Cognitive Science 0275 - Meanings & Values in the World

We will examine diverse concerns regarding work: What is "work"? What significance does it have in our lives? How does work vary across different social groups, classes, professions, communities, and traditions? How are individual and group identity related to work? What makes work be regarded as easy or hard, desirable or undesirable, meaningful or meaningless? What virtues and vices are associated with work? What moral rights, interests, and obligations are involved with work? Is there a right to work, or a right to meaningful work? Is there an obligation to work? How should work-related opportunities, benefits, and burdens be distributed? What role does gender play in work? How should work be organized and controlled? How are notions of play, leisure, unemployment, or retirement contrasted with (or related to) work? We will approach these and related concerns through classical and contemporary materials in philosophy, the humanities, and the social sciences. Prerequisite detail: Prior work in moral or political philosophy or related areas of social science, or the instructor's permission

Writing and Research Independent Work WORK EXPECTATIONS OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME:In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research.