Laura Sizer

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

• Philosophy of Mind

  This course focuses on the relationship between minds and bodies, and the nature of mental phenomena such as thoughts, desires, and qualia (qualitative states such as the experience of seeing red or tasting a peach). If we assume that minds are physical or material entities - an assumption prevalent today - then we must ask how typically mental features such as thoughts, sensations, emotions and consciousness can emerge out of the seemingly unthinking, unfeeling grey matter of the brain. We will consider some historical responses to these issues, but will focus on insights provided by contemporary philosophy and sciences of the mind. We will discuss the approaches of behaviorism, functionalism, mind-brain identity theory, and embodied cognition to these issues. Students will be required to write a series of short and one longer paper. At least one prior college level course in philosophy is recommended; one prior college level course in philosophy or psychology is required.

• Philosophy Through Science Fiction

  This course is an introduction to philosophy through science fiction. We will explore philosophical issues such as the nature of reality, free will, personal identity, the nature of mind and the possibility of artificial intelligence, and the ethical implications of AI, mind reading, and other issues. Readings in philosophy will be paired with science fiction films and short stories. Students will be expected to write a series of short papers.

• Field Study Semester