Spring 2026 Courses
Visit the Schedule of Classes for course schedules, instructors, locations, credits and other details.
Visit the Graduate Bulletin and Undergraduate Bulletin for a full list of Philosophy courses and their descriptions.
Below, we provide further elaboration on our offerings, describing what particular topics or approaches instructors will focus on during a semester.
Spring 2026 Undergraduate Courses
Spring 2026 Undergraduate Courses
- APHI 110: Introduction to Philosophical Problems
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Topics will include: Does god exist? How are the mind and body related? What is knowledge? Is there free will? What is the good life? What is justice? This class will examine the work of major philosophers from ancient Greece to the contemporary period. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of argumentation for philosophy: i.e., philosophers give reasons and develop rigorous arguments to support their positions.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Topics will include: Does god exist? How are the mind and body related? What is knowledge? Is there free will? What is the good life? What is justice? This class will examine the work of major philosophers from ancient Greece to the contemporary period. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of argumentation for philosophy: i.e., philosophers give reasons and develop rigorous arguments to support their positions.
- TPHI 110: Introduction to Philosophical Problems
- APHI 111: The Mind and the World
- Class Number: 5244
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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).
- Class Number: 7511
- Class Number: 5244
- APHI 114: Morals and Society
- APHI 115: Moral Dilemmas
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course is designed to be a survey of philosophical issues related to contemporary ethical problems. 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. 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.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course is designed to be a survey of philosophical issues related to contemporary ethical problems. 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. 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.
- APHI 202: Critical Thinking
- APHI 210: Introduction to Logic
- APHI 212: Introduction to Ethical Theory
- Class Number: 8854
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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. Likely course assignments: online short homework before each class, in-class tests that incorporate brief essays, some longer argumentative essays, and participation exercises. Class format: interactive lectures and some discussions in groups or pairs.
- Class Number: 7221
- Class Number: 8854
- APHI 218: Understanding Science
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course explores the nature of science, drawing insights from philosophy and science studies. Science is not a matter of applying a formal or mechanical method. Instead, it depends on the details of our background knowledge and on the social organization of the scientific community. So it requires considering the boundaries of expertise and the relation between science and broader society. It requires value judgement in weighing the potential benefits of research against the possible costs of different errors. And ultimately, responsible science demands attention to the diversity of our society.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course explores the nature of science, drawing insights from philosophy and science studies. Science is not a matter of applying a formal or mechanical method. Instead, it depends on the details of our background knowledge and on the social organization of the scientific community. So it requires considering the boundaries of expertise and the relation between science and broader society. It requires value judgement in weighing the potential benefits of research against the possible costs of different errors. And ultimately, responsible science demands attention to the diversity of our society.
- APHI 220: History of Social and Political Philosophy
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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.
- APHI 312: 17c+18c Philosophy
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches:The period in philosophy from Descartes to Kant, from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, was dominated by the system of ideas — the assumption that the only objects of direct perception are ideas occurring in our own minds. We’ll chart the rise and fall of the system of ideas through the philosophies of Ren ́e Descartes, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches:The period in philosophy from Descartes to Kant, from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, was dominated by the system of ideas — the assumption that the only objects of direct perception are ideas occurring in our own minds. We’ll chart the rise and fall of the system of ideas through the philosophies of Ren ́e Descartes, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant.
- APHI 319: Intensive Study of Understanding Science
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course explores the nature of science, drawing insights from philosophy and science studies. Science is not a matter of applying a formal or mechanical method. Instead, it depends on the details of our background knowledge and on the social organization of the scientific community. So it requires considering the boundaries of expertise and the relation between science and broader society. It requires value judgement in weighing the potential benefits of research against the possible costs of different errors. And ultimately, responsible science demands attention to the diversity of our society.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course explores the nature of science, drawing insights from philosophy and science studies. Science is not a matter of applying a formal or mechanical method. Instead, it depends on the details of our background knowledge and on the social organization of the scientific community. So it requires considering the boundaries of expertise and the relation between science and broader society. It requires value judgement in weighing the potential benefits of research against the possible costs of different errors. And ultimately, responsible science demands attention to the diversity of our society.
- APHI 325: Philosophy of Law
- APHI 334: Intensive Study History of Social and Political Philosophy
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: 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.
