Philosophy

Catharine MacKinnon’s 1989 Toward a Feminist Theory of the State remains one of the most influential works in feminist theory and is the most comprehensive statement of radical feminist philosophy. This class is dedicated to a semester-long close reading of the text. Central to MacKinnon’s thought is the attempt to develop an autonomous theory of sexist domination on the basis of sexuality. Students critically reconstruct this theory and examine its relationship to theories of class and gender based domination, as well as its opposition to liberalism and liberal feminism. Over the course of the semester, the book guides the class through many of the core themes of feminist philosophizing, including the social ontology of gender, feminist epistemology, sexual and reproductive freedom, the role of sexuality and pornography in patriarchal domination, and feminism’s relationship to law and the state. MacKinnon’s thoroughgoing social constructionism with regards to gender and sexuality is of particular interest, as in recent years radical feminism has sometimes been invoked to justify trans exclusionary views. MacKinnon herself has since firmly rejected this use of radical feminism. Accordingly, the class, too, examines her rejection of biologicist models of gender and the queer potentialities of radical feminism. Finally, the class discusses how radical feminism in general, and MacKinnon’s thought in particular, currently experiences a revival in feminist discussions about sexual freedom and the politics of desire.

The climate crisis triggers intense emotional reactions in many people – from fear and grief to guilt, anger, or hopelessness. But how are these “climate emotions” to be understood philosophically? Are they rationally justified or irrational overreactions? Can emotions reveal moral truths about climate change to us? And what role do they play in our moral action? This seminar examines these questions and climate emotions from various philosophical perspectives. Students engage with classical and contemporary theories of emotions, explore the epistemic and moral significance of emotions like eco-anxiety or climate guilt, and ask about the connection between emotional involvement and moral responsibility. The seminar combines systematic philosophical reflection with the analysis of concrete phenomena and invites critical questioning of both classical philosophical categories and one’s own emotional relationship to the environmental crisis.

This course is an introduction to the ethical problems raised by artificial intelligence (AI) research and technology, including algorithmic bias, automation and employment, autonomous vehicles, autonomous weapons, engineering moral machines, existential risk, human–robot interaction, interpretability, machine consciousness, manipulation of behaviour, and more.

This course introduces moral philosophy. Questions may include: What makes an action right? Is morality relative (to one's own views or to one's culture) or is it objective? What is the relationship between religion and ethics? What is it to be a good person? DP requirements: Regular attendance at lectures and tutorials; completion of all tests, submission of all essays and assignments by due dates, and an average mark of at least 35% for the coursework. Assessment: Coursework counts 40%; one 3-hour examination in October/November counts 60%.

Founded in the mid-18th century by the German philosopher Baumgarten, aesthetics is the study of sensibility, art, and beauty from a philosophical perspective. This course provides a historical overview of the development of Western aesthetics, from antiquity to the early 19th century. It explores how sensibility, art, and beauty have been discussed and theorized in Western philosophy, and the historical context in which they were formed.

The course explores the social, ethical, and legal challenges of artificial intelligence, beginning with the role of data and personal information. Topics include data protection, trustworthy AI, human rights, AI governance, copyright, and applications of AI in medicine.

The course introduces the most important teachings (doctrines) that make Christianity distinctive: the Doctrine of God, the Doctrine of the Trinity, the Doctrine of the Incarnation, and the Doctrine of Atonement. It also discusses and analyzes several of the most influential and universally read scholars from across the history of Christianity.

This course reflects on what ¨culture¨ means within the framework of philosophical anthropology from the 19th century to the present day. It offers a critical perspective on contemporary culture in its political dimension through a detailed study of a series of contemporary philosophers from the 20th and 21st centuries who have considered the central problems of the relationship between culture and society. Topics include work, violence, social symbols, ideologies, and collective unconsciousness.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Mathematical Logic, serving as a toolkit for clear thinking and a foundation for advanced studies in philosophy and sciences. We will begin with the basics of argumentation and traditional syllogistic logic, then move to the core of modern symbolic logic: Propositional Logic and First-Order Predicate Logic. Students will learn how to analyze the syntax and semantics of these systems and construct formal proofs. The course also covers essential mathematical tools such as basic Set Theory and mathematical induction. Furthermore, we will explore the frontiers of logic, including an introduction to Type Theory, the connection between logic and computation, and the relation of logic with computation and modern Artificial Intelligence.

This course familiarize students with intermediate topics in logic. It focuses on concepts and theories that are useful for a deeper understanding and critical analysis of claims and arguments in contemporary philosophical research and in the social and natural sciences.