PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Chong Choe-Smith
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 002, Monday & Wednesday 9:30 a.m. -10:50 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course takes a topical approach to philosophy by considering several foundational problems in
epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. During the course of the semester, we will cover a wide variety
of topics including the definition of knowledge, the mind-body problem, the problem of evil, freedom
and moral responsibility, and several problems in ethics. We will consider important contributions to the
literature on these topics from historical and contemporary philosophers. The general objective of this
course is to introduce students to philosophy, philosophical methods and tools, important philosophers
and their views, and also help students to develop skills to think critically and independently about the
big questions of life.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Richard Garrett
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 015, Tuesday & Thursday 3:30 p.m. -4:50 p.m.
Section 016, Tuesday & Thursday 5:00p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course will focus upon the notion that the key to everything distinctively human and really
worthwhile and meaningful flows from our distinctively human ability to discern and act upon the
TRUTH. We will begin the course by considering what is called the FREE WILL controversy. It will be
argued that the practical question of the freedom of the will needs to be decoupled from all
metaphysical debates concerning the ULTIMATE nature of things, since, on the one hand, such debates
can never be resolved and since, on the other hand, they need not be resolved in order to settle the
practical question concerning the free will. The freedom flowing from the ability to discern and act upon
the TRUTH is all the freedom that we humans could ever need.
Finally, it will further be argued throughout the course that there is, indeed, a single truth which stands
out among all others as the most essential truth for us to know, understand, master and live by in order
to have the very best life possible. This truth can be stated quite simply as follows: In order to live the
very best life possible (the only life really worth living) we must, to the best of our ability, love others as
we love ourselves. There are many (e.g. certain Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, including
atheists and agnostics) who believe in this central truth. Nonetheless, it has also been contested by
many. Therefore, throughout the course, I shall endeavor to provide a series of arguments which show
that we can KNOW (and not simply believe) that loving others as we love ourselves is life’s central vital
TRUTH.
NOTE: The course will not only include philosophical readings but films (both full-length feature films as
well as documentary studies) for nearly half of the classes in order to dramatize the philosophical
arguments and analysis (which tend to be very abstract and hard for students to understand and relate
to). In in this way, the course will endeavor to make philosophy alive, concrete and relevant to the
struggles and choices we all experience as we go through life.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Jacqueline Gately
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 014, Tuesday & Thursday 3:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course explores issues that philosophers have traditionally considered, including morality,
reality, and knowledge. We will begin by discussing what philosophy is and why people engage in
it. Through an overview of the history of Western philosophy, with an emphasis on the
development of ethics, we will examine three philosophical time periods (ancient, modern, and
contemporary) by studying some of the major figures in each period. This will allow students to
examine the similarities and differences of the philosophers’ arguments, as well as their own, on a
variety of topics through in-class discussions as well as written work.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: James B. Hart
TO BE OFFERED: Section 001, Monday & Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course to focus solely on moral issues. Part will be an overview of the classic ethical theories of
Western philosophy (Kant, Mill, Aristotle, Hobbes, etc.). Part will be an application of these theories to
contemporary moral questions (immigration, abortion, torture, among others). There will be significant
student presentations and interaction with special emphasis on critical reading and writing techniques.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Ranjoo Herr
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 007, Monday & Thursday 2:00 p.m. -3:20 p.m
Section 008, Monday & Wednesday 3:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Section 009, Monday & Wednesday 5:00 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The aim of the course is to teach you to think critically, reflectively, and deeply with an open-mind.
This is what the philosophical method enables you to do. Philosophy is the discipline that has
developed the philosophical method to perfection. The ability to think critically, reflectively and
deeply with an open-mind is an invaluable asset highly valued by leaders of the world, whether in
academia, politics, law, or business.
Bentley University emphasizes ethics and social responsibility of business people. Therefore, this
course will help you think critically, reflectively, and deeply with an open-mind by focusing on moral
philosophy, which examines fundamentals of ethics and social responsibility. First, questions about
egoism and relativism will be considered in depth. Secondly, two major ethical theories of
utilitarianism and deontology will be examined. Thirdly, in order to show how the two theories can be
applied to real life problems, highly debated contemporary ethical issues, such as animal rights, gun
ownership, abortion, and consumption will be discussed.
