New Courses in 2026-27

PHILOSOP 2039A/B: Living Well in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

What does it mean to live well in an age of rapid technological change? This course investigates the relationship between well-being and emerging technologies. Through engagement with historically important philosophical theories of well-being, students will assess the promises and dangers that new technologies present for living well.  

PHILOSOP 2041A/B ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: PAST AND PRESENT   

This course traces the evolution of artificial intelligence from early symbolic systems through to modern generative AI and agentic AI systems. From the perspective of contemporary philosophy of AI, students examine the ideas, values, and motivations that have shaped AI's development and continue to influence its trajectory.  

PHILOSOP 2100A - BIAS, BULLSHIT, AND BLUSTER  

Bias, bullshit, and bluster permeate many facets of contemporary life. In this course, students will learn to identify these phenomena in a range of contexts, including science, politics, and journalism, while developing a nuanced understanding of their nature and their ethical and political significance.   

PHILOSOP 2600F/G INTRODUCTION TO METAPHYSICS   

This course addresses the most important questions in metaphysics: What is a human being? Do we have free will? How does the mind relate to the body? In what respect do things persist through change? Are there abstract objects? What is the nature of space, time, and causality?  

PHILOSOP 2663F - PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA  

This course explores philosophical perspectives on classical yoga, especially Patañjali’s Yogasutra, and the development of modern postural yoga. Through lectures, discussions, and guided practices, students explore how these traditions illuminate key philosophical ideas – including freedom, self, perception, reality, ethics, language, and aesthetics – while gaining both conceptual understanding and experiential insight.   

Extra Information: Blended (2 hours in-person, 1 hour online).  

PHILOSOP 3300G - ADVANCED PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE  

This course will explore select topics in contemporary philosophy of science, such as scientific realism and anti-realism, the nature of scientific laws, empiricism in the philosophy of science, scientific objectivity, social epistemology, scientific models, and science and values. The focus will be on understanding rival positions on these topics.   

Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G, or permission of the department.