Course Overview

Posted: Tue, Aug 27, 2024

Today

• Welcome! :-)
• A philosophy class on sex/gender/love?
• Discuss the short article by Greta Christina
• Bathroom break
• Tour of readings, required books, how to access readings
• How to approach this class: websites, preparation, participation, assignments
• Questions?
• Please read for Tuesday: Murillo (2023)

What’s different about a philosophy class on sex/gender/love?

The questions we will ask

• are not just empirical but conceptual: “What is love?” -> how has love in fact been practiced vs. what does it mean to love?
• are not just descriptive but normative: “What is love?” -> how has love in fact been practiced vs. what are good ways to love? how should we love?

In so doing, we will work with primary rather than secondary sources.

And what’s different about a philosophy class on sex/gender/love?

Ideas are powerful—don’t underestimate them!

• We will think about these questions not just abstractly, but as they bear on the real world, with a view to their real consequences.
• We will approach these questions by working from the margins to the center

How to approach this class

Preparing for & participating in class

• Read the assigned texts carefully and critically. Annotate. Bring the readings to class.
• Don’t be afraid to ask right away if you have a question, if I use a word you don’t understand, etc.
• Shorties: don’t bother summarizing; I want to hear your reactions to the reading.
• Lexicon: words are hard; I want to help.
• Respect & take care of each other.

Extensions & make-ups

• If you email me 6 hours prior to the deadline: no questions asked.
• A little bit later: a little bit of question asked.
• Much later: a legitimate reason expected.