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PY240C Winter 2011 Syllabus
PY240C Winter 2011 Syllabus
PY240C Winter 2011 Syllabus
Winter 2011
Dr. Jill Rusin
Course Description:
This course uses film as a means of exploring some enduring and complex philosophical questions.
Do humans have free will? What is the value of knowledge? What distinguishes moral from immoral
acts? What is the role of luck in morality? What is essential to being me? What are my obligations to
the world’s poor? To my closest friends and family as opposed to other people, principles and the
world at large? We will explore all these questions, and more, through film, readings, and class discus-
sion.
Course Text: Introducing Philosophy through Film, edited by Richard Fumerton and Diane Jeske
January Introduction: analyzing concepts. Excerpts from Read: John Perry, PTF
13th Plato’s Republic, Seinfeld, Pulp Fiction.
Williams, PTF
Personal Identity. Clip from The Wizard. Opening
page of Kafka’s “Metamorphosis.” Watch: Memento
Screening of Being JM
PY 240c Syllabus
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PY 240c: Philosophy in Film
Aristotle De Interpretatione
excerpt PTF (511-13)
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PY 240c: Philosophy in Film
March 17th Obligations to intimates. Discussion of Jeske arti- Read: Nagel, “War and Massa-
Journal #7 cle and moral conflicts in Casablanca and cre” PTF 354-
January 18th: Memento (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2000) Run time: 113 mins.
February 8th: Match Point (dir. Woody Allen, 2005) Run time: 124 mins.
March 1st: Crimes and Misdemeanors (dir. Woody Allen, 1989) Run time: 104 mins.
March 8th: Minority Report (dir. Stephen Spielberg, 2002) Run time: 145 mins.
March 15th: The English Patient (dir. Anthony Minghella, 1996) Run time: 162 mins.
also see: Casablanca (dir. Michael Curtiz, 1942) Run time: 102 mins
March 22nd: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (dir. Michel Gondry, 2004) Run time: 108 mins.
March 29th: The Matrix (dir. Wachowski bros, 1999) Run time: 136 mins.
PY 240c Syllabus
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PY 240c: Philosophy in Film
The library has copies of the above DVDs on the 2nd floor, and you can look them up in Primo.
These must be watched in the library, however. Reserve is for 3 hours.
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PY 240c: Philosophy in Film
Assessment of Journals: Entries should be approximately 500-800 words. A couple of weeks I ask 4
different (related) questions; you should not answer each question in a list-like fashion, but rather
your writing should offer a fairly continuous line of thought, so if your answer to one of these ques-
tions predominates over the others, that is fine. I do realize that you will be submitting 9 pieces of
writing, so I am not expecting a polished argument here. What I do expect is a sincere effort that
shows you have reflected on the movie in concert with the lecture and readings. You would be wise to
write an essay that does not sound like it could be written by anyone off the street, but rather a phi-
losophy student who has done her readings carefully and paid attention to the class lecture and dis-
cussion before sitting down to write. I don’t want any kind of summary of the lecture/terms/readings
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PY 240c: Philosophy in Film
here, but I do want a *philosophically* informed and reflective response. If your writing shows that
you have thought about and understood the philosophical issues (or rather, some significant aspect of
the philosophical issues in the readings and lecture through which you interpret the movie) you will
get an A. A sincere effort, submitted on time, that shows adequate familiarity with class materials will
receive at worst a B. Though I hope that this exercise will be fairly easy and enjoyable for you, and it
should not be difficult to earn an A or a B (provided that you carefully and attentively read the assignments,
watch the film and come to class!), be aware that journal entries that show little to no engagement with,
reflect scant awareness of, class materials and discussions will receive a C or worse. Late submissions
will be penalized a full letter grade for each day late, unless documentation of medical illness or famil-
ial bereavement is provided. I will not accept assignments mailed to the wrong email address, all
submissions that are made by email (and you are welcome to submit in class instead) must go to: rusin
AT me DOT com. Do not ask for extra time because your internet is out, you computer is broken, you
neglected to read your syllabus, or lost it, etc. In such cases, you should simply chalk it up to bad luck,
and take advantage of the make-up assignment I allow at the end of the course (a question on the film
The Matrix, to substitute for one other journal entry if necessary). And of course (!) you may and
should talk to each other about the films and your takes on them, but you do need to write up your
own responses. Do familiarize yourself with the university’s academic dishonesty policy; unauthorized
collaboration is an offense just as is using another’s work as your own. Do come talk to me should
you have any questions about this matter.
Examination Deferrals:
The Academic Date section of the Calendar (Printed and Web Site Versions) clearly states the examination date period for each
semester. Students must note that they are required to reserve this time in their personal calendars for the examinations. The ex-
amination period for Winter 2011 is April 7-28, 2011. Students who are considering registering to write MCAT, LSAT or GMAT or a
similar examination, should select a time for those examinations that occurs outside the University examination period. For addi-
tional information that describes the special circumstances for examination deferment, consult the University calendar.
Laurier has an established policy with respect to cheating on assignments and examinations, which the student is required to know.
Students are cautioned that in addition to a failure in the course, a student may be suspended or expelled from the University for
cheating and the offence may appear on one’s transcript, in which event the offence can have serious consequences for one’s busi-
ness or professional career. For more information refer to the current Undergraduate calendar (University Undergraduate Regula-
tions).
Laurier uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form and
have it checked for plagiarism. Students are to adhere to the Principles in the Use of Information Technology. These Principles and
resulting actions for breaches are stated in the current Undergraduate Calendar.
Students’ names may be divulged in the classroom, both orally and in written form, to other members of the class. Students who
are concerned about such disclosures should contact the course instructor to identify whether there are any possible alternatives to
such disclosures.
Foot Patrol: After class call "886-FOOT" for a walk or drive home - No Walk is Too Short or Too Long.
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