What I'm teaching NOW:
Spring 2021: Introduction to Philosophy: The Individual and the World -- Syllabus is here.
What I've recently taught:
Fall 2020: Pragmatism: Classical American Philosophy -- Syllabus is here. Video Introduction, here. Or here, on YouTube.
Spring 2020: Introduction to Ethical Reasoning (focus: propaganda: Syllabus is here.)
Upper Division Classes
Aesthetics & the Philosophy of ArtThis course presents an introduction to the philosophy of art and aesthetics, a consideration of the many ways which art communicates and expresses: via artists’ creative processes, the object-events created (or "artworks"), and the audience’s ways of experiencing, interpreting, and evaluating art. In the course of this survey, a variety of problem-areas related to art may be considered: for example, what is a work of art? What is taste or beauty and who determines and justifies those standards? How is meaning conveyed by works of art and what methods of interpretation best reveal meaning? What is an aesthetic experience and why is it special? What are the social, political, and philosophical roles of art products and art criticism in contemporary society? Our attempts to grapple with these theories and problems will utilize as much actual art as possible through multimedia technology and, hopefully, field trips to local art sites.
Last offered: Fall 2019; COURSE SYLLABUS John Dewey (PHIL 4900)John Dewey (1859-1952) was one of the most important of the American philosophers of the twentieth century. A leading American Pragmatist (the first genuinely American school of philosophical thought), Dewey extended the application of his form of pragmatism (instrumentalism) beyond the boundaries of academic philosophy—into public affairs, politics, art, religion, and of course, education. Dewey’s influence included and transcended academia. As historian Henry Steele Commager wrote of Dewey, “It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that for a generation [of Americans] no major issue was clarified until Dewey had spoken.”
While Dewey published more than forty books and hundreds of articles over his long career, this course look closely at his masterwork, Experience and Nature (1927). This is arguably Dewey’s most comprehensive and difficult work as it attempts to lay out a comprehensive account of human experience with metaphysical detail. Along the way, we will find Dewey helping to explain such fundamental aspects as the nature of existence, consciousness, communication, moral value, knowledge, and aesthetic experience. Our goal is to see what is unique and coherent in Dewey’s philosophical vision by grasping a reasonably detailed outline of this historically significant masterpiece. Last offered: Fall 2012; COURSE SYLLABUS |
Pragmatism:
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Spring 2019:The Philosophy of
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Lower Division Classes
Philosophy 1012: Relationship of the Individual to the World
One reason philosophy fascinates people is that it investigates everyday life in ways that are deeper and more systematic than most other disciplines. Philosophy often changes the way you look at something, forever and asks questions which, on their face, seem too big to ask: What makes life meaningful? Can human reasoning prove the existence of a supreme being? How is knowledge possible? Could reality simply be made up of ideas?
This class will ask such questions and review various proposals to answering them. Figures to be discussed include Plato, Anselm, Descartes, Berkeley, De Beauvoir, and others. The class will be run seminar-style, with an emphasis on discussion and close-reading of texts. Recent offering: 2015 (COURSE SYLLABUS) |
Philosophy 1020: Introduction to Ethical Reasoning
All who live in this world must choose what to do. Yet to live in the world we must live with people. When we make choices involving people we are engaged in ethical reasoning.
Ethical debates arise from those situations where there is disagreement about: 1) how we should treat others and 2) the reasons (or arguments) for treating them in one-way rather than another. This course will examine specific ethical theories as well as more concrete issues such as abortion, drug use, consumerism, and the moral standing of animals. Our goal will be to gain a better understanding by reading, thinking, and talking carefully and critically. Recent offering, 2013 (COURSE SYLLABUS) |
Philosophy 1111: Know Thyself: Philosophy and the Question of Life's Meaning
Does life have meaning? This deceptively simple question will provide our entry point into philosophy. We will read and discuss a number of writers, from Plato to the present, who, in considering the relationship of the individual to the world also raise the question of the meaning of life.
