Laura Sizer, associate professor of philosophy, received a B.A. in philosophy from Boston University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000.
She specializes in the philosophy of mind and philosophy of psychology/cognitive science. Her research currently focuses on affect (emotions and moods), but she is also interested in questions about consciousness, representation, music, and personal identity. She has published in The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Philosophical Psychology, and Mind and Language. In addition to her primary research and teaching interests, Professor Sizer teaches topics in applied ethics; the philosophy of language; philosophy of biology; and the relationship between science and religion.
Professor Sizer is on the steering committee for the Culture, Brain, and Development Program at Hampshire College.
Recent and Upcoming Courses
- Philosophy of Happiness & the Good Life
Philosophers through the ages have asked about the nature of happiness and its contribution to 'the good life.' It's something we all want, but what is it? And why do we all want it so much? Are some people naturally happier than others? What makes us happy and why? This course will examine happiness from a number of different perspectives. We will look at what philosophers have said about the nature and importance of happiness in our lives, as well as recent positive psychology literature. Students will learn to read and critically analyze primary research articles in a number of different fields, and are expected to write a series of short papers and complete a final project.
- Environmental Ethics
Most ethical debates concern moral obligations towards human beings. But what moral obligations - if any - do we have towards non-human entities? Do non-human animals have rights? Do trees and rivers? What about entire ecosystems? What might be the basis for such rights and obligations? We will discuss how traditional ethical theories have approached questions about moral obligations towards non-humans, and see whether these views can be extended to include some or all of the non-human natural entities mentioned above. We will also discuss other approaches that explicitly include natural entities such as ecosystems within the sphere of moral concern. We will also discuss the moral dimensions of climate change and sustainability practices. Students will read and critically analyze philosophical positions and will learn to articulate arguments on several different sides of the issues. Short and longer argument papers are required. Prerequisite: A prior college course in either philosophy or environmental studies
