Teaching
Environmental Ethics
This course investigates the ethics of human-environment relations. Why should we be concerned about nature? Are we distinct from our environment? Do we have an obligation to maintain our environment in a particular way? What kinds of duties do we have towards animals and other creatures? These and other questions will be addressed throughout this course as we consider how we best ought to live in a world that surrounds us, precedes us, and will outlast us. Particular topics covered may include deep ecology, ecofeminism, anthropocentrism, animal rights, habitat preservation, theories of land ownership, and environmental activism.
Business Ethics
This course introduces students to utilitarianism, Kantianism, and virtue ethics, and considers their application within a business context. Also, this course considers the role of moral character in effective business leadership. Topics may include the relationship between ethics and politics, the importance of moral principles, and the relationship between ethics and wealth creation. This course also uses case analysis.
Democracy and Deliberation
This course is grounded on the assumption that democracy involves communication, discussion, and deliberation between individuals and groups with varying commitments. Throughout, we consider some issues that arise with democratic practices such as the tyranny of the majority, the relation between democracy and imperialism, populism, and the character of informed or qualified citizens. Click on section title to view syllabus.
Ethics of Climate Change
This course investigates the ethical problems associated with climate change, including: What ethical frameworks are helpful for evaluating the complex social, environmental, intergenerational and international ethical issues that climate change raises? What moral responsibility do individuals have for helping to resolve problems in which their whole society is implicated? What is the fairest and most effective way to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Is our current rate of GHG emissions a new form of domination – not only over the earth and other civilizations, but also over future generations? Does the massively collective nature of climate change necessitate new ways of conceptualizing environmental ethics?
Theory of Ethics
Theory of Ethics is a historical and thematic survey of largely western theories of philosophical ethics. Ethical theories covered include Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Natural Law, and Virtue Ethics. Click on section titles to view syllabi.
Human Nature
This course is an historical and thematic introduction to the philosophical tradition. Lectures focus largely on the western intellectual tradition although special attention is paid to Catholic and Ancient thought. Click on section titles to view syllabi.
Logic
In this introduction to logic, we cover informal fallacies, argument reconstruction, and formal sentential derivations. Click on section titles to view syllabi.