Department of Philosophy

Phil 417(W): Philosophy In Literature
Spring 2009
TR 12:00-1:15
Sakamaki C-101
Instructor: Eliot Deutsch



SYLLABUS

This course will explore various issues at the interface of philosophy and literature, with special reference to questions regarding the interpretation of literary texts, the relationship between morality and literature, and the meaning of truth in literature.  These explorations will be carried out in the context of close readings of a selection of novels, stories and poems by modern writers from various cultural traditions.

Each student will prepare three short papers (7-10 pages double-spaced) on topics of their choice related to the readings.  A first draft of the papers will be turned in at specified dates for evaluation by the instructor and will be returned shortly thereafter.  A final draft will be due one week later.

Students with documented disabilities are invited to speak with the instructor and to contact the KOKUA program at 956-7511 (voice/text), QLC 013.



TEXTS
Jorge Luis BorgesFiccones
Franz KafkaMetamorphisis; The Penal Colony
T.S. EliotThe Four Quartets; Ash Wednesday
Italio CalvinoInvisible Cities
Robert Hass (ed.)Haiku
Alan Lightman Einstein’s Dreams
Albert CamusThe Plague
F. Nietzsche Thus Spake Zarathustra 

SCHEDULE OF READINGS & PAPERS


T  Jan 13Introduction to Course
Th Jan 15Literary Theory

Ficciones
T  Jan 20Borges
Th Jan 22Borges

T  Jan 27 Borges
Th Jan 29Borges

The Four Quartets & Ash Wednesday
T  Feb  3Eliot
Th Feb  5Eliot

T  Feb 10Eliot

Metamorphisis & The Penal Colony
Th Feb 12Kafka

T  Feb 17  Kafka     (1st Draft Paper Due)
Th Fem 19Kafka(Return Papers to Students)

Invisible Cities
T  Feb 24Calvino   (1st Final Paper Due)
Th Feb 26Calvino  

T  Mar  3Calvino

Haiku
Th Mar  5Hass (ed.)

T  Mar 10Hass
Th Mar 12Hass

Einstein’s Dreams
T  Mar 17Lightman
Th Mar 19     (No Class: Grad Student Conference)

T  Mar 24(Spring Break)
Th Mar 26

T  Mar 31Lightman  (2nd Draft Paper Due)
Th Apr  2Lightman  (Return Papers to Students)

The Plague
T  Apr  7Camus
Th Apr  9Camus     (2nd Final Paper Due) 

T  Apr 14Camus     (Return Papers to Students)
Th Apr 16     Camus

Thus Spake Zarathustra
T  Apr 21Nietzsche
Th Apr 23Nietzsche   (3rd Draft Paper Due)

T  Apr 28Nietzsche   (Return Papers to Students)
Th Apr 30Nietzsche

T   May 6Course Summary (3rd Final Paper Due)