Classes will be discussion-oriented following the philosophical method. I expect you to have done the
readings for each class by the time you come to class so that class discussions are informed and
focused. Quizzes will be administered to ensure that you do the daily readings and prepare yourself
for each class. Class discussions will not cover the entire reading material, but rather focus on its
major points.
Learning Objectives
Through this course, you will learn how to:
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evaluate whether an argument makes sense
sharpen your ability to diagnose and troubleshoot flaws in an argument
make your point succinctly and precisely by formulating your own argument
construct as strong an argument for your position as possible
think/write logically
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Jesse Hughes
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 012, Tuesday & Friday 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Section H02, Tuesday & Friday 12:30 p.m. -1:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a broad introduction to philosophy, in which we will touch on many traditional subjects. We will
begin with a section on epistemology (What stuff can we know and how?) and metaphysics (What stuff
is there anyway?). This section includes an introduction to philosophy of self (Did yesterday really
happen?) and artificial intelligence (Can a machine think?). Our second section is an overview of classical
ethical theories (What should one do? Why should one try to be good anyway?), and our final section
discusses certain problems of applied ethics (Is abortion morally acceptable? What moral duties apply in
a state of war?)
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Magid
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 004, Monday & Thursday 11:00 a.m. 12:20 p.m.
Section 005, Monday & Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course we will study important philosophical theories which answer moral questions about how
people should live and how societies should function. We will explore the theories in the context of their
application to difficult moral choices about obligation to others, killing and violence, and inequality and
difference. We will also use what we have learned about moral theory and reasoning, supplemented by
new reading and additional research on line, to prepare and hold debates about several very
controversial contemporary moral issues.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Jason L. Megill
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 017, Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 p.m.– 6:20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We will study several of the core areas of Philosophy, though there will be a special emphasis on Ethics.
We start by examining most of the major ethical theories: Utilitarianism, Kant, Aristotle, Ethical
Subjectivism, and Divine Command Theory. We then consider a number of topics in Applied Ethics,
including abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, genetic enhancement, and just war theory. We will
also cover some topics in Political philosophy (e.g., how should wealth be distributed), Philosophy of
Religion (e.g., does God exist), and Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind (e.g., could a machine think?).
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Jeffrey Moriarty
TO BE OFFERED:
Section C-01, Monday & Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Philosophy is best understood through the questions it studies. In this course, we will consider a subset
of philosophical questions and a variety of different answers to them. We will begin with a discussion of
skepticism, focusing on how we can move from doubt to knowledge. In this section we will learn more
about how to “do” philosophy. We will then consider our knowledge in a particular case, asking: Does
God exist? We will examine several traditional arguments for God’s existence, and one traditional
argument against God’s existence. Next we dive into metaphysics, considering whether we have free
will and are responsible for anything we do. The course will end with a substantial unit on ethics. We
will consider both the status of morality (is it relative or objective?) and what ethics requires of us
(promoting happiness? following rules?). We will illuminate these ethical theories by asking why they
imply about our treatment of nonhuman animals, including those we eat.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Linda Paglierani
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 010, Tuesday & Friday 8:00a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
To examine, analyze, consider, compare ways of philosophical thinking. To study and apply the kinds of
thinking that are associated with the various branches of philosophy. To apply systematic philosophical
approaches to issues of everyday life, such as in situations of Ethics, or matters of justice, freedom, and
responsibility, as well as in areas of Epistemology, Metaphysics, Perception, and Aesthetics, for example.
We will consider cases that challenge students to question the sufficient and necessary choices people
make to live a life worth living, with meaning and purpose. We will consider the relationship of the
individual to the group, society, culture, history, and in context of world view. We will study these topics
in relation to the themes that are part of the history of ideas in Philosophy, to include Nature/Nurture
theory, and the variations of influence that challenge and develop character and free will. Students will
have a cross section of interdisciplinary readings in the history of ideas in this discipline and in its
thematic context to explore ideas and ways of thinking related to our study. Additional materials and
forums for discussion on local to world events and issues will invite students to explore perspectives,
applications, implications, and consequences. All topics will have direct application to Bentley students.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Payson
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 003, Monday & Thursday 11:00 a.m. 12:20 p.m.
