Philosophy 138, 001|Fall 2011|UC Berkeley

Outstanding.

     

This is a course based on John Searle's two books, "Making the Social World" and "The Construction of Social Reality." Searle believes that the social scientists have never given a satisfactory account of institutional reality, and hence have no foundtaion for their studies. Using his theory of speech acts Searle attempts to provide that basis, examining the nature of collective intentionality and the concept or "power," among other things. Apart from presenting an innovative and elegant theory, Searle also adds many amusing annecdotes. Searle is exceptopnally lucid, funny, and sometimes politically incorrect. Although the course is great on it's own, I would recommend listening to his other two courses first (Philosphy of Mind and Philosophy of Language). This outstanding course would be usefull for student and professors in any area of the social sciences.