Course Descriptions

Class Number 5576

Instructor: Nathan Powers
TuTh 9:00AM-10:20AM
ES 147

What is a person? What is a mind? What is knowledge? Am I absolutely certain about some things, or could all my beliefs about the world turn out to be false? Is there a god? Am I truly free, or are my actions ultimately determined by forces beyond my control? Attempts to answer difficult and important questions like these form the core of the Western philosophical tradition, stretching back all the way to ancient Greece. This class explores how some of the best philosophers in this tradition thought about these questions. Emphasis will be placed on the central role that arguments play in philosophy: a good philosopher gives reasons for his or her view that support that view in a rigorous way.

Class Number 3573

Instructor: Ronald McClamrock
MWF 9:30AM-10:25AM
LC 21

A survey and critical examination of topics in contemporary philosophy, focusing largely on the relationship between the human mind and the natural world. Topics will include skepticism about knowledge of the external world, the relationship between the mind and the brain, the possibility of the mind causing free actions, and the existence or non-existence of God. Grade will be based on a combination of in-class exams (80%) and in-class quizzes and participation (20%, using the iClicker). More information will be available on the course web page at profron.net/mind-world.

Class Number 6863

Instructor: Marcus Adams
WF 11:40AM-1:00PM
BI 248

This is a course in informal logic. It centers on the meaning of claims, and whether a claim should be accepted or rejected, or whether suspension of judgment is appropriate. This course is intended to help students think clearly and effectively.

Class Number 4274

Instructor: Ariel Zylberman
WF 11:40AM-1:00PM
SL 206

This course is a historically informed introduction to central questions in moral and political philosophy. The overarching theme is the relation between practical reasoning, the good, and the just. Only one version of A PHI 114 may be taken for credit.

Class Number 8362

Instructor: Kristen Hessler
MW 10:10AM-11:30AM
BB 217

Some of the most difficult and persistent questions in moral philosophy concern the relationship between the individual and society. We will begin studying these issues by exploring the famous conflict between the philosopher Socrates and the democracy of ancient Athens. The rest of the course will trace some important themes raised by this conflict throughout the subsequent development of Western moral and political philosophy, looking for insight into ethical questions that we face today, including the following: Is it ever morally permissible to cheat on college coursework? What moral obligations do you have, if any, to the poor? Under what circumstances, if any, is the killing of innocent civilians permissible in war?

Open to Honors College students only.

Class Number 7651

Instructor: Henry Curtis
MW 3:00PM-4:20PM
ES 242

Critical examination of contemporary moral problems in the light of the most influential moral theories. The problems discussed vary with semesters, but they typically include such topics as abortion, affirmative action, animals and the environment, capital punishment, euthanasia, free speech and censorship, liberty and paternalism, sex and love, terrorism, and world hunger. Only one version of A PHI 115 may be taken for credit.

Class Number 8341

Instructor: Henry Curtis
Fully Online - Asynchronous

Critical examination of contemporary moral problems in the light of the most influential moral theories. The problems discussed vary with semesters, but they typically include such topics as abortion, affirmative action, animals and the environment, capital punishment, euthanasia, free speech and censorship, liberty and paternalism, sex and love, terrorism, and world hunger. Only one version of A PHI 115 may be taken for credit.

Class Number 3865

Instructor: Monika Piotrowska
TuTh 9:00AM-10:20AM
SS 256

This course is designed to be a survey of philosophical issues related to contemporary ethical problems. As such, it will cover several topics with only superficial depth. We will dedicate the first half of the course to ethical theory, by asking what we should and should not do and for what reasons. The rest of the course will focus on specific ethical issues related to euthanasia, abortion, sexual morality, affirmative action, the death penalty, animal rights, terrorism and others. The course is likely to challenge deeply held beliefs and presuppositions but that is one important goal of doing philosophy. The objectives are to expand your understanding of various moral views, develop critical thinking and writing skills, and learn how to evaluate arguments. By learning how to evaluate philosophical arguments you will also learn how to construct and defend your own arguments—a skill that is broadly applicable outside of philosophy.

Class Number 4000

Instructor: Merve Erkal
TuTh 1:30PM-2:50PM
FA 126

Introduction to classical and modern logic with an emphasis on the theory and application of truth functions. Introduction to quantification; discussion of the structure and properties of formal systems of logic. Students should be prepared to do daily homework assignments. Only one version of A PHI 210 may be taken for credit.

Class Number 7288

Instructor: Merve Erkal
TuTh 4:30PM-5:50PM
HU 124

Introduction to classical and modern logic with an emphasis on the theory and application of truth functions. Introduction to quantification; discussion of the structure and properties of formal systems of logic. Students should be prepared to do daily homework assignments. Only one version of A PHI 210 may be taken for credit.

