Philosophy

Epistemology

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Epistemology Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CourseHeader

PHIL402 - Epistemology

CourseTime

CourseID

93794..

Credits

CreditType

Graduate or Undergraduate

CRN

93794

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: Two courses in philosophy at or above the 200 level; or consent of instructor This course examines both historical and recent discussions of problems and arguments concerning knowledge, belief, skepticism, justification, objectivity, relativism and truth. Questions include: Can we have knowledge? Does knowledge entail certainty? Are there sources of knowledge that transcend the senses? Are we justified in believing that there is an external world? Is there one objective reality or many alternative realities? What is truth? Is truth relative? Offered alternate years. May be taken for graduate-level credit with consent of department chairperson.

Instructor

Pearson

Notes

This section uses OER/No cost materials.

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

FULL

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Philosophy of Science

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Philosophy of Science Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CourseHeader

PHIL260 - Philosophy of Science

CourseTime

CourseID

93774..

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93774

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three-credit course in philosophy This course introduces students to foundational issues in the philosophy of science. Topics discussed may include issues such as the science/non-science distinction, the nature of scientific explanation, the interactions between theory and observation, causation and the existence of natural kinds. Also, some application issues may be discussed like whether science is objective, sexist or racist, or how to apply science to policy questions like school science curricula and funding of large-scale scientific initiatives. Offered alternate years.

Instructor

Devlin

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Directed Study in Philosophy

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Directed Study in Philosophy Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CourseHeader

PHIL499 - Directed Study in Philosophy

CourseTime

CourseID

93746..

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93746

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: Consent of the department; formal application required Directed study is open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated critical and analytical abilities in their studies and who wish to pursue a project independently. Repeatable: may earn a maximum of six credits. Offered as topics arise.

Instructor

Dasti

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

FULL

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Honors Thesis in Philosophy

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Honors Thesis in Philosophy Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CourseHeader

PHIL485 - Honors Thesis in Philosophy

CourseTime

CourseID

93632..

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93632

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth and Departmental Honors students; one 100-level, three-credit course in philosophy; formal application required One-hour weekly meetings with the thesis director will culminate in an honors thesis. With the consent of the Departmental Honors Committee and the thesis director, this course may be extended into a second semester for three additional credits depending upon the scope of the project. Whether the final version of the thesis qualifies the student to graduate with honors will be determined by the Departmental Honors Committee. Repeatable: may earn a maximum of six credits. Offered as topics arise.

Instructor

Aldieri

Section

H01

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Colloq: Philosophy of Kubrick

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Colloq: Philosophy of Kubrick Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT202

ClassDays

Wednesday

CourseHeader

PHIL135 - Colloq: Philosophy of Kubrick

CourseTime

W 12:20pm-1:10pm

CourseID

93474.HNT202.W 12:20pm-1:10pm

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93474

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth Honors students and to others at the discretion of instructor Freshman Honors Colloquia in philosophy allow exceptionally able students to explore a challenging topic in small classes under close faculty supervision. Colloquia meet once a week for 50 minutes and culminate in a paper or scientific project which provides the major part of the grade. Topics vary from semester to semester. Repeatable: may earn a maximum of six credits. Offered fall semester.

Instructor

Devlin

Section

H01

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Ethics Bowl: Making the Case

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Ethics Bowl: Making the Case Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT202

ClassDays

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

CourseHeader

PHIL220 - Ethics Bowl: Making the Case

CourseTime

MWF 11:15am-12:05pm

CourseID

93473.HNT202.MWF 11:15am-12:05pm

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93473

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three-credit course in philosophy or CRIT 111 This course focuses on the ethical implications of decisions in various aspects of life through an interdisciplinary, case-study approach. We will discuss ethical dilemmas arising in various contexts, such as interpersonal relationships in personal and professional life, the social responsibilities of businesses, end-of-life and other medical care decisions, gene-splicing and cloning, free speech, gun control and more. Individual assignments and in-class activities will focus on the investigation, analysis, discussion and debate of case studies published by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Students will be required to conduct significant research on the cases, formulate arguments in defense of their positions, and participate in discussion and debate as a team. Select students may be invited to participate in the Northeast Regional Ethics Bowl competition. Repeatable: may earn a maximum of six credits. Offered periodically.

