Philosophy and Poetry

An examination of philosophy and poetry as rival avenues to the apprehension of truth, as well as an introduction to the basic problems of aesthetics. Philosophical readings will range from Plato to Hegel to contemporary writers. The focus of the course will be three philosophical poems: Lucretius' On the Nature of Things , Wordsworth's Prelude , and Eliot's Four Quartets . One previous course in philosophy is recommended.