Syllabus for Feminist
Philosophy, Fall 2012
http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/courses/FemPhil/Syllabus.html
Dr. Cynthia
Freeland
Phil.
3356 (sect. 10015)/6356 (sect 10023)
TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM AH Room 9
cfreeland@uh.edu
Philosophy Dept. University of Houston
Agnes Arnold Room 511; (713) 743-3206
Office Hours MW 11-12 and by appt.
Overview
This course is an advanced survey of feminist philosophy. We
will consider the roles of women in the history of philosophy, liberal vs.
radical feminism, accounts of the body in feminist philosophy, recent
controversies over “difference” vs. “sameness” feminism, feminist views on
science and epistemology, and feminist challenges to more traditional
philosophical views about autonomy and the self.
No
philosophy background is assumed, but there will be regular reading assignments
and students new to the discipline may find some of these readings more dense
and abstract than what they are used to. The class will involve roughly 50%
lecture and 50% class discussion, sometimes in small groups; grading will
reflect the requirements of regular reading, writing, and group participation.
For details, see below.
Learning Outcomes
This course aims to give you a better understanding of
definitions of gender and sex, feminist ethical theories and epistemologies,
disputes about essentialism, and the role of women in the history of
philosophy. You will improve your analytic, speaking, and writing skills by
participating in class discussions that bring out key points in the readings;
by doing writing assignments that encourage your own independent critical
reaction to topics in feminist philosophy; and by completing assigned papers
and take-home exams that require you to analyze abstract discussions and apply
the results to particular examples.
Advisory Note
Some students may find the topics dealt with in this class
personally challenging, since feminist philosophy addresses controversial
topics concerning the body, sexuality, race, religion, disability, etc. Some of
the course material discusses issues such as domestic violence, anorexia and
bulimia, breast cancer, rape, and the use of pornography. These could be
upsetting for a variety of reasons. While some class discussion and personal
writing about these topics is appropriate, keep in mind that this is not a
self-help course and the professor is not a qualified therapist. All class
discussions must be kept respectful! Remember that the university counseling
services are available to all students free of charge.
There will be five units in the course, covering different
varieties of philosophical approaches to and bases for feminism (see the list
below). A unit outline will be distributed via the course website with
the schedule of readings and assignments for each unit. A more detailed
overall schedule is available on-line and each unit schedule will be
distributed in class at the start of that unit.
Outline for Units One and Two
Weeks 1-3
Part
One: Feminism, Canons, and Methods in Philosophy: Weeks 4-6
Part
Two: Liberal Feminism and Equality Weeks 7-9
Part
Three: Radical Feminism and Revolution Weeks 10-12
Part Four: Difference Feminism
and the Body Weeks 13-15
Part Five: Feminism, Nature, and
Science Grading & Requirements Grading will involve the following components; all due dates
will be available on the on-line course schedule. The schedule is
subject to revisions in case of professor illness, absence, and/or weather
emergencies, so please check it often! Graduate student requirements: The essays for the take-homes and feminist critiques
will be expected to be longer; each graduate student must also lead a class
discussion on an assigned essay. Topics and dates will be worked out in advance
with the professor. Take-Home
#1 30% Take-Home
#2 30% Comments: Each take-home will each involve two essay
questions, with each question worth 15 points or 15% of your final grade. The
topics will be announced one week in advance. There will be some choice of
topics. Essays will be graded on the basis of content as well as style
and the correct use of grammar, punctuation, etc. All essays must be typed,
double-spaced. The length guide is roughly 2 pages per essay, or four pages
total. All essays must be submitted to the course website on Blackboard Vista
using turnitin.com. Discussion
Papers 10 x 2 points
each = 20% Comments: The topic will be suggested in advance in class;
it will involve some reaction to one or more of the readings for that week.
These papers may be informal and hand-written; the length guide is 1-2 pages
each. No late discussion papers will be accepted; e-mail is acceptable; some
extra credit will be assigned later in the semester to allow for make-ups. Feminist
Analysis or Critique
2 x 5 points each
10% Comments: The topic will be suggested in advance; it
will involve writing a feminist analysis or critique of something in the news
or the media (film, TV show, etc.). Note that the second critique must involve
a topic that is related to Unit Five on feminism in science. The critique
should be typed; the length guide is 1- 2 pages. The critique can assume an
informal tone (like a blog entry) but it should use correct grammar, spelling,
etc. More Information on the Feminist Critique
(on-line) Attendance 5% Class Participation 5% Based on a combination of quantity
and quality of contributions. Absences and Late Work: Excused absences or late assignments will be accepted only
in cases of a genuine emergency (illness, family death, hospitalization, child
or parent care emergency); documentation must be supplied. Note that car
trouble, holiday plans, athletic competitions, musical and theatrical
performances, job interviews, out-of-state weddings, and/ or computer trouble
do not constitute genuine emergencies; plan ahead to get the work submitted on
time! Plagiarism All work submitted for this course must be your own.
Plagiarism is a violation of the university’s Academic Honesty Policy.
Plagiarism includes use of sources without proper citation, including
paraphrasing without credit. The penalty for a plagiarized assignment will be a
zero grade on that assignment. Disability If you have a disability, please supply the supporting
documentation to the professor immediately so that appropriate accommodation can be made. Textbooks Required Rosemarie TONG, Feminist
Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction Susan BRISON, Aftermath: Violence
and the Remaking of a Self Luce IRIGARAY, This Sex
Which Is Not One Recommended Andrea NYE, The Princess and the Philosopher Relevant Websites Society for Women in Philosophy http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP Feminist Philosophers Blog http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/ Charlotte Witt, “How Feminism Is Re-writing the
Philosophical Canon” What Is It Like to be a
Woman in Philosophy?
http://beingawomaninphilosophy.wordpress.com/ 
Cordelia FINE, Delusions of Gender: How Our
Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference
http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP/Witt.html