Spring 2026
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.
Kenneth L. Knight
kenneth.knightjr@maine.edu
Joseph Arel
joseph.arel@maine.edu
PHI 211 -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 – 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 235 -Philosophy, Social Media, and Security, Online, ***7 WEEKS, SESSION 1***
*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 245 – Africa, Social Justice, and Exile *Meets the Ethical Inquiry; Culture, Power, & Equity/Diversity; International requirement* Online
Any critical encounter with our current moment must acknowledge the role that the processes of colonization and decolonization have played in the production of the present. The histories of colonization and decolonization continue to shape the world, and their complex and often antagonistic legacies continue to frame our ways of narrating the past and imagining the future. One such legacy, the African Diaspora, continues to play a central role in the formation of the contemporary cultural landscape. Histories of migration, both voluntary and involuntary, render the experience of space and time problematic. In response, artists and theorists have grappled with questions about the relationship between space and identity, loss and memory, knowledge and power, exile and return. Our task this semester is to examine some of the ways in which philosophy has been mobilized to respond to these and related issues. Cr.3 Kenneth Knight; kenneth.knightjr@maine.edu
PHI 275 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 – 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. Cr 3. Sandra Dutkowsky; sandra.dutkowsky@maine.edu
PHI 311 – Happiness & the Good Life, online **7 weeks, session 2**03/09/26:05/01/26
*Meets the requirement for ethical inquiry*
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? Does happiness require money or good fortune? We will examine historical views from ancient and modern philosophers and explore theories and exercises from the new field of happiness studies to design an approach for a good life. Cr.3 cr. Julien Murphy, jmurphy@maine.edu
PHI 360 )- Existentialism, Online, ***7 WEEKS, session 1***
*This course meets the Cultural Interpretation requirement*
What does it mean to be free? How do other people restrict or expand our freedom? Can we be free if others are unfree? What is the problem of bad faith? What is structural oppression? What is a meaningful life? We will read selections from Kierkegaard, Sartre, Camus, Fanon, and de Beauvoir as we grapple with these questions within the metacrisis of the Anthropocene. Cr 3. Julien Murphy; jmurphy@maine.eduIn 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
Philosophy Seminar- *This a capstone course for Philosophy and Liberal Studies*
PHI/LSH 440 -Capstone in the Humanities: Freedom & Responsibility; online
This course probes the relationship between humanism and the humanities in the 21st century, the recent crisis of the humanities in higher education, and new directions in digital and global humanities. Prerequisites: LSH 240, Junior or Senior Status, Liberal Studies Humanities major or Elementary Education major with liberal studies concentration. Cr 3.
Yishai Cohen; yishai.cohen@maine.edu