PHI 7360 The Nature of Tradition
The Nature of Tradition reflects on the role of tradition in the quest for philosophical truth. Is "tradition" simply a name for the present's relationship to the past, or is it a special kind of relationship? What has been constitutive of what we call the "Western Tradition"? What is the role of classic texts and works in a tradition? Is modernity by its nature opposed to tradition? Does it make sense in the West to speak of a single tradition, or must we talk about a plurality of them? Can any significant continuity with the past be reestablished once it has been broken (should it be)? The course may include consideration of works from any discipline and any time period relevant to this questioning.