Seminar in Metaphysics (459-0-20)

Topic

The Metaphysics of Social Collectivity

Instructors

Megan Alexandra Hyska
847/491-2551
Kresge 3-349

Meeting Info

Kresge 3438 Philosophy Sem. Rm: Tues 1:00PM - 3:50PM

Overview of class

In this course, we will be drawing on work in social metaphysics to build out a taxonomy of different ways in which people can be said to constitute a collective. When we consider terms like "women", "brown-eyed people", "the Republican Party", "the working class", and "the Civil Rights Movement," we see that each purports to refer to a single unit composed of multiple people---but in each case, what it is that binds the relevant people together such that they appear to us as a unified entity is different in kind. Some forms of collectivity require that all constituent individuals have some antecedent trait in common, while some unite erstwhile dissimilar individuals. Some depend on people conceiving of themselves as unified, while some do not depend on individuals' mental states at all. And determining which flavor of collectivity a given entity instantiates is important for answering further practically and philosophically important questions: is the collective the kind of thing that can bear duties, or to which it makes sense to have reactive attitudes? Is it the kind of entity that we should strive to create, or which will figure in the explanation of social change? Readings will include work on grouphood, collective intentionality, and the grounding of social facts, as well as discussions of both ontological and explanatory varieties of the individualism/holism debate.

Learning Objectives

Students will develop a familiarity with contemporary debates in social metaphysics and philosophy of the social sciences.

Class Materials (Required)

All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.

All readings will be made available on Canvas.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for Philosophy PhD Graduate Students