Ethical Perspectives/Problems in Ethics course Focus is on either significant figures in the history of ethics or current ethical issues, each offering a different perspective or set of relevant questions that will help the student appreciate the challenges in thinking ethically. The emphasis is on addressing issues that arise when trying to make moral judgments, such as the role of self-interest, the problem of relativism, adhering to first principles, utilitarianism, and other ways we adjudicate what is right or wrong in life situations. The goal is not to see any particular point of view as more or less correct, but to clarify what kinds of issues are involved in ethical thinking and improve our capacity for critical thought. Sampling of texts: Plato, Republic Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals Bentham and Mill, Utilitarianism and Other Essays Noddings, Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education MacIntyre, A Short History of Ethics Philosophy of Religion The dialectic between philosophy and religion is explored by looking at relevant issues from both sides—from the point of view of the need for justification and clarification of concepts and from the perspective of the need for faith. The specific focus is on how the idea of ‘religion’ has been shaped by philosophical critique and how it has shaped religion’s response to such questions as the existence of God, the nature of religious experience, ethics and the problem of evil, and the nature of religious faith. These issues are explored primarily within the Western philosophical tradition, but could include material from Eastern traditions as well. Sampling of texts: Anselm, Proslogion Schleiermacher, On Religion Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Writings on Religion, ed. Flew Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, Fear and Trembling Otto, The Idea of the Holy Whitehead, Religion in the Making Buber, I and Thou Modern Critiques of Religion This course examines the dialogue between philosophy and religion, how it helped to define religion as an area of study in Western culture, and the impact of modern philosophical critique on the formation of religious thought. The focus is on thinkers such as David Hume, Feuerbach, Marx, and others who either tried to justify a religious or metaphysical point of view or sought to refute it. Texts include: Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Writings on Religion, ed. Flew Kant, “On the Failure of all attempted philosophical theodicies”, Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone Marx, Early Writings Feuerbach, The Essence of Christianity The Tyranny of Indifference George Bernard Shaw once claimed that indifference is the "the essence of inhumanity." But what is indifference, and how does it rob us of what makes us human? This class explores the phenomenon of indifference as a core cause of some of our most profound challenges and confronts fundamental questions about who we are.Topics include: the role of dialogue and critical thinking in discovering the underlying causes of indifference and countering the “tyranny of thought” it creates. Resources include: Elie Wiesel, Against Silence, assorted videos, excerpts and essays Other assorted essays, including authors Helen Keller, George Bernard Shaw Audio/visual material from interviews, speeches, panel discussions Excerpts from material on the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans The Phenomenology of Evil What are we trying to describe when we use the word ‘evil’? This is the question posed by this course, presenting a starting point for further exploration into a complex and ongoing human issue. Areas covered include intentionality and human action and the importance of critical thinking. Texts include: Pallas, The Phenomenology of Evil Levinas, “Transcendence and Evil”; “Useless Suffering” Scarry, The Body in Pain Excerpts of Hannah Arendt’s work, various sources but primarily Eichmann in Jerusalem: The Banality of Evil Anscombe, Intention Excerpts from Frontline’s Faith and Doubt, as well as interviews and quotes by Edmond Jabes Renunciation in Spiritual Traditions When we think of renunciation, we often think of someone on a deeply spiritual path. But there are secular forms of asceticism as well.This course explores the role renunciation plays in spiritual traditions or any life that requires a commitment to a higher purpose. Texts may include: Bhagavad Gita Selected Upanishads Vairagya-Shatakam, or 100 Verses on Renunciation Max Weber: The Religion of India: The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism Wimbush & Valantasis, Asceticism Valantasis , The Making of the Self: Ancient and Modern Asceticism Classical Hatha Yogic Philosophy An in-depth exploration of some of the major classical hatha yogic texts and their application to yogic practice. Whether approached as a philosophical course of study or as an adjunct to one’s yogic practice, the course grounds the yogic tradition in its theoretical foundations in Samkhya theory and places the Yoga Sutras within the ancient tradition of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasistha, and other classical yogic texts (Hatha Yoga Prapidika, Gheranda Samhita, Yogayajnavalya Samhita, etc.). Also includes discussion of Hatha yoga’s foundations in Tantric theory. Native American Religions This course introduces the student to the study of American Indian Religions from the perspective of the history of religions, including Aztec, Maya, Oglala Sioux, Tukano, Windriver Shoshoni, and Zuni traditions. The course is guided by Eliade’s categories: of sacred space; sacred humans, and sacred time. Texts include: Carrasco, Religions of Mesoamerica Eliade, Myth of the Eternal Return Hultkrantz, Native Religions of North America Myerhoff, Peyote Hunt Underhill, Papago Woman Other courses Introduction to Theory in the Study of Religion Comparative Religion courses Ethics and Women’s Issues Figure- and topic-centered religion, ethics or philosophy courses Greek Religion: the Hellenistic Period The Upanishads and Vedantic Philosophy The Bhagavad Gita Introduction to Anthropology Anthropology and Religion Contact Alexandriamailto:alexandria@alexandriapallas.com?subject=shapeimage_1_link_0


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