Section 006, Monday & Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Section 013, Tuesday & Friday 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Philosophy is best understood through the questions it studies. In this course, we will consider a subset
of philosophical questions and a variety of different answers to them. We will begin with a discussion of
skepticism, focusing on how we can move from doubt to knowledge. In this section we will learn more
about how to “do” philosophy. We will then consider our knowledge in a particular case, asking: Does
God exist? We will examine several traditional arguments for God’s existence, and one traditional
argument against God’s existence. Next we dive into metaphysics, considering whether we have free
will and are responsible for anything we do. The course will end with a substantial unit on ethics. We
will consider both the status of morality (is it relative or objective?) and what ethics requires of us
(promoting happiness? following rules?). We will illuminate these ethical theories by asking why they
imply about our treatment of nonhuman animals, including those we eat.
(Fall 2015)
PH 101: PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Axel Seemann
TO BE OFFERED:
Section H01, Monday & Thursday 2:00 p.m-3:20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Two of the most important questions in philosophy are:
1)
What is the mind?
2)
What is moral responsibility?
The two questions are interconnected. We need to understand what the mind is in order to understand
what it means to have free will. And we need to understand free will in order to explain the possibility of
moral responsibility. In this course, we will explore this connection.
(Fall 2015)
PH 130: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
INSTRUCTOR:
Jason L. Megill
TO BE OFFERED:
Section E01 Tuesday 6:30 p.m.– 9:10 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We will first examine several important ethical theories, including Kantian ethics and
Utilitarianism. We then discuss some issues in Political philosophy; e.g., the distribution of
wealth. Then, we discuss many of the central questions in contemporary Business ethics,
including, but not limited to: What rights do workers have? What rights do consumers have?
Who should control the corporation? What moral obligations do corporations have to society
in general? Is using cost-benefit analysis in some situations unethical? What should we do
about the glass ceiling and inequality in gender pay? Should romantic relationships in the
workplace be banned? What are conflicts of interest and what should we do about them?
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor’s permission
(Fall 2015)
PH 135: GLOBAL JUSTICE AND WORLD ORDER
INSTRUCTOR:
Chong Choe-Smith
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 001, Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a course focusing on current topics in global justice. After considering relevant
philosophical, ethical and legal frameworks and concepts, we will apply these frameworks and
concepts to discuss and analyze certain key topics and questions. Is terrorism a law
enforcement problem or a basis for a new kind of war? Is humanitarian intervention a matter of
moral duty, political expediency, or both? Is democracy the only legitimate form of
government? Should there be a principle of global distributive justice? Is there a way to respect
reasonable pluralism without compromising human rights? What’s wrong with post-statist
conceptions of world order? This course will consider statist and cosmopolitan conceptions of
world order, ethical frameworks for state and non-state actors, and particular questions that
arise among state and non-state actors on matters of security, politics, economics, and the
environment. This course will give students a background in the subject of global justice and
provide students an opportunity to work individually and collectively on some of the most
pressing issues facing the world today.
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor’s permission
(Fall 2015)
PH 251: ETHICS
INSTRUCTOR:
Robert Frederick
TO BE OFFERED :
Section 001, Monday & Wednesday 3:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Ethics is the study of moral choices; some are obvious, others more problematic to us as
individuals and/or as a society. When presented with a serious ethical dilemma, we begin to
recognize the importance of studying ethics: it helps us to find direction and to act with
conviction, and it allows us to appreciate the choices we have to make by sharpening our moral
awareness. In an attempt to understand how our lives have taken shape and what they may
look like in the future, we will examine our values and how they impact the choices we make.
To begin do this we will study a variety of ethical viewpoints and attempt to apply them to
ethical issues in the contemporary world.
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor's permission
(Fall 2015)
PH 253: THEORIES OF REALITY
INSTRUCTOR:
Robert Frederick
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 001, Monday & Thursday 12:30 p .m.-1:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Metaphysics, or the theory of reality, is concerned with the ultimate nature of the universe. It
investigates the basic characteristics space, time, cause, substance, and human action. It is not
physics or some other kind of empirical inquiry, but rather a philosophical examination of the
most fundamental assumptions and concepts that underlie both science and our ordinary
concepts of the world. It asks, for example, about the reality of space, the relation of objects
and their properties, and the possibility of human freedom. It challenges our ordinary ideas
about things like the nature of the actual and the possible, the persistence of objects over time,
and even the reality of time itself. How we answer the questions it poses determines our
understanding of ourselves, of reality, and even of the nature and possibility of ethical choice.
