Universiteit Utrecht 2012/13, periode 1+2

Core Readings in Theoretical Philosophy

H. Steward, A Metaphysics for Freedom

Thomas Muller ZEMV12001: Core Readings TF

Time: Wednesday, 13:1517:00

Place: Drift 23, 010 (Per. 1) / Drift 25, 001 (Per. 2)
Meetings: 12, 26 Sept.; 10, 31 Oct.; 28 Nov; 12 Dec 2012; 9, 23 Jan 2013
Docent: Dr. Thomas Muller
Office: Janskerkhof 13a, 1.10
Email: Thomas.Mueller@phil.uu.nl
WWW: http://www.phil.uu.nl/tmueller/

In this course well be reading Helen Stewards new book A Metaphysics for Freedom (Oxford UP 2012)
together with some supplementary articles.
The idea is to devote the whole course to a close reading of the book and to detailed discussions
of its arguments. For each session the respective readings from the book have to be prepared by all
participants. A group of up to three students will have the task of introducing the text to be read by
giving a short presentation, including a printed handout (in the range of two pages) to be distributed to
all participants. There will be some additional presentations on the additional readings, and a number of
short written assignments.

Course layout
Periode 1, meetings in Drift 23, 010

12 Sept: First session: Introduction, distribution of topics for class presentations.

Reading: Chapter 1, The problem. First written assignment due: What is the problem? (1/2 page)
26 Sept: Reading: Chapter 2.
10 Oct: Reading: Chapter 3. Additionally: D. Davidson (1963), Actions, reasons and causes, Journal of Phi-
losophy 60(23): 685700.
31 Oct: Reading: Chapter 4. Additionally: B. Brembs (2011), Towards a scientific concept of free will as a bio-
logical trait: spontaneous actions and decision-making in invertebrates, Proc. Royal Society B 278(1707):
930939; W. Sellars (1962), Philosophy and the scientific image of man, in R. Colodny (ed.), Frontiers
of Science and Philosophy, Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 3578.

Periode 2, meetings in Drift 25, 001

28 Nov: Reading: Chapter 5 and 6 (up to and including 6.4).

12 Dec: Reading: Chapter 6 from 6.5, Chapter 7.
7 Jan: (No class) Research problems due on Blackboard by 12:00 noon.
9 Jan: Reading: Chapter 8. Last hour: discussion of research problems.
21 Jan: (No class) First drafts of papers due on Blackboard by 12:00 noon.
23 Jan: Additional slot for discussion of first drafts.

6 Feb: (No class) Deadline for final papers, due on Blackboard by midnight.

1
Course requirements
Active participation and interaction with others
You are expected to attend all seminar sessions and prepare for them carefully by studying the respective readings.
Furthermore, the following contributions to the seminar are required:
For some sessions there will be short written assignments. Please prepare those and upload to Blackboard
ahead of the seminar, and hand in one printed copy at the beginning of the session.
Each student has to give at least one short presentation introducing one of the sessions (joint presentations
of up to three students are welcome; 15min in total). This presentation and our discussions will proceed on
the assumption that everybody has studied the respective text in detail. Each (group) presentation has to be
accompanied by a handout (approx. two pages) stating the argument in outline, including relevant quotes.
The handout should also state a couple of questions for discussion. Please mention your name(s), the date
and the course title on the handout, and bring an adequate number of printed copies.
For some sessions there will be additional readings. (B.t.w., its part of your job to find them given the
information on the syllabus, using library resources.) These may direct you towards a topic for a final
paper by providing additional background, or by stressing a different prespective. We will not discuss these
additional readings at the same level of detail as the main text, but you are welcome to give a presentation
on them (individual or as a group). You are also welcome to bring in additional readings that bear on the
topic of a session, and to present on them. Such presentations should also be accompanied by a (one-page)
handout.
Interact with your fellow students! Blackboard provides an environment for discussions online, but you may
also find that by the end of a session, its time to go for a coffee together. Groupwork will play an important
role in the seminar, especially in working towards your final paper (see below).

Final grade
Each student will write a 3000 word final paper (in English) on a subject related to the themes discussed in the
course. The topic of the paper, in the form of a written research problem (one page giving your name and e-mail
address, a title, a clearly stated question, an outline and some literature), has to be posted on Blackboard by noon
on 7 January 2013. Bring an ample number of printed copies to the session on 9 January, at which the problems
will be discussed. A first draft of your paper is due to be posted on Blackboard by noon on 21 January. We will
use the additional slot on 23 January (no readings for that day) to discuss these first drafts together in groups and
give feedback; you should form such groups ahead of time (e.g., three people writing on a roughly similar topic)
and prepare for the group discussion by reading all the drafts in your group. The deadline for the final paper is 6
February 2013 at midnight.
The paper needs to have (i) a cover sheet indicating the title, your name, student number and e-mail address,
the course number and the date; (ii) an introduction stating the research problem and the goal of the paper; (iii) a
main part; (iv) a conclusion and (v) a list of references consistently formatted in some standard style. Deadlines
are strict.
In the assessment of the paper, emphasis will be placed on the research problem and goal, on argumentative
coherence and fairness, understanding of the relevant issues, originality, form, and clarity of writing. The final
grade for the course will be equal to the grade for the final paper.