Current Courses
IP612 and IP614: Contemporary Issues in Environmental Policy
Balsillie School of International Affairs. Winter 2013. Details coming soon.
Phil 110: Values and Society
Wilfrid Laurier. Winter 2013. Details coming soon.
Past Courses (abridged)
Philosophy 220: Moral Issues
The goal of this course is to introduce students to some prominent moral issues and develop each student's ability to critically think about and evaluate both theoretical and practical ethical problems. Practical moral issues will include (but are not limited to) abortion, genetic engineering, pornography, animal rights, environmental responsibility, capital punishment, war, and terrorism. (University of Waterloo, 2010).
Philosophy 2220: Philosophy of Mind
This is a survey course intended to introduce the student to contemporary philosophical approaches to traditional problems in the philosophy of mind. We will situate and discuss introspectionism, psychological and logical behaviorism, identity theory, functionalism, computationalism, eliminative materialism, and new mysterianism. Areas of study include the philosophy of psychology, sensation and perception, concepts, intentionality, folk-psychology, and consciousness, and the very recent field of neuroethics. (Univ. Lethbridge, 2009).
Philosophy 2000: Ethics and the Life Sciences
In this couse we will critically examine some ethical issues in the life-sciences and environmental studies, with a specific emphasis on how the issues are affected by moral considerations of future generations. The topics are separated into two categories: (a) genetic justice, and (b) the environment. For the first half of the course we will examine ethical concerns that fall under the rubric of Genetic Justice: gene patents, eugenics, cloning, stem-cell research, and more. The second half of the course is relegated to examining some important environmental issues, with specific focus on the concept of sustainability and the ethics of nuclear energy in Canada. (Taught at both the Univ. Lethbridge [2009] and the Univeristy of Waterloo [2008]).
Philosophy 105: Introduction to Ethical Theory
The goal of this course is to introduce students to some prominent ethical theories
and develop each student's ability to critically think about and evaluate both theoretical and practical ethical problems. Topics will include (but are not limited to) deontology, utilitarianism, hedonism, egoism, virtue ethics, cultural relativism, God and morality, and freedom and responsibility. Practical moral issues will include (but, again, not limited to) animal rights, environmental responsibility, capital punishment, war, and terrorism
Philosophy 215: Business and Professional Ethics
In this course we will analyze moral issues which are important and relevant to
professionals and business people. These include: justice, intellectual property, ethics in advertising and investing, whistle-blowing, product liability, the relation between business and the environment, globalization, equity, affirmative action, codes of conduct and conflicts of interest. Classes will contain a mixture of lecture, discussion and debate on these complex issues.
Philosophy 215: Business and Professional Ethics (online)
This course offers an analysis of moral issues which are important and relevant to professionals and business people. These issues include: moral theory in general; solving applied moral dilemmas; professional responsibility; codes of conduct; conflicts of interest; loyalty and whistle-blowing; health and safety issues; intellectual property issues; the ethics of advertising and investing; equity and discrimination issues; and issues related to international business dealings. The method by which this course will proceed is through online lectures and readings, giving emphasis to critical discussion and thoughtful debate about these complex and important topics.
