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Philosophy 1010: Introductory Philosophy: Social & Political Issues (W’19)

This course is a philosophical introduction to current social and political issues. Public discourse is in a sorry state: partisanship is rampant; the left is becoming alarmingly authoritarian; the right is becoming increasingly transgressive. Fortunately, philosophy provides us with the tools necessary to navigate, examine, and evaluate positions in a clear and systematic manner. In this course, we will consider many of the most important problems of modern times. It will directly deal with current events and seek to understand their causes and effects. Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: the state of nature; free speech; the legislation of force; racism; affirmative action; privilege; rights; the redistribution of wealth; and, the permissibility of violent rebellion.

Philosophy 2370: Metaphysics & Mind (W’19)

This course is an introduction to some of the most enduring problems in Western analytic metaphysics. We will consider two questions: “What are we?” and “What can we do?” The answers to these questions are far from simple. We need to know what kinds of things exist to say that we are a thing of that kind. We need to know what it means to exist to say that certain things exist. We even need to know why anything exists to say why some things exist and some don’t! Similarly, we can’t say that we know what we can do if we don’t know what parts of our behaviour are under our control. We can’t say what is under our control if we don’t have a concept of what it means to cause things to happen. And the whole system is challenged if it turns out that time and change are impossible! In short, this course examines some of the questions that are central to the human experience.

Philosophy 314: Philosophy of Science (W’19)

In the last few hundred years, science has produced some amazing achievements: we have eradicated deadly diseases; we have improved our overall quality of life with technology; and we have deepened our understanding of what it means to be human, to name a few. Despite these achievements, people are becoming increasingly suspicious of the worldview offered by science and the future promised by ever more ubiquitous technology. This worldview has further implications for those with religious commitments. How are we to reconcile the scientific worldview with a religious, and specifically Christian, worldview? Is it possible for someone to be both a good scientist and a good Christian?

In this course, we will explore the relationship between religion, science, and philosophy by looking at some of the major issues in the philosophy of science. We will approach key questions concerning the nature of scientific reasoning, the possibility of scientific progress, and how scientific frameworks evolve over time.

Philosophy 1010: Introductory Philosophy: Social & Political Issues (F’18)

This course is a philosophical introduction to current social and political issues. Public discourse is in a sorry state: partisanship is rampant; the left is becoming alarmingly authoritarian; the right is becoming increasingly transgressive. Fortunately, philosophy provides us with the tools necessary to navigate, examine, and evaluate positions in a clear and systematic manner. In this course, we will consider many of the most important problems of modern times. It will directly deal with current events and seek to understand their causes and effects. Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: the state of nature; free speech; the legislation of force; racism; affirmative action; privilege; rights; the redistribution of wealth; and, the permissibility of violent rebellion.

Philosophy 2240: Knowledge & Belief (F’17)

This course is an introduction to epistemology, the branch of philosophy that studies the possibility, sources, and justification of knowledge. Epistemology is central to public discourse, and familiarizing yourself with its concepts will enable you to navigate public discourse more effectively. The need for such familiarity has never been more pressing: on one hand, there is more information available to more people; on the other, most people do not take the time to consider how such information translates into beliefs, actions, and knowledge. In this course, we will consider three central epistemological problems: the problem of epistemic causation; the problem of justification; and, the problems posed by collective epistemology. Figures include Plato, Descartes, James, Elgin, and more.

Philosophy 3280: Social Epistemology (F’16)

Social epistemology is the study of the epistemic effects of our social institutions and practices. Although related questions have been asked since antiquity, social epistemology has come into its own as a subject of inquiry. Further, social epistemology has never been more relevant, thanks to current events like Brexit or the rise of populism in Western democracies. In this course, we will study three of the most important topics of social epistemology: peer disagreement, expert testimony, and collective epistemology. We will study the work of Feldman, Fricker, Goldman, and many others.

Philosophy 1010: Introductory Philosophy: Social & Political Issues (F’16)

This course is a philosophical introduction to pressing social and political issues of today. Public discourse is in a sorry state: partisanship is rampant; the left is becoming alarmingly authoritarian; the right is becoming increasingly transgressive. Fortunately, philosophy provides us with the tools necessary to navigate, examine, and evaluate positions in a clear and systematic manner. In this course, we will consider many of the most important problems of modern times. It will directly deal with current events and seek to understand their causes and effects. Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: the state of nature; free speech; the legislation of force; racism; affirmative action; privilege; rights; capital punishment; the redistribution of wealth; and, the permissibility of violent rebellion.

Philosophy 3190: Theory of Knowledge I (F’15)

This course is an advanced introduction to epistemology. Epistemology is the area of philosophy concerned with articulating the necessary and sufficient conditions for knowledge. In this course, we will study three issues for the traditional analysis of knowledge: Pyrrhonian skepticism, academic skepticism, and the social element of epistemology. We will engage with primary material foundational to epistemology by philosophers such as Plato, Sextus Empiricus, Audi, BonJour, Zagzebski, James, Sosa, Code, and more.

Philosophy 2100: Critical Thinking (W’14 & W’12)

Whether it is when we are out with friends, taking a course or in a high-pressure sales situation, we are often called upon to analyze the arguments of others and to present arguments of our own. Technologies like the Internet and social media are increasing our ability to engage in mass discussion. This makes it especially important for individuals to not only identify bad arguments, but also to know why they are bad arguments. The goal of this course is to provide students with these tools, with special attention given to current discussions in the media and academia.