PHILOSOPHY 140 - Introduction to Value Theory

Institution:

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Subject:

Description:

Values are embodied in our interpretations, in personal and collective perspectival stances we take on issues of everyday life. They become manifest in actions and words, when we state our opinion on, say, U.S. foreign policy, the role of parenting, the role of women in religion, the value of higher education etc. Values are generally acted out, most of them unconsciously. But some of them can be raised into our awareness and can be talked and written about. Although this process of consciousness-raising is not without its problems, this is precisely what this course tries to undertake. This course is an occasion for students to examine their personal beliefs surrounding the meaning or lack of meaning they encounter in major issues around the globe, both past and contemporary. Students begin by studying and writing about values in the form of aphorisms, anecdotes, short paragraphs. Then they aim at larger texts such as parables, fables, myths, manifestos, poems, and entire books. Students have as their main project to arrive at an overall narrative embodying some of their values. All writing in the course is oriented toward that final project. (Baer, offered occasionally)

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

WWW.HWS.EDU

Phone Number:

(315) 781-3000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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