Course Description: This two-semester, twelve-credit course fulfills all core requirements in Philosophy and Theology. In this course, students will combine academic study with a commitment to community service through field placements sponsored by the PULSE program. In the classroom, we will study a variety of texts, ancient and modern, including some of the classic works of western philosophy, theology and scripture, literature and sociology. We will pay special attention to ethical, social and political questions, addressing the themes of justice, equality, duty, community, the good life, and the divine. Our study will be guided by three general goals. First, we will attempt to evaluate and compare the approaches of the texts we are studying in order to achieve an historical understanding of the different answers to important questions and the different ways of assessing and criticizing existing institutions and social practices. Second, we will challenge these answers and critiques in the hope that, by engaging others, we may better understand the merits and the limitations of our own point of view. Third, we will raise the question, again and again, of the relationship between theory and practice. In posing this question and in reading classic texts into and through your placement experiences, we hope to be able to make better sense of our social world, our actions, our responsibilities, and ourselves.

Course Requirements:

1. PULSE Field Placement.

2. Class Participation/Discussion - You are expected to ask questions in class and to be active participants in weekly discussion sections. Failure to pose questions, make comments or participate regularly in class and/or discussion group will obviously result in a lower participation grade at the end of the semester. As part of the participation grade, I will ask each of you to prepare a discussion topic for selected meetings of our weekly discussion sections. I may also ask you to prepare written questions on the reading and present them to the rest of the class. If it becomes apparent to me that many of you are not doing the reading on time, I will begin giving short quizzes in class. Finally, excessive absence from class and/or discussion group is unacceptable, and will result in a reduction of your overall grade at the instructor’s discretion.

3. Journal Entries. You must complete a journal entry on different occasions over the course of the semester. The entries should consist, first, of a description of some person, place, or situation related to your placement, and, second, of your own reflection on the experience(s) you are describing. You might ask yourself what a particular experience has meant to you, what you have learned from it, or how it is connected to one of the themes or texts we are studying. Good journals typically combine reflection on a placement experience with analysis of a topic from class or the reading. Each of the journal entries should be approximately two typed pages in length, and must be submitted (print-copy) by the specified due date.

4. One paper on an assigned topic. All papers must be double-spaced, 10-12 pt. font. All primary and secondary sources used for your papers should be properly cited with footnotes and/or an accompanying "Work Cited" or "Bibliography" page, and all students are expected to be familiar with the University policy on plagiarism. Unless otherwise stated, papers must be handed in at the beginning of class on the days they are due. Please do not e-mail copies of your paper to me. If you are having trouble finishing your paper because of unusual circumstances please see me at least twenty-four hours in advance. Otherwise, late papers will result in a deduction of your grade by one-third letter per day (e.g., B+ to B).

5. A midterm examination, taken in class.

6. A comprehensive final examination, taken during exam week.

Course Grade: Your overall semester grade will be determined by combining your classroom grade with a grade for your field work submitted to me by your placement supervisor. 60% of your semester grade will be based on your performance in the classroom, and 40% will be based on your work at your placement, as evaluated by your supervisor. Your classroom grade will be determined in the following manner:

Participation – 12.5%

Journals – 12.5%

Paper – 25%

Midterm exam - 25%

Final exam - 25%

Office Hours: I am available during office hours to discuss questions about the readings, the assignments, or any other issues relating to the course. My office hours are Mondays from 12-2 p.m., and my office is located in Carney Hall, Room 273. If you cannot meet during office hours, I am also available by appointment. You can reach me or leave a voice-mail at extension 23848. My e-mail address is boettcja@bc.edu.

Required Texts:

Robert Coles, The Call of Service (Houghton Mifflin)

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (Hackett)

Michael J. Himes, Doing the Truth in Love (Paulist)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (Hackett)

John Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Harvard)

Charles Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity (Harvard)

Patricia Williams, Seeing a Color-Blind Future (Noonday)

National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Economic Justice for All (USCC)

The Bible

Coursepack:

Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham City Jail"

J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism ("What Utilitarianism Is")

Peter Singer, "The Singer Solution to World Poverty"

Library Reserve:

Barbara Ehrenreich, "Nickel-and-Dimed"

Finally, you should keep in mind that most of the readings for this course range from difficult to very difficult. Following a few important guidelines, however, will enable you to overcome problems you may encounter in understanding the readings. First, it is imperative that you do all of the assigned reading before each class. Second, provide yourself with enough time to read the material slowly and carefully. If you attempt to read these texts too quickly, they will not be intelligible. Finally, attend each class session. Thoughtful questions and class discussion are valuable additions to this course, and are often essential for coming to terms with difficult philosophical works.

January 14 M Introduction

16 W Eyes on the Prize, "No Easy Walk" (Video)

18 F King, "Letter from Birmingham City Jail"

21 M No Class – MLK, Jr. Day

23 W Williams, Seeing a Color-Blind Future

25 F Williams, Seeing a Color-Blind Future

28 M Hobbes, Leviathan, Introduction and chapters 1, 5-6, 10

30 W Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters 11, 13

February 1 F Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters 14-15, 17

4 M Coles, The Call of Service, chapter 4, "Hazards" Journals Due

6 W Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Preface and part I

8 F Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, part II

11 M Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, part II

13 W Mill, "What Utilitarianism Is"

15 F Peter Singer, "The Singer Solution to World Poverty"

18 M Rawls, A Theory of Justice, sections 1-5

20 W Rawls, A Theory of Justice, section 6-9, 11

22 F Rawls, A Theory of Justice, sections 14, 20-22

25 M Rawls, A Theory of Justice, sections 23-25

27 W Rawls, A Theory of Justice, sections 17, 29, 40

March 1 F Ehrenreich, "Nickle-and-Dimed" (reserve) Journals Due

4-8 No Classes – Spring Break

11 M Book of Genesis

13 W Book of Genesis

15 F Midterm Examination

18 M Book of Exodus

20 W Book of Jeremiah

22 F Gospel According to Luke

25 M Gospel According to Luke

27 W Open Day

28-1 No Classes – Easter Holiday

5 F NCCB, Economic Justice for All

8 M Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, chapters 1-2

10 W Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, chapters 3-4

12 F Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, chapters 5-6 Paper Due

15 M No Class – Patriot’s Day

17 W Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, chapters 7-8

19 F Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, chapter 9

22 M Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity, chapters 1-3

24W Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity, chapters 4-6

26 F Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity, chapters 7-10

29 M Coles, The Call of Service, Interlude, "What They Mean to Us" Journals Due