Teaching Materials
Syllabi
Philosophy of Science (200 level)
An introduction to the philosophy of science centered around six questions: what is science, how does science explain the world, is truth the aim of science, are scientists responsible for the knowledge they produce, is science objective, and why do we trust science.
Environmental Ethics (300 level)
An overview of environmental ethics, starting with anthropocentrism and then broadening out to consider nonanthropocentric approaches. In addition, time is spent applying ethical ideas to issues in economics, policy, and whether despair is an appropriate response to climate change.
Introductory Logic (200 level)
An introduction to contemporary symbolic logic, including propositional logic and first-order predicate logic. Students learn how to use natural deduction, truth tables, and truth trees to test central logical concepts, such as validity.
History of Early Analytic Philosophy (300 level)
An introduction of some the main figures and central themes of early analytic philosophy, including Moore, Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. In addition, this course includes work from early analytic women philosophers, such as Susan Stebbing and Margaret MacDonald.
A skills-based introduction to critical thinking where students learn to identify, analyze, and assess arguments using argument mapping. This course takes a pluralist approach to what it means to think critically, spending time on ideas from classical Indian logic, two-eyed seeing, and feminist theory.
Philosophy of AI (200+ level)
A class on cutting edge AI research (especially deep learning), and the philosophical problems that arise from it. This course takes a philosophy of science approach, and focuses on the difficulties in understanding AI, what roles AI can play in other disciplines, and how to interpret the successes and failures of AI. Ethical concerns (such as personhood and bias) and the values that play a role in AI research are also considered.
Philosophy of Cognitive Science (200+ level)
A philosophical overview of different approaches to cognitive science, such as classical AI, connectionism, dynamical systems theory, 4E cognition, and predictive processing.
Introduction to Philosophy (Ethics and Political Philosophy) (100 level)
A first-year introduction to philosophy that focuses on ethics and political philosophy. Starts by introducing students to the normative frameworks of utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and feminist ethics, and then applies these frameworks to issues such as death, animal ethics, civil disobedience, and famine relief.
Scholarship and Grant Writing Advice
SSHRC Scholarship Proposal Tips
Over the last couple years, I put together a list of advice for graduate students applying for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) scholarship or grant. SSHRC proposals have a different set of norms and requirements than many other grants and scholarships, but I expect that many of these tips will also be helpful for other types of applications. I applied for a SSHRC scholarship four times before I was successful, and over the course of that time I took workshops, participated in writing groups, and had many conversations with peers and mentors on how to write a SSHRC proposal. I have combined much of the advice I picked up along the way and combined it with approaches that worked for me personally. I consider this a living document, so if you see any egregious omissions or shortcomings, do not hesitate to contact me. I hope these tips can make the process less painful for other applicants.
Header Photo Credit: Bald Eagle by @greatgatsbyphotography