Class Number 1783

Instructor: Rachel Cohon
TuTh 10:30AM-11:50AM
HU 109

What is the basis of our moral judgments and attitudes? What makes right actions right, and wrong actions wrong? What sort of person should I be? What is valuable in life? The course examines answers to these classic philosophical questions about ethics in the works of traditional and contemporary authors. Theories discussed may include: the divine command theory of ethics, ethical relativism, utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, and virtue ethics. Theories will be subjected to critical analysis. Course assignments will probably include online short homework before each class, tests that include short essays, longer argumentative essays, and some participation exercises. Class format: interactive lectures and some discussions in groups or pairs.

Class Number 7652

Instructor: P.D. Magnus
TuTh 12:00PM-1:20PM
HU 124

This course is an introduction to some issues in the philosophy of science, including the nature of scientific inference and knowledge. We will also consider the relationship between science and society. Some questions we'll consider include: What kind of activity is science? What sort of social organization makes for the most productive science? Should science set its own agenda, or should it be guided by our social aspirations? We'll read some recent and classic papers in philosophy and science studies.

Class Number 8342

Instructor: Jon Mandle
MWF 10:35AM-11:30AM
HU 128

This course surveys important philosophical accounts the human being and her place in society and the world, from ancient times to the present. Philosophers to be studied may include Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, and King, Jr. Particular attention will be paid to the ways these thinkers' views about human nature inform their views about the proper organization of social and political life.

Class Number 5063

Instructor: Nathan Powers
TuTh 12:00PM-1:20PM
BB 137

This course is a survey of the major achievements of classical Greek philosophy, focusing mainly on the pivotal figures of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Prerequisite: a 100- or 200-level course in philosophy

Class Number 8343

Instructor: Rachel Cohon
TuTh 3:00PM-4:20PM
HU 039

Influential theories about the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice from 17th-19th Europe. We will probably focus on the ethical works of Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. Others we may study (to be determined): Bernard Mandeville, Samuel Clarke, Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith, Sophie de Grouchy, and Jeremy Bentham. Themes of the course will include some of these issues: what makes right actions right and wrong actions wrong, the roles of reason and emotion in moral judgment, what motivates us to be moral (is it basically self-interest? empathy? a recognition of an objective requirement?), and whether the difference between good and evil is natural or invented by human beings. Grading is based on papers, tests, frequent short homework assignments, and participation.

Class Number 8344

Instructor: Bradley-Armour-Garb
TuTh 1:30PM-2:50PM
Taconic 118

Intermediate logic is a second course in logic. It is a detailed, systematic study of symbolic logic for philosophy majors and minors, mathematics majors and minors, computer science majors and minors, and anyone interested in understanding various aspects of logic. The aim of the course is twofold: first, it is to develop a facility in understanding and using symbolic logic for various purposes, and second, it is to understand and appreciate symbolic logic as an area of study in itself. Topics will include the definition of a well-formed formula, the syntax/semantics distinction, the distinction between axiomatic systems and natural deduction systems of object-level proofs, and the soundness, completeness, and undecidability of predicate calculus. Although the language of first-order predicate calculus will be our main focus, we will also examine the motivations for and details of various non-classical logics.

Class Number 6149

Instructor: Monika Piotrowska
TuTh 10:30AM-11:50AM
SS 255

This course investigates moral problems in medicine. In the first few weeks, students are introduced to theories and concepts used in biomedical ethics, which will serve as background aid for thinking through the particular issues to be discussed. Topics to be covered include the doctor-patient relationship, biomedical enhancement, experimentation on human and nonhuman subjects, end-of-life care, human reproduction, and access to healthcare. The aim is to help students develop views on these topics by critically analyzing arguments advanced by academics, judges, and healthcare professionals.

Class Number 8345

Instructor: Kristen Hessler
MW 1:10PM-2:30PM
BB 209

The philosopher Simone de Beauvoir's famously remarked: “One is not born, but becomes, a woman.” Is de Beauvoir right? If so, then why do new parents so often celebrate the birth of a baby girl or boy, as if gender were clearly determined by biology? Come to think of it, what DOES science say about sex and gender? And what do feminist philosophers say about science itself– should we always believe what we think it tells us? In this class, we’ll re-think what we think we know about sex, gender, men, women, society, and justice. We’ll investigate what feminist theorists have said about the nature of power and oppression, whether and how the sexes are "different," the gender pay gap, nature and environmentalism, and the morality of sex (yes, we’ll talk about #MeToo and whether it’s gone “too far”.)

Class Number 8346

Instructor: P.D. Magnus
Tu 3:00PM-5:50PM
HU 027

Shared resource with PHI 520

An advanced survey of some central topics in philosophy of science. Topics will include laws of nature, the nature of causation, scientific explanation, scientific realism, and the under determination of theory by data.

This is a shared-resource course with Philosophy 520. Undergraduate students should take this course under that number.

Topic: Philosophy of Emotion
Class Number 7682

Instructor: Jason D’Cruz
MW 11:40AM-1:00PM
BB 362

This course explores the nature, value, and rationality of emotions. Emotions are central to our understanding of ourselves, our relationships with others, and our responses to the world around us. In this course, we will examine different philosophical perspectives on emotions, ranging from ancient to contemporary theories.

