Course Description
This course analyzes a group of movies in the light of the philosophical themes they embody. The movies shown in this class have not being selected primarily because the illustrate a philosophical position or problem: many mediocre films do that. Rather, they have been chosen because they are great works with a significant philosophical component.
The philosophical investigation of a movie requires, of course, some knowledge of philosophical issues.  Consequently, we shall acquire some familiarity with a few traditional philosophical topics such as: the problem of evil; the nature of faith; the role of miracles in religious belief; autonomy; the relation between individual and society; false consciousness; the meaning of life; aestheticism and moral solipsism; moral and political responsibility.
 

Texts
1) Denise-Peterfreund-White, Great Traditions in Ethics.  Tenth Edition (Rental text) [G].
2) handouts
3) material to be downloaded from my home page. If you have no internet access at home, get a free account on campus.

Course Outline

Religion : Faith and Reason
8/23: Intro to course.  Lecture on Kierkegaard, the Problem of Evil, Locke on religion and faith; the meaning of life; false consciousness.
8 /30: Babette's Feast (Denmark). Readings: Kierkegaard, G, 172-86; download: Abraham arguing with God about morality; Abraham on Mount Moriah;  handout: section from Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling
9/6: The Seventh Seal ; (Sweden). Readings: handout: Nagel on the Absurd; download material from Revelation. A detailed analysis of the church scene.
9/13: Devi (India). Readings: handouts on Hindu women and marriage; autonomy; download-1; download-2.

Individual and Society
9/20: Lecture on Fascism, Mill's On Liberty, and Hobbes' State of Nature.
9 /27: A Special Day (Italy). Readings: Kant's "What is Enlightenment"; download-1; download-2; download-3.
10/4: Amarcord (Italy). Handout: Fellini's interview on the movie.

10/11: Rashomon (Japan) Readings: Hobbes, G, 89-102. Handout: section form Kurosawa's autobiography. First paper due (download paper topics)

One's life and some metaphysics

10/18: Lecture on Aestheticism and Existentialism.  Readings: handout from Schmitt's Political Romanticism; Sartre, G, 305-315. Lecture on Determinism and Personal Identity (handout).
10/25: High Noon. (US). Readings: dowload article on integrity and on pacifism.
11/1: Crimes and Misdemeanors. (US) download; Baier, G, 290-301; Sartre, G, 305-315; Download from Plato's Republic. Companion movie: Match Point, by Allen.
11/8: Vertigo. (US)
11/15: American Beauty. (US). Companion movie: Ikiru by Kurosawa..
11/29 : Memento. (US) A Note on Personal Identity.
12/6: Groundhog Day (US). Second paper due (download paper topics).

Course Requirements
In addition to watching the movies, doing the readings, and thinking about the material, the course has the following formal requirements:

1. Class attendance: I shall call roll. Since watching the movies and participating in class discussion are essential components of the course, missing more than 5 classes amounts to failing the course.
2. Several multiple choice quizzes or one-page summaries on an announced philosophical topic, cumulatively worth 30% of the course grade.  Dates and topics will be announced in class. No late summary will be accepted.
3. Two papers, 5 double-spaced pages long, each worth 35% of the course grade. Do not e-mail your paper to me unless in extreme circumstances. The paper will lose 25% of its original grade value for every solar day it is late.  A successful paper must:
• provide a reasoned, one to two pages (maximum) long summary of the movie.
• analyze the movie in the light of the readings. This requires making reference to specific episodes in the movie and to specific ideas in the readings by way of page references.
• refer, when appropriate, to other movies in the course.

• In general, a good paper cannot be written without watching the movie more than once.  Most of the movies are available in the library; unfortunately, they must be viewed in the library (no borrowing).  The US movies are often rather widely availbale for rental. However, it may be a good idea to borrow or buy the movies your are writing your papers on.
• My on-line analyses of the movies should give you some sense of what I'm looking for. Of course, your papers should be more detailed than my on-line accounts.
• You are encouraged to give me rough drafts of your paper. Keep in mind that I can return them with significant comments only if: i) it is given to me at least one week before the papers are due; ii) it is written reasonably clearly. Rough drafts consisting only of disjointed paragraphs or, worse, mere paragraph headings cannot be properly evaluated. You may turn in your rough draft as many times as you like, compatibly with the above requirements. My reading a student's rough draft of a paper does not entail that the paper, even if my comments are considered, will get a "B" or an "A." Often a paper must be revised more than once to become good.

Academic policies
1) Cheating of any kind will be dealt with according to the draconian CAS rules.
2) Students are responsible for knowing what has been said in class, especially announcements concerning reading assignments. If for any reason you miss some classes, make sure to find out what went on.

3) Even when animated, class discussion is to be conducted with civility.