New Courses in 2024-25

Philosophy 1030A- Understanding Science

This non-essay course introduces conceptual issues about science: What distinguishes science from non-science? Are there limits to what science can or should explain? What does science tell us about reality? What is the relationship between science and religion? What is the role and value of science in a democratic society?

Philosophy 2033A- Introduction to Environmental Philosophy

An examination of several key issues arising out of the present environmental crisis. Sample topics include: to what extent the environmental crisis is a scientific, religious, or ethical problem; the Gaia hypothesis; deep and shallow ecology; the land ethic; ecofeminism; the environment and economics; and sustainable development.

Philosophy 2260F- Introduction to the Philosophy of Language

A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky.

Philosophy 2300F- Philosophy of Science

A discussion of conceptual problems which fall between science and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning theory change and the concept of progress in science.

Philosophy 2350F- The Darwinian Revolution

An historical introduction to the Philosophy of Biology examining the development of evolutionary theory from Aristotle to Darwin and the ways in which past ideas have helped shape contemporary debates (e.g. species concepts, adaptation, levels of selection).  is recommended background for those interested in .

Philosophy 2801G- Contemporary Political

A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.

Philosophy 3003F- Plato

An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato's thought on a range of topics.

Philosophy 3031G- Women in the History of Early Modern Philosophy

This course is an introduction to the philosophical contributions of women to 17th and 18th Century philosophy. What were their philosophical concerns? How did they influence the course of philosophy during this period? How were their contributions received by their contemporaries and how are they viewed today?

Philosophy 4170F- History of the Philosophy of Race

Among the innovations credited to the thinkers of the early Modern period, perhaps the most infamous is the invention of the concept of race. In this course we will consider the treatments of race by prominent philosophers (Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant), and look at a variety of related discussions including the monogenesis/polygenesis debate and the rise of "scientific" racism.

Philosophy 4320G- Synthetic Biology and Philosophy

Introduction to synthetic biology and to philosophical questions relating to it. These include: is synthetic biology revolutionary? Can it help us gain a better understanding of life? What are the ethical dimensions of creating genetic novelty in various contexts? Some background in bioethics and/or philosophy of science is recommended

Philosophy 4331F- Women and Science

The narrative of the human pursuit of knowledge has traditionally excluded the voices that were not in power. In this course, we will focus on scientific and technical knowledge and on women. This is a rich case that gives us instruments to recognize the importance of diversity in science. The course is organized in two parts: the first historical and sociological, the second philosophical.

First, we will consider the historical and sociological contexts that have prevented women from accessing and producing scientific knowledge. The students will be introduced to a selection of remarkable women of science, from antiquity to our days. We will discuss the ground-breaking aspects of their work and the specificities of their experience as scientists. We will highlight how gender identity, race and economical background contribute to create different experiences.

We will then discuss questions at the center of the feminist reflection on science: How biases manifest in scientific production? Does the gender of the knower make a difference? At the light of these questions, what does objectivity mean? We will discuss some of the answers
these questions have been given in the field of feminist epistemology, the perspectives these answers opens for general epistemology, and the relation between these issues and current scientific research.

Philosophy 4730F- Special Topics: Self and Social Transformation

Racism, sexism, and classism are deeply ingrained in our habits and feelings. It seems that in order to change objective conditions we need to change ourselves and our communities. But given that our habits and feelings are often unconscious and resistant to change, how do we philosophically go about doing this? This class tries to answer this question. It starts theoretically with ancient Greek and ancient Chinese virtue ethics as well as Foucault's later work on self-transformation. It then takes these concepts/theories and sees them in action in contemporary movements of self/community transformation. We start with a paradigmatic political activist movement of self-transformation: the Black feminist transformative justice movement with the goal of prison abolition. But as we progress, we will explore less obvious and seemingly more mundane movements of self- and community transformation such as Saba Mahmood's dawa movement from Egypt, Weight Watchers, and finally "ballroom" culture from Detroit. Anthropological ethnographies of these movements will help show how we can self-reflexively shape our own habits and transform ourselves.

 

Philosophy 4991F- Survey of 20th Century Philosophy of Language

An introductory survey of theories of linguistic meaning, drawing principally on classic articles in Analytic philosophy of language which have served as a foundation. Topics will include: reference, truth conditions and possible worlds; assertions and other speech acts; speakers’ reference; conversational implicature; metaphor; indexicals and demonstratives; pragmatic determinants of what is said.

Authors may include: J.L. Austin, Emma Borg, Robyn Carston, Donald Davidson, Keith Donnellan, H. Paul Grice, David Kaplan, Saul Kripke, David Lewis, John Searle, Dan Sperber & Deirdre Wilson, and Catherine Wearingation

Philosophy 4991G- Seminar in History

Description coming soon!

Philosophy 4992F- The Metaphysics of Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish developed a unique and philosophically rich natural philosophy during the 1660s. Tragically, her voice was silenced and she was written out of the history of philosophy after her death. This course rectifies that historical wrong and introduces her natural philosophy and its underlying metaphysics to students. We will examine her conception of matter, her mereology, her conception of motion, and her accounts of life and self-activity, individuals and identity, causation, and necessity. Her accounts will be contrasted with those of Rene Descartes and the Cambridge Platonist Henry More. No previous knowledge of Margaret Cavendish’s philosophical thought is required for this course. 

Philosophy 4992G- Consciousness

Description coming soon!