Electives

This course provides a critical examination of “race”, gender, and colonialism in the theory and practice of “Western”/Global North philosophy and history.  Metaphysical, epistemological, ontological, phenomenological, and ethical issues will be highlighted, as well as the intersectional dimensions of gender, sex, economic class, language, and other factors.

Inquiry into the political foundations of education and how these interface with epistemological, ethical, and metaphysical concerns. Concrete issues relating to educational injustices will also be addressed. Students will study both classical and contemporary thinkers, such as Confucius, Lao Tzu, Plato, Rousseau, Jane Addams, John Dewey, Paulo Freire, Bell Hooks, Maria Lugones.

The basic philosophical principles of justice and law in the Western legal traditions: morality and law; natural and positive law; Roman law and common law traditions; logic, language, and symbols of law; Marxian concept of law; legal education.

An analysis of fundamental concepts of science: fact, law, observation, theory, explanation, truth, discovery, progress, methods of scientific reasoning, science and pseudo-science, moral implications of scientific research, science and society.

An inquiry into current issues and debates in the field of ethics. The course will consider the relationship of ethical debates to other areas of philosophy. Investigation may focus on issues such as autonomy, internalism, moral realism, and/or the relationship between moral philosophy and problems in social and political philosophy.

A survey of existential philosophers including Sartre, De Beauvoir, Marcel, and Merleau-Ponty; a critical study of their reflections on the nature and meaning of human existence, freedom, and authenticity.

Credit arranged.

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director and department chair.