Discussions will tackle issues regarding character and the good life, death and suicide, advertising and consumerism, and the impact religion and science can have on meaningfulness. The course will have four main sections: (a) Living Meaningfully without God(s), (b) Suffering, Absurdity, and God, (c) Pleasure vs. Happiness, and (d) The Meaningful life as the Examined Life: Socrates as Exemplar. Recent offering: 2012; (COURSE SYLLABUS) |
Courses Taught at University of Colorado Denver
2021
21 SPR PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
2020
20 FALL - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
20 SPR PHIL 1020-004 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL REASONING
2019
19 FALL -PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
19 SPR - PHIL-4920/5920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
2018
18 FALL PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
18 FALL on sabbatical
2017
17 FALL - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
17 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2016
16 FALL - PHIL 1012 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
16 SPRING - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2015
15 FALL - PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
15 SPRING - PHIL 1020 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL REASONING
2014
14 FALL - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
14 SPRING - PHIL 4101/5101-001 -PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2013
13 FALL - PHIL 1020-001 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
13 SPR - PHIL-4920/5920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
2012
12 Fall PHIL 1111: Freshman First Year Seminar
12 Fall PHIL 4900/5900: Dewey
12 SPR - PHIL 1020 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
MAYMESTER 12 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220 AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2011
11 Fall ---- PHIL-1012-004 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
11 Fall ---- PHIL-4101/5101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
11 SPR - PHIL 1020-007 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
11 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2009-10
10 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
10 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-007 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
10 SPR ---- PHIL-4920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
09 FALL ---- PHIL-4220-001 ---- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2008-09
09 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005/006 (two sections) ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
09 SPR ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
08 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
08 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
2007-08
08 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIETY
08 SPR ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: PHILOSOPHY OF ART
07 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
07 FALL ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2006-07
07 SUM ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIETY
07 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIET
06 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
06 FALL ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- SP TPCS: PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
2005-06
06 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
06 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
06 SPR ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: DEWEY
05 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
05 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
2004-05
05 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
05 SPR ---- PHIL-4102-001 ---- ST: AMERICAN ETHICS
04 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-003 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
04 FALL ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
2003-04
04 SUM ---- PHIL-1020-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
04 SPR ---- PHIL-2441-001 ---- LOGIC AND LANGUAGE: GT
04 SPR ---- PHIL-3360-001 ---- EPISTEMOLOGY
04 SPR ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
03 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-003 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
03 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
Past Courses, prior to UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER, selected
Upper Division:
American Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy
Pragmatism and Existentialism
Philosophy of Media and Technology
Academic and Professional Ethics (graduate level)
Animal Rights, Animal Wrongs: The Morality, Politics, and Aesthetics of Meat
Medical Ethics
Business Ethics
Environmental Ethics
Lower Division
The Meaning of Life
Contemporary Moral Issues
Contemporary Moral Issues (Phl 220)
Humanities 101 (Homer to Dante)
Humanities 102 (Machiavelli to King)
2021
21 SPR PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
2020
20 FALL - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
20 SPR PHIL 1020-004 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL REASONING
2019
19 FALL -PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
19 SPR - PHIL-4920/5920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
2018
18 FALL PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
18 FALL on sabbatical
2017
17 FALL - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
17 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2016
16 FALL - PHIL 1012 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
16 SPRING - PHIL 4101/5101-001 PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2015
15 FALL - PHIL 1012-002 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
15 SPRING - PHIL 1020 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL REASONING
2014
14 FALL - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
14 SPRING - PHIL 4101/5101-001 -PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2013
13 FALL - PHIL 1020-001 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
13 SPR - PHIL-4920/5920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
2012
12 Fall PHIL 1111: Freshman First Year Seminar
12 Fall PHIL 4900/5900: Dewey
12 SPR - PHIL 1020 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
MAYMESTER 12 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220 AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2011
11 Fall ---- PHIL-1012-004 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
11 Fall ---- PHIL-4101/5101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
11 SPR - PHIL 1020-007 --- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
11 SPR - PHIL 4220/5220/HUM 5220 -- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2009-10
10 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
10 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-007 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
10 SPR ---- PHIL-4920-001 ---- PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
09 FALL ---- PHIL-4220-001 ---- AESTHETICS/PHILOSOPHY OF ART
2008-09
09 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005/006 (two sections) ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
09 SPR ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
08 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
08 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
2007-08
08 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIETY
08 SPR ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: PHILOSOPHY OF ART
07 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
07 FALL ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
2006-07
07 SUM ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIETY
07 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRO TO ETHICS & SOCIET
06 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
06 FALL ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- SP TPCS: PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
2005-06
06 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
06 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-005 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
06 SPR ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: DEWEY
05 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
05 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
2004-05
05 SPR ---- PHIL-1020-001 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
05 SPR ---- PHIL-4102-001 ---- ST: AMERICAN ETHICS
04 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-003 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
04 FALL ---- PHIL-4812-001 ---- ST: PHILOSOPHY OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
2003-04
04 SUM ---- PHIL-1020-002 ---- INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIETY
04 SPR ---- PHIL-2441-001 ---- LOGIC AND LANGUAGE: GT
04 SPR ---- PHIL-3360-001 ---- EPISTEMOLOGY
04 SPR ---- PHIL-4101-001 ---- PRAGMATISM: CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
03 FALL ---- PHIL-1012-003 ---- INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE WORLD
03 FALL ---- PHIL-4740-001 ---- EMPIRICISM
Past Courses, prior to UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER, selected
Upper Division:
American Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy
Pragmatism and Existentialism
Philosophy of Media and Technology
Academic and Professional Ethics (graduate level)
Animal Rights, Animal Wrongs: The Morality, Politics, and Aesthetics of Meat
Medical Ethics
Business Ethics
Environmental Ethics
Lower Division
The Meaning of Life
Contemporary Moral Issues
Contemporary Moral Issues (Phl 220)
Humanities 101 (Homer to Dante)
Humanities 102 (Machiavelli to King)