Topic: Hume's Ethics
This will be one of those courses that has a moral, namely,
that  serious, careful and historically oriented examination of David
Hume's philosophical ethics can have enormous pay-offs for
contemporary ethics. Just what are the lessons for contemporary
ethicists to be learned though historically minded examination of
Hume is a matter we  will discuss in detail, and with reference to a
variety of specific topics, throughout the course.

Primary readings will be drawn from  Hume's own work, though the
primary readings will also consistently be supplemented with articles
by historians of philosophy and contemporary ethicists.

Required written work: two brief (5-10 minute) presentations,
written versions of which must be provided a week in advance; a short
(3 page) research exercise involving ECCO and rare books, focused on
the topic(s) on which each person intends to write their paper(s) for
the course; and either two shorter (10 page)  papers, or one seminar
length paper.

Prerequisites: some background, at the 300 level or above, in both
the history of philosophy and  contemporary ethics.