Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Academic Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PHI 392-01 - Advanced Studies in Anglo-American Philosophy: Sellars and his Legacy (Fall)

4 credits (Fall)
A philosopher’s philosopher, Wilfred Sellars is among the most influential (and difficult) figures of twentieth century philosophy. Works such as Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind signaled a sea change in the analytic tradition, pushing it beyond its initial commitment to logical positivism. Sellars’ legacy is his powerful synoptic vision of philosophy, sometimes called Inferentialism, which juggles metaphysical naturalism with a commitment to normativity. His ideas have been taken up by other leading figures such as John McDowell, Robert Brandom and Richard Rorty. In this seminar we will investigate Sellars’ views, both in their original context and in their continuing relevance today.

Prerequisite: PHI 253 PHI 254 PHI 256 PHI 257 , or PHI 258 .
Instructor: Neisser