I've taught courses in ethics, applied ethics, the philosophy of art, and social and political philosophy.
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.
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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) 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.
Introduction to Ethics (UMass, Spring 2019, Spring 2020): These coureses began with a fairly typical introduction to ethics in the first half of the semester, covering major ethical theories and "major" problems for ethics such as moral relativism, before switching to a special topic in ethics for the second half. In 2019 the special topic was the ethics of self-defense. In 2020 the topic will be the moral obligations one incurs to members of a democratic polity just by being a member of that democratic polity, with an emphasis on understanding real-world issues such as climate change and urban poverty.
Problems in Social Thought: Propaganda and Fascism (UMass, Fall 2019): This course focused on understanding the nature and function of propaganda, the mechanisms by which it is effective, and the role that propagandizing plays in fascist politicking. Readings for this course were drawn primarily from How Fascism Works and How Propaganda Works (Princeton University Press, 2016) by Jason Stanley.
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) 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.
Introduction to Ethics (UMass, Spring 2019, Spring 2020): These coureses began with a fairly typical introduction to ethics in the first half of the semester, covering major ethical theories and "major" problems for ethics such as moral relativism, before switching to a special topic in ethics for the second half. In 2019 the special topic was the ethics of self-defense. In 2020 the topic will be the moral obligations one incurs to members of a democratic polity just by being a member of that democratic polity, with an emphasis on understanding real-world issues such as climate change and urban poverty.
Problems in Social Thought: Propaganda and Fascism (UMass, Fall 2019): This course focused on understanding the nature and function of propaganda, the mechanisms by which it is effective, and the role that propagandizing plays in fascist politicking. Readings for this course were drawn primarily from How Fascism Works and How Propaganda Works (Princeton University Press, 2016) by Jason Stanley.