Philosophy 535A (001)

Responsibility and Punishment

Instructor: Professor T. Isaacs, TC 321, 661-2111, ext. 85747

E-mail: tisaacs@uwo.ca

Classes: Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon, TC340

Office hours: Mondays 11-noon, Wednesdays 2-3, and by appointment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An examination of the issues surrounding the possiblity of moral responsibility, the nature of and justification of punishment especially in terms of its relationship to human agency and moral responsibility. Though the focus of the course will be individuals, we’ll spend a little time on the issue of collective agency and the possibility of punishing collective agents.

Requirements:

(a) 10 critical commentaries on the week’s readings, 2-3 pages (20%). Commentaries are due at the end of the class for which they were prepared. Please have them ready in time for class, as we’ll use them as a basis for class discussion. You may not turn in a comment sheet for credit if you are absent from the relevant class;

AND

(b) 1 term paper, 15-20 pages, due December 14, 2001 (80%)

Required Readings:

A coursepack of readings, available from Inprint (lower level, UCC).