WS 2710 (PA 2710) - Philosophy of the Irrational

In antiquity, Socrates tells us, “Some of our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness.” What is the relationship between the irrational and the madness of love, of creativity, or of religious ecstasy? Has madness/irrationality been associated with one sex more than the other? This course will explore the meaning of madness in the context of the development of reason in the western philosophical tradition. In addition to philosophy and women’s studies, this course will be of benefit to students of psychology, education and the arts. (4 Credits)