As the capstone seminar, this course is required of all senior majors. For 2001-2002, the seminar will focus on philosophical treatments of concepts. Concepts have been at the center of historical debates in mind, language, epistemology, metaphysics and psychology. In contemporary philosophy, positions span a spectrum of views from treating concepts as metaphysically real and known a priori to maintaining that concepts are merely empirically acquired cognitive structures of categorization. We will investigate this active controversy. Students will take active roles in leading discussions. Requirements: weekly writing assignments and a final paper. Prerequisite: senior major status (or, in extraordinary cases, permission of instructor). Expected enrollment: 7.