Instructor

Aldieri

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Environmental Ethics

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Environmental Ethics Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT101

ClassDays

Tuesday, Thursday

CourseHeader

PHIL215 - Environmental Ethics

CourseTime

TR 9:30am-10:45am

CourseID

93451.HNT101.TR 9:30am-10:45am

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93451

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three-credit course in philosophy or CRIT 111. What is the basis of distinctions between human and animal, culture and nature, domestic and wild, civilized and primitive, the ethical and the natural? This course will examine these issues by pursuing questions such as: Does the value of nature consist entirely in how it can be used by humans? Do animals exert a moral claim on humans? Does wilderness have value in itself? Is there an obligation to use natural resources for human welfare? Are famine, population growth and pollution merely economic issues of resource distribution? Offered alternate years.

Instructor

Kober

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Nihilism and Modernity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Nihilism and Modernity Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT201

ClassDays

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

CourseHeader

PHIL233 - Nihilism and Modernity

CourseTime

MWF 10:10am-11:00am

CourseID

93435.HNT201.MWF 10:10am-11:00am

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93435

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three credit course in philosophy or CRIT 111 This course addresses the growing philosophical sentiment of nihilism in the 19th century as a response to the major systematic philosophers of this era. To do so, we highlight the tension between the traditional philosophical view that reason is a central characteristic to human nature on the one hand, and the collapse of reason and possible descent into nihilism on the other. We begin by examining the metaphysics, epistemology and moral theory of the 18th century philosopher, Kant. We turn to investigate German Idealism, Hegel and Mill to understand systematic adaptations and challenges to Kant. We close with three 19th century philosophers who emphasize a skeptical and revolutionary rejection of systematic philosophy and the priority of reason: Schopenhauer (pessimism), Kierkegaard (paradoxical leap of faith) and Nietzsche (nihilism). Offered alternate years. (Formerly PHIL 304)

Instructor

Devlin

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Philosophy of AI

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Philosophy of AI Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT201

ClassDays

Tuesday, Thursday

CourseHeader

PHIL237 - Philosophy of AI

CourseTime

TR 9:30am-10:45am

CourseID

93434.HNT201.TR 9:30am-10:45am

Credits

CreditType

Undergraduate

CRN

93434

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three credit course in philosophy or CRIT 111 This course critically examines the history, theory and mechanics of artificial intelligence (AI). What is "intelligence"? What does it mean to attribute "intelligence" to a machine? Do machines have "minds" in the way that humans do? What sort of ethical questions are becoming urgent with recent developments in AI, and how should society address them? In addition to becoming familiar with different strands of AI research and learning to solve basic programming problems, students will consider how AI will impact their professional and personal lives. Offered alternate years.

Instructor

Pearson

Notes

This section uses OER/No Cost course materials.

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day

Ethics and Action

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:14:05 +0000

Ethics and Action Anonymous Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:14

Campus

Main Campus

CampusLocation

HNT101

ClassDays

Tuesday, Thursday

CourseHeader

PHIL403 - Ethics and Action

CourseTime

TR 11:00am-12:15pm

CourseID

93433.HNT101.TR 11:00am-12:15pm

Credits

CreditType

Graduate or Undergraduate

CRN

93433

FullCourseDesc

Prerequisite: Two courses in philosophy at or above the 200 level; or consent of instructor This course examines both historical and recent discussions of problems and arguments concerning moral reasons, knowledge, character, motivation, justification, judgments, and action. Questions include: Can we have moral knowledge? If so, in what does it consist? Are moral disagreements capable of rational resolution? What does it mean to be moral? Are there morally preferable ideals, qualities of character, and ways of life? Are there moral facts or truths independent of human desires, preferences, and agreements? Offered alternate years. May be taken for graduate-level credit with consent of department chairperson.

Instructor

Kober

Section

001

StartEnd

09/02/2026 - 12/18/2026

Status

OPEN

Subject

Philosophy

TermCode

2026 FALL - ALL

TimeOfDay

Day