. Vanderschraaf: “The informal game theory of Hume’s account of convention”, Economics and Philosophy, vol. 14, 1998, pp. 214-247. IV. Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments 1. Smith: “The Theory of Moral Sentiments”, in Selby-Bigge (ed.) British Moralitsts, Volume I, pp. 257-336. 2. Hume: Abstract of Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), from Reeder (ed.) On Moral Sentiments: contemporary responses to Adam Smith, pp. 33-50. 3. Reid: “A Sketch of Dr. Smith’s Theory of Morals”, from Reeder (ed.) On Moral Sentiments: contemporary responses to Adam Smith, pp. 69-88. 4. Stewart: “On the Theory of Moral Sentiments, and the Dissertation on the Origin of Languages” and “Of Sympathy”, from Reeder (ed) On Moral Sentiments: contemporary responses to Adam Smith, pp.103-135. 5. Harman: Moral Agent and Impartial Spectator, pp.1-15. 6. Gordon: “Sympathy, Simulation, and the Impartial Spectator”, Ethics 1995, pp. 727-742. 7. Gallese and Goldman: “Mirror neurons and the simulation theory of mind-reading”, Trends in Cognitive Science, 1998, pp. 493-501. 8. Frank: “A Theory of Moral Sentiments” from Passions Within Reason: the strategic role of emotions, pp.43-70. V. The Critics: Price, Lord Kames, and Reid 1. Price: “A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals” from Selby-Bigge (ed) British Moralitsts, Volume II, pp. 105-184. 2. Kames: “Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion”, Selby-Bigge (ed) British Moralitsts, Volume II, pp. 300-325. 3. Reid: “Essays on the Active Powers of Man”, from Raphael (ed) British Moralists 1650-1800, Volume II, pp. 265-310.