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor's permission
(Fall 2015)
PH 301: ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
INSTRUCTOR:
Jessica Payson
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 001
Tuesday & Friday 9:30 a.m. – 10: 50a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Everyone cares about nature in some way. Some find beauty in wilderness and want to see wild spaces
preserved. Others enjoy the opportunities nature provides for hunting, fishing, and hiking. We all rely on
clean air, water, and soil. In this course we will consider the ethical aspects of our (humanity’s)
interaction with nature. We will begin with a careful consideration of nature’s value. We will ask: what
matters in nature, morally speaking? Humans, probably. But what about animals, trees, species, and
ecosystems? Our answers to these questions determine what our duties to and regarding the natural
world are. We will then move on to consider particular issues within environmental ethics, including (i)
human population and natural resources, (ii) the preservation/conservation of wilderness, including
wilderness areas in developing countries, (iii) cost-benefit analysis as a tool for addressing
environmental problems, and (iv) climate change. We will read many of the classic works of
environmental philosophy and several more recent works as well.
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor's permission
(Fall2015)
PH 351: PERSPECTIVES ON POVERTY
INSTRUCTOR:
Carolyn Magid
TO BE OFFERED:
Section 001
Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 1:50 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite: PH101 or instructor's permission
Required embedded service-learning project
(hours to be arranged).
Additional optional 4th credit.
Details below.
Are you concerned that
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worldwide more than “1 billion children are severely deprived of at least one of the essential
goods and services they require to survive, grow and develop?” (UNICEF
`http://www.unicef.org/mdg/poverty.html)
“every 3.6 seconds one person dies of starvation. Usually it is a child under the age of
5.”? (UNICEF http://www.unicef.org/mdg/poverty.html)
In the U.S.,22% of all children live below the federal poverty level? (National Center for Children
in Poverty http://www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty.html)
in the U.S. an adult with a child can work full-time year-round at the current national minimum
wage and still be below the poverty line?
schools in poor communities in the U.S. lack basic resources needed to educate children well?
Have you wondered whose responsibility poverty is, and what obligation a just society has to its poor
people?
Are you interested in a service-learning opportunity to work with low-income children in their
community?
Do you want to be part of an ongoing discussion seeking solutions to problems of poverty?
If you answer "yes" to these questions, you should fit right in to PH351.
The largest objective of PH351 is to enable you to develop some well-informed and well-defended ideas
about what can and should be done about poverty. The main focus will be on problem-solving for the
U.S., although we will also explore important global and international initiatives. When we ask what can
be done, we need to understand (among other things) current circumstances and possible directions for
change. When we ask what should be done, we are asking a moral question to which many answers
have been and can be given. To achieve its objective, the course combines several different elements:
(1) study of a range of philosophical theories which offer different moral perspectives on questions
about obligation, rights, justice and care, (2) exploration of important current public and private
initiatives to address poverty on a global scale, (3) investigation of the experiences and circumstances of
children living in poverty in the U.S., through a service-learning project working with children in a
Waltham housing project (and related texts), (4) analysis and evaluation of a range of current
approaches (both public and private) to addressing problems of poverty in the U.S.
Service-Learning Projects for Fall 2015: all PH351 students will participate in an embedded servicelearning project --a commitment of about 10 hours (over 5 weeks) including transportation. You will be
working in an after-school program or possibly another project with children in a Waltham Public
Housing Project. There will be a variety of available times. The Service-Learning Program has done very
well in the past at arranging times to fit student schedules and at helping to organize transportation.
Note that this is an embedded service-learning project not a 4th credit --it replaces some written texts
rather than adding additional course requirements. Note that you can also do an optional 4th credit
project in conjunction with this class—it will require 20 additional hours at the service site and
additional written work.
PH351 satisfies the Diversity Intensive requirement.
Questions? Email cmagid@bentley.edu
(Fall 2015)