Teaching Materials
Fall 2023: Problems of Philosophy
Description: This course is an introduction to some classic philosophical questions. Should I believe in God? Do I really know anything? Is morality objective? What should I do? Do I have free will? What does it take for me to persist through time? What’s the meaning of life? We’ll discuss the significance of these questions and assess the plausibility of various ways that these questions might be answered. The ultimate goal of the course is to develop your critical and argumentative skills: by the end of the course, you should be able to think philosophically for yourself.
Assignment 1 (+writing advice)
Spring 2024: Ethics in Your Life: Being, Thinking, Doing (or Not?)
Co-taught with Nicholas Collura.
Description: All of us are regularly confronted with ethical questions. Some of these questions concern small, daily decisions: Is it okay to pet this stranger’s dog without asking first? Should I forgive my friend for being grumpy this morning? What should I eat for dinner tonight? Other questions are broader: What moral responsibilities do I have as a researcher? What should I do when others say things I find offensive? What kind of life do I want to live? In this 6-credit seminar we meet each week to clarify and discuss these kinds of questions. The ultimate goal of the course is to give you the tools to develop your own ethical perspective, and the confidence to act on it.