teaching

Seattle Pacific University:

PHI 1001: Logic and Critical Thinking. Fall: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

An introductory course in logic that covers the following topics: the basic concepts of logic (such as validity and soundness), argument forms, identifying arguments, logic and language, categorical syllogisms and Venn diagrams, informal fallacies, truth tables, proofs, and natural deduction (for propositional logic).

PHI 1001: Advanced Logic. Winter: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Covers predicate logic (including logic of relations / polyadic predicates, and predicate logic with identity), and modal logic. (Prerequisite: PHI 1001.)

HONORS 2100: Ethics and Critical Reasoning (University Scholars). Winter and Spring 2021; Fall 2021; Winter: 2023, 2024

This Honors Core course continues the liberal arts investigation of what it means to be human in the context of philosophy and moral reasoning. The central aim of this course is to develop good, productive, critical thinking and reasoning skills sufficient for navigating some of life’s most pressing and seemingly intractable problems. Topics include epistemology and disagreement, introductory logic, moral theories (including Appiah’s Cosmoplitanism, moral relativism, virtue theory, divine command theory, Kantian deontology, Mill’s utilitarianism), moral principles concerning double-effect and doing vs. allowing, epistemic injustice, Frankfurt’s ‘bullshit’, and moral grandstanding.

PHI 3700: Philosophy of Language. Winter 2019; Fall: 2020, 2023

We typically communicate by using language, where communicating involves conveying meaning. But what is meaning? And what is a language? Philosophy of language examines these and related issues, such as: in virtue of what do words, or names, refer to objects or to persons? How do we mean more than what we literally say? Related topics include theories of meaning and reference, the distinction between semantics and pragmatics, and the variety of speech acts. May also cover recent work on metaphor and non-literal speech, pejoratives, or the language and power of propagandistic speech. (Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or 1002 or 1004 or UCOR 3000, or instructor’s permission.)

PHI 4653: Contemporary Epistemology. Fall 2017; Winter 2020; Fall: 2021, 2023.

An in-depth examination of classic epistemological issues focusing on more recent contributions to the debates. Topics include the analysis of knowledge, the Gettier problem, the structure and sources of justification, skepticism, internalism/externalism, virtue epistemology, testimony, epistemic injustice, contextualism, and knowledge-first epistemology. (Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004, or UCOR 3000 or instructor’s permission.)

PHI 4897: Philosophy of Religion: Topics. Spring 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; Winter 2022; Spring 2023, 2024

Explores advanced issues in philosophy of religion / philosophical theology. Topics may include: religious epistemology, theistic arguments, religious diversity and pluralism, the problem of evil, divine hiddenness, divine providence and free will, the divine attributes, divine revelation, the Trinity, the incarnation, and the atonement. Can fulfill the senior capstone requirement in philosophy. (Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004 or UCOR 3000.)

UCOR 3000: Faith, Philosophy, and Science. Taught three times annually, 2016-2020; Fall 2023, Spring 2024

Introductory course for all undergraduates (juniors and seniors only): covers faith and reason; arguments for and against theism; divine providence, human freedom, and the problem of evil; hell and religious diversity; foundations of morality; and issues in religion and science.

PHI 4898: Existence of God. Winter 2017.

Covers faith and reason; arguments for the existence of God (ontological, cosmological, teleological, moral/practical arguments); arguments involving divine freedom; arguments against theism from evil; and the problem of divine hiddenness.

Oxford tutorials:

Mods & Prelims, Moral Philosophy (Mill), Somerville College, Trinity term 2013
Philosophy 101, Early Modern Philosophy. Somerville College, Hilary term 2013
Philosophy 107, Philosophy of Religion. Trinity College, Michaelmas term 2012

Rutgers University, as course instructor:

Philosophy 205: Early Modern Philosophy, Fall 2011
Philosophy 320: Knowledge and Assertion, Fall 2010
Philosophy 220: Theory of Knowledge, Fall 2008
Philosophy 265: Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Spring 2008
Philosophy 103: Introduction to Philosophy, Fall 2007

Rutgers University, as teaching assistant:

Philosophy 104: Introduction to Philosophy, Martin Bunzl, Spring 2007
Philosophy 106: Current Moral and Social Issues, Larry Temkin, Fall 2006

Yale University, Philosophy Dept, as teaching fellow:

Nietzsche, James Kreines, Spring 2006
Belief in the Existence of God, Keith DeRose, Fall 2005