Instructor: Dr. Jeff Freelin

Course Description:  

This class is designed in part to help students confront some issues that arise out of the human condition, with an eye toward constructing a reasonable and consistent world view. To this end, this class will survey an array of answers to questions like: 1) What sorts of things can we know, and how can we know them? 2) Do humans act freely when we choose to do something, or are our actions such that we could not have done otherwise? 3) Can moral claims be true or false for all, or is the truth of moral claims just a matter of opinion? 4) How ought material goods and honors be divided in society? 5) Is it rational to believe that God exists?

 Instructor: Dr. Claire Horisk

Course Description:

The central goal of the course is to learn critical thinking skills that are used by living philosophers and that will be useful throughout your life. We will learn these skills while considering philosophical questions from different areas of philosophy, so that we meet a second goal, learning that philosophy isn’t just about reading the work of famous thinkers in the past; it is a living discipline with active researchers who consider a broad range of issues. For example, these questions include: Do you know that the objects and events you experience are real, or is it probable that we are living in a simulated reality? What should you believe, particularly when the source of knowledge is what other people tell you? Does the internet raise new problems about knowledge, because of its social nature? What does the moral principle “do the greatest good for the greatest number” omit about morality, and how is this relevant to programming and purchasing self-driving cars? Do you understand what you think and feel better than you understand what other people think and feel? What does it mean to say that a group of people is oppressed? 

Although many of these problems have their roots in the history of philosophy, and we will learn about the work of some notable historical figures, especially the 17th century French philosopher René Descartes, most of the readings for the course were written by living philosophers specifically for undergraduates.

 Instructor: Dr. Philip Robbins

Course Description:

The core question of ethics is this: How should we behave towards one another? In this course we address this disarmingly simple question, ultimately with an eye to matters of life and death. We begin by familiarizing ourselves with the basics of ethical theory, and then proceed to consider the objectivity of moral claims and the possibility of moral knowledge. After that, we tackle a variety of moral questions, including questions about the permissibility of abortion, our obligations to animals, and whether we have a duty to reduce social and economic inequality. Though we will be exploring the field of ethics at a certain level of abstraction, the ultimate goal of the course is entirely practical: to develop the ability to think clearly and systematically about ethical issues. The course is open to students from all areas of the University interested in improving their moral judgment and decision making. These skills may be helpful in a wide array of professions, as well as in everyday life.

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Robert Johnson

Course Description:

This is an introduction to ethical theory. What basis, if any, do we have to make distinctions between what is good and what is bad, who is virtuous and who is vicious, or what we ought to do and what we ought not to do? We will read, discuss, and write about the answers given by Plato, Aristotle, John Stuart Mill, and Immanuel Kant.

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Francisco de Assis Mariano, Alice Nyarko, Archangelo Quintaneiro and Tianqen Ren

Course Description:

This course approaches moral problems in biomedical and scientific research from a philosophical perspective. First, we'll familiarize ourselves with ethics and political philosophy. Then we'll study the ethical issues that arise in connection with a series of issues, including research involving human and animal subjects, eugenics, the human genome project, cloning and stem cell research. By thinking about these issues, we learn how to think critically about particular moral quandaries, as well as to uncover and examine some of our deepest moral commitments.

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. André Ariew

Course Description:

This is an introductory course in critical thinking. In every academic discipline and in every walk of life reasons are given for believing claims to be true. But not all reasons are alike: some are good, some are not so good, and some are downright bad. How do we tell the difference between good and bad reasoning? The answer is to learn some good reasoning rules and methods. This is the aim of the course. By mastering rules and methods of good reasoning, students will acquire the ability to sharpen their judgment and decision-making skills for use both in and out of the classroom.

The course is designed to be foundational for your college education. That's a bold statement, but it’s true. Everything you learn in college will be implicitly or explicitly based on reasons. Hence, a course that teaches you the rules of reasoning counts as a foundational course. Every citizen should take a course like this. Again, that's a bold statement. But if you cannot reason properly, then your life choices will be poor. In this course, you will acquire the tools of reasoning and learn how to use them for thinking more effectively about the world.

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Melnyk

Course Description:

We will study the nature of arguments, i.e., bits of reasoning. An argument has a job or function: to provide someone with some reason to think that something is the case. A good argument is one that does its job. Arguments are useful not only because they enable us to get other people to think certain things, but also because they enable us to figure out what we ourselves have reason to think. By the end of this course, you should be able to read a passage containing an argument and then both (1) explain precisely how the reasoning in the passage is supposed to work and (2) assess how good a reason to believe the conclusion is provided by the premises. You should also be able to (3) construct good arguments of your own.  The course aims to improve the ways in which you reason, rather than to fill your heads with more facts. Knowing facts is indispensable for assessing arguments, but this course will not much increase your factual knowledge.

