Philosophy

This course examines, from a philosophical perspective, the ways in which recent developments in genetics and neuroscience challenge our conceptions of what we are — and what we could become.

This course examines the ambivalent role of digital technologies in our societies and interrogates the future by questioning their relevance. It considers where we come from and how the pre-web world prepared us for this new reality, notably through science fiction. Then, it discusses what is happening in our daily lives by deciphering the announced technological advances and their effects on reality; in particular, a "synthetic horizon" where the Metaverse, crypto-assets, and artificial intelligence coexist to help humanity meet the challenges ahead. Finally, it considers whether these technologies will really help and explores a horizon that seems the most desirable for all. 

This course tackles contemporary ethical issues regarding the development of technology and its impact on the environment by engaging with the latest research being done in this field. In order to achieve these goals, this class will be held in a “flipped classroom” style, wherein students will read through lecture materials in advance to allocate more time for classroom discussions on these pressing issues.

This course highlights the development of Buddhist thought in Japan. Founded in India in the fifth century BCE, Buddhism was brought to Japan via China and Korea in the sixth century CE. Due to the influence of local structures and beliefs, Buddhism in Japan acquired some features which make it distinct from other forms of Buddhism in East and Southeast Asia. Concretely, this course examines the Buddhist teachings that had been influential in Japan at one time in the past; trace the interaction of Buddhism with other religions such as Shinto during the premodern period and shed light on the process of its development and transformation into the modern age.

In this course, we will bring together Plato's and Wittgenstein's discussions of negation, truth, and being. This is not an arbitrary juxtaposition: Plato's Theaetetus is a text that Wittgenstein responds to directly in the Philosophical Investigations--one of a very few philosophical texts to be mentioned at all. In the first half of the semester, we will engage in close reading of parts of Plato's Theaetetus and Sophist that discuss the structure of propositions, the nature of truth, the possibility of false belief and false statements, and also negation. (The Sophist is closely tied to the Theaetetus, by both literary signals and philosophical themes.) In the second half of the semester, we will turn to Wittgenstein, reading selections from the Tractatus and the Investigations. We will be interested both in how Wittgenstein responds explicitly to Plato and in how Wittgensteins responds indirectly (or unintentionally) to Plato.

This course introduces students to Aristotle’s wonderfully rich but intricate philosophical writings by focusing on some of the most prominent topics in Aristotle’s philosophy. Students learn how to read, how to criticize, and how to make sense of Aristotle and benefit from the wealth of Aristotle’s thought. In the early part of the course students explore some of the basic themes of Aristotle’s epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy of nature. Students then focus on key topics from his psychology and ethics, perhaps of all his wide-ranging enquiries the areas that continue to provide the greatest stimulus for contemporary thinkers.

This course considers how personal autonomy, the idea that persons should be in control over their own lives, underlies virtually every aspect of law, from private law institutions like property and contract to the basic rules of constitutional law. To navigate this complex relationship, it discusses questions such as what cognitive capacities are needed for personal autonomy; what does it mean to exercise autonomous control over a given decision, action, or event; what role does causation play in such control; and what is meant by a person's “own life.” In addition, the course discusses how these questions figure in Canadian and American criminal law, tort law, and law on socio-economic rights.

This is the first half of a two-part course which offers an introduction to philosophical debate in the Warring States period of ancient China, the Classical Age of Chinese Philosophy and the seedbed from which grew all of the native currents of thought that survived from traditional China. It begins by considering the intellectual-historical background to the ancient philosophies and focuses primarily on the Confucius (the Analects), Mozi, Yang Zhu, Mencius and Laozi, closing with a brief introduction to some of the later developments that will be covered more fully in Part II. The approach of the course will be both historical and critical.

This course covers the main authors, concepts, and theories that structured questions related to technology. It begins with the historical figures (Plato, Descartes, Marx, Bergson, Heidegger) that laid grounds for more contemporary theorizations. The course focuses on the “founding myths” related to technology in philosophy, as well as how the 19th century contributed to several shifts from these very myths by bringing forth its own questions. It then explores the diversity of contemporary issues related to technology from a philosophical perspective (Ellul, Sloterdijk, Stiegler, Hottois, Simondon). The course covers issues that range from what technology is for humans, for societies, as well as for itself once removed from the human-centric perspectives on technology.

This course provides a critical and comprehensive study of Western philosophical thought, starting with ancient and medieval philosophy, then modern and contemporary philosophy. Representative texts of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy will be closely analyzed and discussed.

Students develop skills in reading and understanding philosophical discourse by closely reading original texts.