Phil 370. Philosophy of Social Science (& Phil 270. Philosophy of Law)

Earlham College, Spring Semester 2011-2012
Monday, Thursday 1:00-2:20 Carpenter 322
Instructor: Ferit Güven & Kevin Miles
Office: Carpenter 328
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Phone: 983-1399
e-mail: guvenfe@earlham.edu

Course Description: Philosophy of law and philosophy of social science converge on the distinction between what is called normative and empirical. On the one hand, it has been generally assumed that philosophy of law concentrates on normative issues (i.e., issues that concern judgments about legality and perhaps even morality). On the other hand, at least in its first formulations, philosophy of social science claims to concern issues of experience and knowledge.  Both of these assumptions, however, prove to be simplistic. Law is not without experience or precedent and social science is not without normativity. Rather than attempting to reconcile the normative with the empirical, however, this course will call into question the very relationship between law and social science as such.
Once we call into question our assumptions about the relationship between "Law" and "Social Science" we are explicitly calling into question not only their relation to one another but also the respective spheres of their operations. The phrasing of the last sentence itself has within it an important assumption that necessarily needs rendering into the form of a question: are the respective spheres of operation of "Law" and "Social Science" separate? Have we properly understood the sphere of influence of these subjects when our understanding of them is organized by assuming their particularity and separation? What are the spheres of operation of "Law" and "Social Science" and are they properly understood as "respective," that is, are the spheres properly understood as divided from one another; have we given ourselves access to these subjects by thinking them in the plural when it might be the case that they operate within a singular sphere/field? Have we thought and are we thinking "Law" and "Social Science" if we assume the economy of their operation as somehow autonomous rather than as inextricably bound up in each other, not so much in the way a bacteria infects a body since that remains a way of thinking the two as distinct from one another, but rather an inextricability akin to an almost inexpressible confusion more readily associated with the kind of questions arising from an aporia?

Reading Assignments: All readings are available on Moodle

Requirements and Evaluation: This course will be conducted in a seminar format. Therefore, attandance and participation are important dimensions of the course and your grade. I expect you to come to class prepared and ready to participate, i.e., having read the text carefully, and ready to raise and answer questions.

You are expected to write three papers (5-7 pages). These papers will be mainly explanation or exegesis of the text. I will provide topics for each of these assignments. Your are also encouraged to decide on your own topic/question.  For every paper (including papers on topics of your own choice) you are responsible for the general guidelines provided.  See "Comments and Suggestions for Papers."

Each week one or two student(s) will prepare a protocol.
A protocol is a carefully edited summary/notes of the previous class sessions written in full sentences. Protocols will be approximately 2 single-spaced pages and will be posted on Moodle by Sunday before midnight. The protocols will serve as a cumulative record of the course. In addition to reviewing the material covered in the previous class, it should include announcements made in class and questions not addressed in class. The best protocols will be those that do not simply reproduce word for word everything that was said during class, but that rearrange the material thematically, editing out what was unimportant and emphasizing what was significant. One of the advantages of the protocols is to allow you to think during class and not just take notes; because someone will be taking notes for you, you can concentrate on the ideas being presented, and participate without having to write constantly. Also, you will have a summary of every class which will help you with writing papers.

There will quizzes in order to make sure that all students complete their reading on time.  There will be no make-up for these quizzes.

Your grade will be calculated according to the following distribution: Paper 1: 20%; Paper 2: 20%; Paper 3: 25%; Protocol 15%; Quizzes: 10%; Participation and Attendance: 10%.
There will be no final examination.

The success of this course depends on your contribution. Even though I am not inclined to legislate strict attendance policies, you will fail this course, regardless of your grade, if you miss more than four sessions.

Office hours are for students to discuss ideas, assignments and questions. You are encouraged and welcome to come by my office or make appointments for times other than scheduled office hours. You should take advantage of office hours and appointments not simply to discuss your papers (you are obviously welcome to do that too) but also to understand ideas, and texts discussed in class, or discuss your own ideas.

Our sessions will start at 1:00 pm. Students are expected to come on time. Walking into (and out of) the classroom while the session is in progress is very disruptive for everybody.  I ask you not to do these. For every two late attendance you will be marked absent for one class session.

Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the instructor and Disability Services Office (Academic Support Services) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodation arrangements must be made during the first-two weeks of the semester.

Calendar: On Moodle