Instructor: Dr. M Folescu

Course Description:

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" – Casablanca

You are invited to the movies! In this class, you will be guided into developing the advanced skills needed to critically talk about films. We will be focused on questions about what makes a movie be a movie: 

• Is it the depiction of movement, is it the narrative line, or something else?
• What about character development? How does this contribute to the rise and fall of certain emotions in audiences?
• What does the soundtrack contribute to our appreciating of a movie?
• What makes a movie visually appealing: what, in the framing, the use of color, and costumes renders the message explicit?

The course is structured around several modules designed to help you gain a deeper appreciation of one of the most common pastimes of our lives. To help us on this journey, each week we will be watching a movie, in addition to doing the required readings (all available online). All movies — a mixture of Hollywood blockbusters and cult classics -- are screened, for free, on Monday evenings, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm (attendance is mandatory!).

Instructor: Dr. Hernán Medina

Course Description:

A lot of philosophers claim that almost every human being has asked themselves what the meaning of life is. Among these philosophers, Albert Camus famously said: “Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.” I doubt that almost every human being has asked that question. However, I’m sure that some of us have asked what the meaning of life is. And I hope that during and after this course some of us will. This course has two main goals: first, understanding why the question of the meaning of life is worth asking; second, get you to philosophically reflect on the meaning of life and how your area of expertise (career, major, passion) relates to a meaningful life.

Instructor: Mr. Se Yong Bae

Review of the major contemporary ethical theories and their contribution to the resolution of major social issues such as euthanasia, suicide, abortion, capital punishment, violence and war. Emphasis on nature, interests, and rights of persons.

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Troy Hall

Course Description:

This extremely popular course considers issues of patient autonomy, consent, healthcare rights, abortion, euthanasia, and animal and human research from an agenda-free perspective. It is also perfect as a first philosophy or ethics course, as fundamental ethical theories are explained before integrating them with medical cases. Many students have reported that taking this course was a positive transformative experience for them at Mizzou. Taught by College of Arts and Science Green and Purple Chalk teaching awards-winner Dr. Troy Hall.

Note: This course counts toward the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Kenny Boyce

Course Description:

Do you love solving puzzles like Sudoku? Then this is a great course for you. We will learn how to solve logical puzzles, by learning a formal logical language and formal methods of evaluating arguments. Having logical abilities is great for anyone who needs to reason—and that is all of us—and is an especially useful skill if you are interested in law, business, or linguistics. Logic also serves as a fundamental basis for computer science and artificial intelligence.

Instructor: Dr. Gualtiero Piccinini

Course Description:

This course will cover core topics at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and philosophy of mind. These may include how the brain works, cognitive functions, consciousness, the singularity, and mind uploading.

Instructor: Dr. Kenny Shields

Course Description:

Ethics concerns this question: what should I do? Environmental ethics asks this question regarding our relationship to the rest of the world around us. Do only humans matter? Do non-human beings matter too? Is everything else in our world merely valuable as a tool—instrumentally—for human interests? Or might other things matter for their own sake—intrinsically—regardless of whether they further human flourishing in particular? In this class, we get to join this ongoing discussion with others living in our shared environment.

Note: This course counts toward the Department of Philosophy's Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Marta Heckel

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to ancient western philosophy, focusing on the most influential philosophical ideas and texts of Ancient Greece and Rome. The aim of the course is for students to gain an understanding of key views and arguments of ancient western philosophy, and to engage critically with them; to understand arguments and texts; evaluate, defend, and criticize arguments of your own and of others; and think critically about philosophical issues. We’ll cover Plato, Aristotle, Skepticism, Stoicism, and Epicureanism, and consider questions such as: What is virtue? What is friendship? What are the basic building blocks of reality? How much can we know about the world external to our own minds? Is the unexamined life worth living?

Instructor: Dr. Troy Hall

Course Description:

Death. Dread. Anxiety. Power. Freedom. Responsibility. Authenticity. Rebellion. Such are many of the categories of our concrete lived experience, and they are the foundation of the philosophical movement called Existentialism. Join College of Arts and Science Green and Purple Chalk teaching awards-winner Dr. Troy Hall as we plumb the depths of what it means to be an individual as understood by Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Heidegger, Camus, and others. 

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Alex Radulescu

Course Description:

We will discuss two book manuscripts about some of the things we do with language other than cooperatively communicating about how the world is. First, we will talk about Emanuel Viebahn’s forthcoming book on lying, misleading, and the relation between them. We will be interested in the distinction between the two, if there is one, and on the question whether one is morally better than the other. Second, we will talk about Sam Berstler’s forthcoming book on the philosophy of Erving Goffman. Goffman is a famous sociologist of the 20th century, well known for his explanations of human behavior as a way to take part in social interactions that are almost invisible. For example: why do we say “Oops” after tripping in public? It doesn’t help with the pain, and it seems to serve no practical purpose. But it does signal to others that the fall was a mistake, not the action of an irrational agent. Berstler is mining this pioneering research to show that various uses of language can only be explained not primarily as a way to talk about how things are, but as a way to participate in the society we are in.

