PHI 051 - A-Z Explorations in Philosophy

Semester Hours: 1-4

Exploration of a topic, issue, question or theme in philosophy or in the contemporary context that has significant philosophical aspects to it. The subject matter will vary from semester to semester. Examples of possible course topics, issues, questions or themes are, morality in the marketplace; philosophical perspectives on health and wellness; how is “truthiness” different from truth? what are facts and are there “alternative facts”? Course may be repeated with new subject matter.

Current Special Topics

PHI 051C: Coding Philosophical Problems

This course offers a practical, hands-on introduction to computer programming, with a particular focus on philosophically interesting applications. Students will learn the basics of a modern general-purpose programming language that is used in a wide variety of academic, scientific and business settings. Students will write programs that display something like human intelligence or reasoning ability, and programs to model and explore hypotheses about the evolutionary origin of morality and altruism. No prior exposure to programming or to philosophy is required.

PHI 051D: Dangerous Ideas

Each week a faculty member from a different department will explore a concept that has shaped human experience across time and space. The course is available only on a pass/D+/D/fail basis.

Ideas matter. Concepts such as cultural identity, the meaning of food, democracy, faith, race, freedom, gender, have inspired social movements, shaped ways of life and political systems, and dramatically influenced the lives of individuals. Scientific ideas (such as evolution, species extinction, climate science) and skepticism about science also have power to shape our lives. Powerful ideas can be dangerous, generating turmoil and destabilizing the status quo, or supporting the status quo when change is needed, or creating unanticipated consequences.

No prerequisites. There is no required reading for the course, but attendance is required.

A student may register for any of the cross-listed sections (they are all one and the same course): ANTH 188K, DRAM 110C, PHI 051D, PSC 154B, RELI 090F, RHET 187F.

PHI 051H (A), CRN: 94245: Health and Wellness: Philosophical Perspectives

It’s challenging to become happy and healthy. For one thing, it can take a lot of work. But also, it’s often hard to know what we should try to do. In fact, what it means to be healthy and what it means to be happy are not obvious. Do meanings vary from person to person, or are there some “right” definitions? Does health mean the same thing universally or are there cultural variations? And why does research on health and happiness point us in so many different, sometimes opposite, directions? We discuss theories of what it means to be happy and healthy — classic and contemporary, philosophical and psychological — and from both western and non-western traditions.

PHI 051R (01), CRN: 93989: Philosophy of Race

This course examines the ideas of race and racism, primarily in the United States. We investigate the science and metaphysics of race—the question “in what way is race ‘real’?”—the cognitive science of race and racism (what psychological mechanisms are involved in race classifications)—the ethical and political theory of equality and egalitarianism, and the question, what, if anything, should we do about race and racism?