I've taught courses in environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, and the philosophy of art and music. In the fall semester of 2018 I will teach Problems in Social Thought: Ghettos, Misogyny, and Fascism.
Philosophy of Art and Music (UMass, Spring 2018): I split this course into two major units. The first was a survey of theories of art objects, including representationalist, expressionist, formalist, aesthetic, and institutional theories. The second unit was a survey of topics in the philosophy of music, including questions about the nature and ontology of music, the proper evaluation of musical works, the relationship between lyrics and instrumental music in songs, and questions about social, ethical, and political issues related to musical works.
Download Syllabus
Problems in Social Thought: Ghettos, Misogyny, and Fascism (UMass, Fall 2018): I am taking this course to be an opportunity to introduce students to extended philosophical studies of issues that are of immense and urgent moral and political concern. Texts will include Dark Ghettos: Injustice, Dissent, and Reform (Harvard University Press, 2016) by Tommie Shelby (Harvard), Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny (OUP, 2017) by Kate Manne (Cornell), and How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (Random House, 2018, forthcoming) by Jason Stanley (Yale). In teaching extended works I hope to give students more time to engage with each philosopher than would be allowed in a standard survey course. Further, and more importantly, I hope to equip students to be able to navigate complex moral, social, and political issues in an informed and morally serious way.
Philosophy of Art and Music (UMass, Spring 2018): I split this course into two major units. The first was a survey of theories of art objects, including representationalist, expressionist, formalist, aesthetic, and institutional theories. The second unit was a survey of topics in the philosophy of music, including questions about the nature and ontology of music, the proper evaluation of musical works, the relationship between lyrics and instrumental music in songs, and questions about social, ethical, and political issues related to musical works.
Download Syllabus
Problems in Social Thought: Ghettos, Misogyny, and Fascism (UMass, Fall 2018): I am taking this course to be an opportunity to introduce students to extended philosophical studies of issues that are of immense and urgent moral and political concern. Texts will include Dark Ghettos: Injustice, Dissent, and Reform (Harvard University Press, 2016) by Tommie Shelby (Harvard), Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny (OUP, 2017) by Kate Manne (Cornell), and How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (Random House, 2018, forthcoming) by Jason Stanley (Yale). In teaching extended works I hope to give students more time to engage with each philosopher than would be allowed in a standard survey course. Further, and more importantly, I hope to equip students to be able to navigate complex moral, social, and political issues in an informed and morally serious way.