Instructor: Dr. Alex Radulescu

Course Description:

Introductory logic classes discuss various ways to determine whether an argument is valid or not. These may include proofs, trees, truth tables, or models. In this class, we show that these various methods yield the same results: that an argument is valid if and only if any and all of these methods say that it is valid. Understanding this relation between proof theory and model theory, and understanding how to show that it holds, leads to a deeper understanding of first order logic. In the last part of the course, we will also be introducing modal logic – the logic of necessity and possibility. This is a tool that is used and taken for granted in much of the philosophy that has been done since the second half of the 20th century.

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Melnyk

Course Description:

Our mental states—our beliefs, thoughts, wants, emotions, and sensations—seem to be produced in us by our perceptual interactions with the world, and in turn to explain why we act as we do. But we also know that these same interactions with the world put our brains into electro-chemical states that go on to cause our behavior. It’s then tempting to suspect that our mental states in some sense are (certain of) our brain states. Such a view, however, raises all sorts of difficult questions.  How could each of us be aware of our own sensations (e.g., pains) in a way that no one else can be aware of them if they’re just brain states that in principle anyone could observe? How could mere electro-chemical states be, like our beliefs and wants, about things, including things that don’t exist (e.g., Santa Claus)?  There’s something it’s like to smell gasoline or see a rose, but how could there be anything it’s like for the neurons in one’s brain to be sending and receiving chemical and electrical signals?  This course aims to acquaint students with the best of contemporary thinking on these central questions in philosophy of mind. Together we shall read, analyze, and evaluate substantial items of philosophical literature at the rate of roughly one a week. 

Instructor: Dr. Kenny Boyce

Course Description:

Can we genuinely know that we live in a real world and not an elaborate simulation? If so, how? What things are rational for us to believe? How are our commonsense and scientific beliefs justified? Can we have rationally justified beliefs regarding matters such as morality, politics, and religion? Does the fact there is so much disagreement in these areas give us reason to doubt those beliefs? These are just a few of the questions we will explore this semester, as we explore epistemology (the philosophical study of knowledge and rational belief).

Instructor: Dr. Robert Johnson

Course Description:

Practical reason is our capacity to somehow guide our actions through reflection, deliberation and decision. In this course we will focus on recent work on the role of practical reason in morality. In particular, will focus on contributions by Immanuel Kant and those influenced by him, as well as contemporary critics with alternative or skeptical views of practical reason. We will address questions such as: What is the nature of practical rationality? What is its connection to morality and value generally? What is the relationship between practical reason and freedom of will?

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Karolina Wisniewska

Course Description:

This upper-level course introduces students to key issues across philosophy of law. The first part of the course focuses on foundational debates concerning the relationship between law and morality. The second part surveys real-world philosophical questions in different areas of the law: punishment and civil disobedience in criminal law; risk and responsibility in tort law; promises and exploitation in contract law; the impact of different interpretative methods on our rights in constitutional law; and the challenge posed by state sovereignty to the international legal order. 

Note: This course counts towards the Philosophy Department’s Certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice.

Instructor: Dr. Bina Gupta

Course Description:

This is a self-paced course. Students have up to 6 months from the start date to complete the course. The course will be delivered online through Canvas. 

The course constitutes a historical-critical analysis of selected philosophies of India and China. The primary emphasis will be placed upon the historical development of Asian philosophies within the classical period. It will explore a broad range of philosophical issues discussed in the Vedas, Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gītā, Therāvāda Buddhism, the Advaita Vedanta, the Confucian Analects, and the Tao Te Ching. 

The primary goal of the course is to bring out the theoretical, discursive rigor of Indian/Asian philosophy, using analytic, exegetical, and phenomenological methodologies. The course is intended to correct several common misconceptions about Asian philosophy, such as the idea that Asian philosophy lacks theoretical rigor, that it is theology at best, and that it is motivated by practical concerns rather than the disinterested search for theoretical knowledge that characterizes Western philosophy. It will demonstrate that there exist an amazing variety of epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical conceptions in Asian philosophy. These conceptions contain very sophisticated arguments and counterarguments that were advanced by the defenders of each thesis and its opponents.

To be specific, the course will

• describe the Asian cultural context in which the philosophical issues arose;
• articulate the different ways in which basic philosophic issues have been considered in Asia;
• distinguish between the styles and methodologies of Asian philosophers;
• explain the difference between Asian philosophy and religion; and
• explain that such binary oppositions as theoretical-practical, intellect-intuition perpetuate the myth that Asian/Indian philosophy is radically different from Western philosophy, so it is not a proper philosophical enterprise.

Instructor: Various Departmental Faculty

Instructor: Various Departmental Faculty

Instructor: Dr. Gualtieroo Piccinini

Course Description:

Introduction to graduate level work in philosophy. Required of all students entering the program, in the first year. An intensive workshop focused on skills rather than any particular philosophical content. Prerequisites: restricted to first year graduate students.

Instructor: Dr. André Ariew

Course Description:

Examines central issues in general philosophy of science concerning the scientific method and the role in it of observation, the nature of rational theory-choice, progress, and the status of theories postulating unobservables.

Instructor: Dr. Claire Horisk

Course Description:

Topics of current interest in the philosophy of language.