Basic Problems of Philosophy

 

This course introduces some big philosophical debates through dialogues, from Plato to David and Steffi Lewis. We read dialogues about: Free will: What is free will and do we have it? Knowledge: How do you know that you’re not in the matrix? God: Is there any evidence for or against the existence of God? Abortion: Is abortion morally permissible? Is it ever obligatory Body and soul: Are we purely material beings or do we have souls? And a few other questions.

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Philosophy of Religion (link)

 

This course explores big and cool questions about God and religion: Are religion and science in conflict? Why do bad things happen to good people? What is the relationship between faith and reason? Is there any evidence for or against the existence of God? Could an all-powerful being know what it feels like to be a mouse? And a few other questions besides. We have a lot of fun and friendly debate.

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Select Topics in Philosophy of Religion

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This course explores the topics of God and the soul—and other spooky stuff besides. We look at famous philosophical arguments about the existence or non-existence of God and souls, as well as their nature and connections. We also look at puzzles about other ethereal things—from platonic objects to moral principles—and their potential connection to God and religion. Fun, fun, fun!

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Contemporary Moral Problems

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This course introduces contemporary and controversial ethical questions: Is the death penalty permissible? Is it wrong? Is it every obligatory? Is abortion permissible? Is it wrong? Is it ever obligatory? What about euthanasia? Our treatment of animals? Drugs? Pornography? And other questions besides. We have a lot of fun and friendly debate.

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Ethics (link)

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This course introduces big questions about ethics: What is rightness and wrongness? Is morality real or a kind of illusion? Does morality depend on God or society? What makes an action right or wrong? Is abortion wrong? Do animals have rights? And a few other questions besides.

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Logic

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This course is an introduction to logic—the science of good reasoning. We will cover: formal logic; informal logic; and scientific reasoning. Especially in light of contemporary psychological discoveries about how our reasoning goes wrong.

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Select Topics in Medieval Philosophy

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This course studies three medieval philosophers: one from each of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. We read the following primary sources closely: Anselm: Proslogion; Maimonides: Guide for the Perplexed; Al-Ghazali: Incoherence of the Philosophers. We also look at their philosophical context and bring them to bear on contemporary philosophical debate. The class is conducted in the style of a reading seminar. For each class, I briefly present a summary of the reading, historical background and contemporary relevance. Then we work through the text together, clarifying hard passages, reconstructing the arguments, outlining the dialectic, etc.

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Topics In Modern Philosophy

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This course focuses on the works of the British empiricists, and especially George Berkeley and David Hume. They are among the most influential thinkers in the history of philosophy, and among the most delightful writers in the history of philosophy too. It’s not hard to get excited about their ideas. The arguments are direct, powerful and for radical conclusions: Berkeley tries to show that there are no material things, and Hume tries to show that we have no reason whatsoever for thinking that the sun will rise tomorrow! We focus on their short classics—especially Berkeley’s Principles and Hume’s Enquiry—and see how contemporary philosophers take up their arguments too.

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