CSS273 - Philosophy and Social Inquiry

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Academic Year 2003/2004

Philosophy and Social Inquiry
CSS 273 SP

Crosslistings:
PHIL 281

This is a course in the philosophy of social science, tailored to fit into the overall curriculum of the College of Social Studies as its Junior Colloquium. The focus of discussion and occasional informal lectures will be how to characterize human social life as an object of reflection and inquiry, with special attention to the significance of cultural and other forms of diversity, and the nature and role of rationality, normativity, historicity, and power dynamics in both constituting and understanding social life. We shall also consider the importance of material culture and natural-environmental interaction as aspects or components of the "social world," and reflect upon the aspiration to a social science and/or to objectivity as itself a social phenomenon as well as a governing norm of social inquiry. The written assignments will emphasize writing more directly about the social phenomena at issue in the course, rather than about particular philosophers' theories about those phenomena.

MAJOR READINGS

Fay, CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE: A MULTI-CULTURAL APPROACH
Crosby, ECOLOGICAL IMPERIALISM plus extensive on-line reserve reading

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

3-4 papers on topics drawn from course reading and discussions

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course is the Junior Colloquium in the CSS. CSS juniors or seniors should obtain permission of instructor forms from the CSS office. Others desiring admission ought to have a good grounding in at least one of the social sciences and should contact the instructor directly.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS PHIL Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Rouse,Joseph T.

Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: FISK413

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 30)

Special Attributes:

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004