We will explore these topics:

• The nature of emotion. Is emotion a kind of experience, an evaluation, or a form of motivation?
• The relationship between emotion and reason, with special focus on emotions directed to fictional and virtual worlds.
• The influence of emotion on moral judgement, with special focus on disgust.
• The social and cultural factors that influence emotions and their uptake, with focus on anger and gratitude.

Class Number 8348

Instructor: Ron McClamrock
MW 11:40AM-1:00PM
CK 158

Shared resource course with PHI 542

This course examines the historical and conceptual development of phenomenology in the 20th century, starting with Husserl's "presuppositionless and purely descriptive science of the structures of consciousness", and including works by Sartre, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty. We'll emphasize (a) the idea of a presuppositionless account of consciousness; (b) the motivations for and nature of the "existential turn", and (c) connections between phenomenology and both analytic philosophy and scientific psychology.

Grades will be based on 2 of 3 exams, some short writing assignments, and a combination of in-class and online participation.

Note: Undergraduates should sign up for PHI 442; graduate students should sign up for PHI 542.

Class Number 8349

Instructor: Jon Mandle
MW 3:00PM-4:20PM
Taconic 132

For more than 50 years, the work of John Rawls has been at the center of political philosophy. In this course we will read some of his work and the debates that it inspired. Ideas from Rawls include the ideas of reflective equilibrium, the basic structure of society, and public reason. Readings from the secondary literature may include libertarianism, luck egalitarianism, and feminist critiques, as well as theories addressing the adequacy of the focus on the basic structure and ideal theory.

Class Number 8347

Instructor: P.D. Magnus
Tu 3:00PM-5:50PM
HU 027

Shared resource with PHI 418

An advanced survey of some central topics in philosophy of science. Topics will include laws of nature, the nature of causation, scientific explanation, scientific realism, and the under determination of theory by data.

This is a shared-resource course with Philosophy 418. Undergraduate students should take this course under that number.

Class Number 8353

Instructor: Ron McClamrock
MW 11:40AM-1:00PM
CK 158

Shared resource course with PHI 442

This course examines the historical and conceptual development of phenomenology in the 20th century, starting with Husserl's "presuppositionless and purely descriptive science of the structures of consciousness", and including works by Sartre, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty. We'll emphasize (a) the idea of a presuppositionless account of consciousness; (b) the motivations for and nature of the "existential turn", and (c) connections between phenomenology and both analytic philosophy and scientific psychology.

Grades will be based on 2 of 3 exams, some short writing assignments, a final paper, and a combination of in-class and online participation.

Note: Undergraduates should sign up for PHI 442; graduate students should sign up for PHI 542.

Class Number 8350

Instructor: Ariel Zylberman
MW 1:10PM-2:30PM
HU 115

This seminar is an introduction to fundamental topics in metaethics. Metaethics doesn’t necessarily present a normative theory of the good or the right (e.g., the debate between Kantians and Utilitarians). Instead, metaethics focuses on questions about the nature of moral judgment as such – and normative judgment more generally. What do normative statements mean? What sorts of facts, if any, make normative judgments true? And if normative judgments are apt objects of knowledge, how exactly do we know them? In systematically tackling these questions, the seminar will thus survey some of the leading views concerning the semantics, metaphysics, and epistemology of normative judgment.

Topic: Philosophy of AI
Class Number 8351

Instructor: Alessandra Buccella
F 11:40AM-2:30PM
BB 362

Artificial intelligence technologies are transforming our world in ways very few people expected and fully understand. In this course, we will start from an overview of the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence, and then move to its ethical-social implications. We will think about what kind of abilities current AI and machine learning systems have and about whether we can trust them to exercise these abilities in ways that benefit humanity and the planet more generally. We will also discuss whether AI’s achievements have been accurately portrayed by the media and what can be done to make the general public more aware of both AI’s benefits and its risks.

Topic: Politics & Metaphysics in Margaret Cavendish, Robert Boyle, Thomas Hobbes and Henry More
Class Number 8352

Instructor: Marcus Adams
Th 6:00PM-8:50PM
BBB 005

This course is framed around two attempts to develop a coherent materialist philosophy in the 17th Century. Thomas Hobbes’s works have received much attention, while Margaret Cavendish’s have only more recently been a focus for scholars in various disciplines. We will spend roughly equal time on each figure. The goal will be to map connections between their metaphysical commitments and disagreements and to connect these with their resulting political views. We will first read portions of Hobbes’s Elements of Law (1640), De Corpore (1655), and Leviathan (1651). We will next turn to portions of Cavendish’s Philosophical and Physical Opinions (1663), Philosophical Letters (1664), Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (1666/1668), and her utopian, science fiction Blazing World (1666). Although both are materialists, Hobbes and Cavendish disagree on many fundamental metaphysical details about the nature of matter itself as well as the nature of motion and life, perception, and cognition. Examining these differences, alongside criticisms by opponents like Robert Boyle and Henry More, clarifies their commitments and contextualizes their politics.