- APHI 336: Existentialist Philosophy
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Existentialism is among the most prominent movements of 20th century philosophy, influencing developments in fields as diverse as psychology, theology, theater, literature, art, and film. This course will examine some of the central topics of existentialist philosophy, such as: anxiety, alienation, authenticity, bad faith, death, freedom, individuality, and meaning. Philosophers to be studied may include: Camus, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Jaspers, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Existentialism is among the most prominent movements of 20th century philosophy, influencing developments in fields as diverse as psychology, theology, theater, literature, art, and film. This course will examine some of the central topics of existentialist philosophy, such as: anxiety, alienation, authenticity, bad faith, death, freedom, individuality, and meaning. Philosophers to be studied may include: Camus, de Beauvoir, Heidegger, Jaspers, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre.
- APHI 380: AI Ethical & Legal Issues
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. But what are the most relevant ethical and legal issues surrounding the deployment and use of these technologies to address societal problems? In this course, we will identify and critically discuss some of the most prominent issues surrounding AI’s impacts on society and examine different theoretical approaches to AI safety and governance.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. But what are the most relevant ethical and legal issues surrounding the deployment and use of these technologies to address societal problems? In this course, we will identify and critically discuss some of the most prominent issues surrounding AI’s impacts on society and examine different theoretical approaches to AI safety and governance.
- APHI 416: Philosophy of Mind
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: An examination of the modern version of the traditional mind-body problem and issues connected with it. Topics to be covered will include varieties of dualism and materialism, the problem of mental causation, reductionism and the mind-body problem, the relevance of various kinds of scientific theorizing about mind to the traditional mind-body problem, and some puzzles concerning qualia, embeddedness, and intentionality, the explanatory gap, and subjectivity.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: An examination of the modern version of the traditional mind-body problem and issues connected with it. Topics to be covered will include varieties of dualism and materialism, the problem of mental causation, reductionism and the mind-body problem, the relevance of various kinds of scientific theorizing about mind to the traditional mind-body problem, and some puzzles concerning qualia, embeddedness, and intentionality, the explanatory gap, and subjectivity.
- APHI 438: Philosophy of Social Sciences
- APHI 474: Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: Intensive critical study of political concepts and theories at the center of current discussions, such as liberty, equality, rights, justice, individualism, communitarianism, liberalism, socialism, conservatism.
Spring 2026 Graduate Courses
Spring 2026 Graduate Courses
- APHI 516: Philosophy of Mind
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: An examination of the modern version of the traditional mind-body problem and issues connected with it. Topics to be covered will include varieties of dualism and materialism, the problem of mental causation, reductionism and the mind-body problem, the relevance of various kinds of scientific theorizing about mind to the traditional mind-body problem, and some puzzles concerning qualia, embeddedness, and intentionality, the explanatory gap, and subjectivity.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: An examination of the modern version of the traditional mind-body problem and issues connected with it. Topics to be covered will include varieties of dualism and materialism, the problem of mental causation, reductionism and the mind-body problem, the relevance of various kinds of scientific theorizing about mind to the traditional mind-body problem, and some puzzles concerning qualia, embeddedness, and intentionality, the explanatory gap, and subjectivity.
- APHI 538: Philosophy of Social Sciences
- APHI 552: Aristotle’s Ethics
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course is an in-depth survey of Aristotle’s ethical theory, focusing on the Nicomachean Ethics. We will pay special attention to how Aristotle fits into the “rationalist” ethical tradition inaugurated by Socrates and continued by Aristotle’s teacher Plato. Along the way students will work on developing the (valuable and transferable) skills needed to do research in the history of philosophy, culminating in a term paper that engages fruitfully with the scholarly literature.
- Notes on Topics and/or Approaches: This course is an in-depth survey of Aristotle’s ethical theory, focusing on the Nicomachean Ethics. We will pay special attention to how Aristotle fits into the “rationalist” ethical tradition inaugurated by Socrates and continued by Aristotle’s teacher Plato. Along the way students will work on developing the (valuable and transferable) skills needed to do research in the history of philosophy, culminating in a term paper that engages fruitfully with the scholarly literature.
- APHI 574: Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
Courses from Previous Semesters
Academic Year 2025-2026
Academic Year 2025-2026