Philosophy 189

Freud is widely acknowledged, along with Marx and Einstein, to have been one of the primary influences on twentieth century thought. Our goal is twofold. The first is to investigate psychoanalytic theory itself, as developed by Freud, amended by some of his significant philosophers, and supplemented contemporary neuroscience. The second is to enable students in philosophy, literature, psychology, and history to use the psychoanalytic perspective in their own disciplines; our critical eye will be particularly on the questions Freud raises in the philosophy of mind, and the implications of his theory for such philosophy. While the course will roughly follow the progression of Freud’s thought, its focus is not primarily historical but thematic.

Required texts:
Freud Reader, edited by Peter Gay, published by W. W. Norton & Company, ISBN: 0393314030.

Meditations on First Philosophy, 3rd edition translated by Ronal Rubin, written by Descartes, published by Arete Press, ISBN: 0941736121.