PHIL 848G:
SEMINAR IN ETHICS:
TRUST, PERSONAL AND POLITICAL
  Fall 2020
Th 3:30-6 pm

Patricia Greenspan, instructor
pg@umd.edu
www.philosophy.umd.edu/Faculty/PGreenspan

Trust is an element of emotional life that has been discussed by contemporary philosophers as well as political scientists for its relevance to social and political life. But is it a belief or an emotion - or the absence of certain emotions, most notably suspicion? And what does it involve besides reliance on someone else?

This seminar is open to philosophy graduate students and selected undergraduates, or graduate students in other departments, by permission of the instructor. It will be conducted online via Zoom, with students leading the discussion once the course is underway.

The order of our initial readings is given in the tentative schedule of initial readings.  Further readings will be determined by student interest.

The only written requirement of the course will be a substantial (c.20-page) term paper.  Course grades will be determined largely by the paper, but with a serious boost for class participation (up to one full grade -- or more, for outstanding performance).  Students should start thinking about paper topics early enough to be able to do a presentation later in the course for feedback on their main ideas.

This syllabus is available, along with supporting information about policies of the instructor, on the instructor’s website (click on “courses”). Later handouts or other material distributed or presented in slide format during class, along with copies of the readings (accessible with "Greenspan" as your username and password), will be posted under "course materials”as the term proceeds.