Teaching
Here you can find courses I've taught at the University of Cincinnati
Courses where I was the co-instructor are labeled with an asterisk (*)
Syllabi available on request
Introduction to Philosophy (Phil 1000)
What can we know? How should we act? Philosophy considers the answers offered by science, religion, and common sense and tries to push them further. If science tells us important truths about cause and effect, philosophy asks: what is it to cause something? If religion tells us to be good, philosophy asks: which acts are good, and why do they count as being good? If common sense says that everything is just a matter of opinion, philosophy asks: is that itself just a matter of opinion, or is it objectively true? This course is a general introduction to philosophy, focusing on some of the most powerful, influential, and surprising arguments philosophers have put forward over the centuries. There are no prerequisites.
In this course, we will explore various areas of philosophy, including aesthetics, ethics, philosophy of mind, political philosophy, and moral psychology. Philosophers ask a variety of questions, such as, “What does it mean to live a meaningful life?”, “What is justice?”, “Is the mind just in the brain?” and “What is beauty?” This course will investigate such questions and prompt students to think critically about various complex philosophical topics. This course utilizes various learning materials such as traditional academic papers, movies, and TED Talks. This course focuses on contemporary philosophy.
Introduction to Ethics Bowl (Phil 1015) (x2)
Learn about the most important ethical issues facing our society. Learn to make an argument, think on your feet, and work collaboratively in a team. This 1-credit course is a no-pressure introduction to Ethics Bowl. No experience is necessary. First-year students are especially welcome! Students in this course will learn the basics of ethical theory, conduct background research on ethics cases, practice with the UC Ethics Bowl Team, and compete in Ethics Bowl scrimmages or tournaments. All registered students are considered part of the team and will have the opportunity to compete. Travel expenses will be covered.
Ethics Bowl is an academic tournament in which student teams compete to provide the most persuasive analysis of cases involving moral dilemmas or conflicting values. Students in this course will study the cases over several weeks and prepare to answer a variety of moral questions about them. Unlike debate, Ethics Bowl is a dialogue between teams and judges where intellectual curiosity, honesty, and humility are rewarded more than aggressive point-scoring. Ethics Bowl helps you hone your skills in critical thinking, writing, communication, and teamwork. It’s also a great way to meet new friends from different programs at UC and other local colleges.
** taught once as primary instructor of record and once co-instructing with Dr. Andrew Cullison
!! One iteration of this class focused on bioethics
Ethics Bowl (Phil 3015) (x2)
The Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl is an academic tournament in which student teams compete to provide the most persuasive analysis of cases involving moral dilemmas or conflicting values. In this course, you will learn the main concepts and tools of ethical reasoning and how to apply these skills to analyze real-life cases. You will practice articulating your reasoning about cases, both verbally and in writing. You will learn to work cooperatively in a team, to appreciate different points of view, and to think on your feet under pressure. UC will field a team drawn from the students in this course to compete in the Ethics Bowl competition. All students enrolling in the course should be willing to practice with the team and travel to the tournament for one weekend during the semester of enrollment. To enroll in this course, you must have at least sophomore status. There are no required prerequisites, but we recommend the following courses as good preparation for joining the team: PHIL 1003 Intro to Ethics, PHIL 1025 Contemporary Moral Issues, PHIL 1010 Critical Thinking, or PHIL 1011 Intro to Logic.
** taught once as primary instructor of record and once co-instructing with Dr. Andrew Cullison
!! One iteration of this class focused on bioethics