PHI 105 Philosophy thru History
*Meets Cultural Interpretation Requirement
An introduction to philosophy through its history and development, i.e., through an examination of central texts in the history of philosophy, up to and including contemporary works. Specific readings may vary from semester to semester, but will always include some canonical works by classic Western philosophers (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Kant). Prerequisite: a college writing course.
0001-LEC #40919
M/W 12:30-1:45, Portland
Kenneth L. Knight
kenneth.knightjr@maine.edu
0002-LEC # 42000
Online
Joseph Arel
joseph.arel@maine.edu
PHI 211(44452) -Media Ethics
ONLINE * Satisfies the Ethical Inquiry requirement of the core curriculum
It has been argued that democracy stands and falls on the backs of an informed and rational citizenry. John Milton & John Stuart Mill suggested that the media plays a critical role in this context through what they called the marketplace of ideas. They thought he truth should always emerge from the competition of ideas in a free and transparent public discourse. Contemporary perspectives are less sanguine about the idea of free and transparent unbiased information in mass media communication. Nonetheless the underlying sentiment stands. We regularly seek out objective sources of information in mass media to shape our understanding of the world and aid in our everyday judgements and decisions. We will discuss a range of ethical issues surrounding mass media practice including questions about privacy, confidentiality, truth telling, conflicts of interest, and social responsibility in journalism, the impact of digital media on contemporary journalism, empathy and bias in the formation of beliefs, and the role of social media in the marketplace of ideas. Along the way we will explore the foundations of philosophical ethics and examine the nature of good critical reasoning practices. William Seeley, william.seeley@maine.edu
PHI 220 – (42001) Philosophy of Art and Visual Culture, ONLINE,
*This course meets the Ethical Inquiry; International; and Culture, Power, & Equity/Diversity requirement(s)*
The ethical issues central to climate change are a focus. The course analyzes the relations between human beings, animals, and nature in the Anthropocene. Do we have responsibilities to non-humans, future humans, climate refugees, and those worse off by climate change? Do we have a right to clean air, water, food, and land? We address a range of ethical arguments and social movements aimed at climate responsibility and environmental justice.William Seeley, william.seeley@maine.edu
PHI 221 – (43900) Philosophy of Film, Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00 – 3:15, Portland,
*This course meets the Ethical Inquiry and International requirement(s)*
What can film teach us about philosophy and what can philosophy teach us about film? In the course we will examine the intersection of philosophy and film, examining the way in which films touch on such philosophical topics as ethics, politics, epistemology, and even ontology, and the way in which philosophical perspectives on knowledge, time, and society can inform and deepen our understanding of film. We will look at films Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, David Fincher’s Fight Club, Jordan Peele’s Nope, Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, Sergei Eisenstein’s Strike! and Dziga Vertov’s Man with a Movie Camera. Jason Read, jason.read@maine.edu
PHI 230 (44451)-Philosophy of Religion, OnlineAnalysis of the nature of religious experience, knowledge, and language. Special attention given to problems, classical and contemporary, exhibited in religious experience and relevant to areas of common concern in the sciences, humanities, and philosophy. Cr 3. Bennett Comerford, bennett.comerford@maine.edu
PHI 235 (43901)-Philosophy, Social Media, and Security, Online, ***7 WEEKS*** 1/21/2025 – 3/7/2025
*Meets the Ethical Inquiry requirement of the core curriculum
This course delves into the impact of AI technologies and social media on our lives. It examines concepts such as personhood, identity, community, privacy, and security within the realm of AI. Additionally, we explore three philosophical challenges: the alignment problem, the black box problem, and the friendly AI problem. We conclude with the question of what it means to be human in an AI world. Cr 3. Julien Murphy, jmurphy@maine.edu
PHI 275 (42002)-The Nature of Compassion, Online
*Meets the Ethical Inquiry requirement of the core curriculumWhether and how we respond to the suffering of others defines, in many ways, who we are as persons and communities. This course is an investigation into compassion and its social role. Drawing upon a wide variety of sources it will address philosophical defenders of the need to cultivate compassion. Students will have a chance to think through some important philosophical issues, such as the role of emotions in moral deliberation, the extent to which compassion can be both aided and obstructed by the use of language, and whether there are appropriate limits to compassion.Sandra Dutkowsky, sandra.dutkowsky@maine.edu
PHI 291 (41272) – Death and Dying, Online, Sandra Dutkowsky*Meets the Ethical Inquiry requirement of the core curriculum
The literature relating to death and philosophy is vast and complex. In this class, we will explore readings relating to the nature of death (ourselves and others), the goodness/badness of death, and the ethics of death and technology.
The study of the philosophy of death typically leads to a discussion of the meaning of life.Therefore, we will review some essays relating to that idea as well. Finally, we will take an interdisciplinary approach and read some literary pieces that deal with these philosophical issues. Sandra Dutkowsky,sandra.dutkowsky@maine.edu
PHI 311 (42004)-Happiness and the Good Life, Online ***7 WEEKS***03/10/2025 – 05/02/2025
*Meets the Ethical Inquiry requirement of the core curriculum
Is happiness the goal of a good life? What is happiness? Is it attainable? Is it overrated? What is the relationship between happiness and morality? Can we be virtuous and yet, unhappy or evil and happy? Does happiness require money or good fortune? We will also explore theories of happiness and use exercises from the new field of happiness studies in order to design an approach for a good life. Julien Murphy, jmurphy@maine.edu
PHI 360 (42292)- Existentialism, Online, ***7 WEEKS***03/10/2025 – 05/02/2025
*This course meets the Cultural Interpretation requirement*
What does it mean to be free? How do other people restrict or expand our freedom? What is a meaningful life? Existentialism grapples with these questions. In the last century, existentialists faced the existential crisis of atomic weapons. In the Anthropocene, the climate crisis and nuclear weapons create modern existential threats. We explore existential anxiety, dread, bad faith, leaps of faith, dirty hands, otherness, meaning, and freedom in the works of Kirkegaard, Sartre, Camus, Fanon, de Beauvoir, and others.Cr 3. Julien Murphy, jmurphy@maine.edu
PHI 400 (43899)/LSH 440 (41743)-Philosophy Seminar- The Politics of Knowledge, Online, Jason Read*This a capstone course for Philosophy and Liberal Studies*
What is the relationship between knowledge and politics? This has been pressing question in recent years as legislation has been passed to ban the teaching of such subjects as critical race theory and gender studies. Such conflicts are not limited to the humanities, in the sciences global warming remains “controversial” despite the mounting evidence, and nineteenth century ideas about race constantly return despite being discredited by scientists. In this course we will look at the relationship between politics and knowledge, taking a long view that includes everything from disputes about evidence in Ancient Greece to the rise of experimental science in the seventeenth century up to the debates about the relationship of knowledge and power in the twentieth century. We will then turn to theories of human nature and humanity’s effect on the environment as two contemporary case studies. Readings will include Michel Foucault, Bruno Latour, Sylvia Wynter, and Donna Haraway. Jason Read, jason.read@maine.edu