Fall 2011– Spring 2012
Fall 2011
PHIL 220: Philosophy of Science
course blog | syllabus
A philosophical examination of science as a human practice, with particular attention to foundational epistemological, metaphysical, and social/ethical issues stemming from science. PHIL 100 is a prerequisite, but interested who lack this preparation students are invited to contact me.
T/R 8–9:22AM
PHIL 222: Analytic Philosophy ("Paradoxes")
This very sentence is false. This is an odd sentence indeed! For it's either true or false; if it's true, it's false; if it's false, thenwhat it says is true (so it's true). So it's true if and only if it's false. This is an instance of an ancient paradox called "The Liar". The focus of this iteration of Analytic Philosophy will be on the role that paradoxes like the Liar have played in philosophy and mathematics (particularly in the 20th century). Prerequisite: PHIL 100 or 103 and a willingness to have your mind curled into an MC Escher-esque pretzel.
T/R 9:30–10:52AM
Spring 2012
PHIL 103: Logic
moodle site | syllabus
This course will introduce the concepts and methods of logical reasoning. We will analyze the structure and general forms of arguments, developing standards and criteria for evaluating them. The course will consider both formal and informal aspects of argument with the aim of improving your innate reasoning abilities. Aside from surveying various techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments, we shall attend to arguments deployed in moral, political, and scientific contexts.
Section 1: MWF 8–8:52AM
Section 2: MWF 9–9:52AM
PHIL 311: Seminar ("Doubt, Disagreement, and Dogmatism")
This seminar will tackle a series of issues at the intersection of social epistemology, philosophy of science, and ethics. Our beliefs about the world come not just from straightforward contact with it, but from other epistemic agents. This presumes a certain measure of trust in what others tell us. Is that trust warranted? How should disagreement — about matters of fact, ethics, public policy, and so on — impact our beliefs? How should we respond to doubt (in ourselves and in others)? How should we identify and respond to dogmatism? Is it ever acceptable? After discussing these and related questions in a theoretical context, we will turn our attention to their practical application in such contexts as the social controversies over intelligent design, global climate change, public health, and so on.
R 1–3:52PM
Fall 2012– Spring 2013 (tentative)
Fall 2012
PHIL 100: Philosophy in Film
An introduction to philosophy — particularly metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics — via classic and contemporary film.
Section 1: MWF 8–8:52AM
Section 2: MWF 9–9:52AM
PHIL 220: Philosophy of Science
A philosophical examination of science as a human practice, with particular attention to foundational epistemological, metaphysical, and social/ethical issues stemming from science.
MW 3–4:22PM
Spring 2013
IP ???: Science and Ethics of Climate Change
This course will introduce the concepts and methods of logical reasoning. We will analyze the structure and general forms of arguments, developing standards and criteria for evaluating them. The course will consider both formal and informal aspects of argument with the aim of improving your innate reasoning abilities. Aside from surveying various techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments, we shall attend to arguments deployed in moral, political, and scientific contexts.
MW 3–4:22PM
PHIL 270: Philosophy of Biology
This seminar will tackle a series of issues at the intersection of social epistemology, philosophy of science, and ethics. Our beliefs about the world come not just from straightforward contact with it, but from other epistemic agents. This presumes a certain measure of trust in what others tell us. Is that trust warranted? How should disagreement — about matters of fact, ethics, public policy, and so on — impact our beliefs? How should we respond to doubt (in ourselves and in others)? How should we identify and respond to dogmatism? Is it ever acceptable? After discussing these and related questions in a theoretical context, we will turn our attention to their practical application in such contexts as the social controversies over intelligent design, global climate change, public health, and so on.
W 7–9:52PM