Rico Vitz

COURSES

HUME ON RELIGION (SEMINAR)

There are two questions concerning religious belief that demand the attention of philosophers. The first is an epistemological question that concerns whether, or the extent to which, religious belief is founded in reason. The second is a psychological question that concerns the way in which religious belief is grounded in human nature. David Hume is one of the seminal figures in philosophy who developed critiques of religious belief that address each of these compelling questions. In this seminar, we will focus on Hume’s writings on religion, examining themes both in epistemology and in cognitive psychology, and examine the merits of Hume’s arguments and the way in which they have helped shape the contemporary debate about the reasons and the causes of religious belief.

[Fall 2008]

MODERN PHILOSOPHY

This course offers an introduction to the major philosohers of the early modern period and the philosophical problems they addressed. We will study selections from the works of philosophers in the so-called 'Rationalist' tradition (e.g., Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and Malebranche), as well as selections from the writings of philosophers in the so-called 'Empiricist' tradition (e.g., Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Reid), and conclude by examining the work of Immanuel Kant. As we study these works, we will focus on questions in metaphysics and epistemology, such as the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, the scope and limits of knowledge, the existence of God, and the apparent conflict between freedom and determinism.

[Offered every Spring Semester]

LIES AND SELF-DECEPTION

Self-deception is a common phenomenon. In fact, nearly everyone seems to have a friend or family member who they think is self-deceived -- e.g., about the faithfulness of his or her lover, about his or her beliefs for (or against) a particular religion or political party, and so forth. This apparent ability to lie to oneself in the face of the evidence seems to be a rather contemptuous vice. However, recent psychological studies seem to suggest that at least some forms of self-deception are life enhancing. Thus, it might seem that self-deception can be a virtue. In this course, we examine the curious nature of self-deception, evaluate its ambiguous ethical status, and reflect on how these insights should affect the way that we live.

[Fall 2007]

THEORIES OF TOLERANCE

Many people agree that tolerance is an essential virtue of a just society, but they disagree (sometimes quite passionately) both about what tolerance is and about what people ought to tolerate. In this course, we critically evaluate these issues and attempt to answer questions such as: How does tolerance differ from advocacy, from acceptance, and from indifference? What beliefs can a just society prohibit (or require)? What behaviors can a just society prohibit (or require)? To facilitate our discussion, we examine both historical theories of tolerance -- like those found in Aquinas, Spinoza, Locke, Bayle, and Mill -- as well as contemporary accounts. The goal of the course is not merely to learn to think clearly about tolerance, but to develop an understanding of how individuals and societies might cultivate the virtue.

[Fall 2006]