21 - 30 of 293 results for: PHIL

Do we have free will? Are we morally responsible for our conduct? In this course we will explore debates from roughly the past 50 years between philosophers who defend the common sense view that we do have free will and are sometimes morally responsible for our conduct and philosophers who argue that we do not have free will or are not morally responsible for our behavior. In turn, we will explore practical applications of these debates, such as reasons to change (or not) our social practices and ways of relating to one another, such as the kinds of angry blame that are commonplace in ordinary relationships, and the role of incarceration and punishment in our legal system.

Tutorial taught by grad student. Enrollment limited to 10. In this course, we will read the first volume of Marx's Capital, a cornerstone in Marx's critique of political economy and the central theoretical text in his oeuvre. Together, we will analyze Capital as a work of sociological, economic, and political theory, and consider debates concerning its interpretation and contemporary relevance. The course will be taught seminar-style, with brief presentations by the instructor followed by group discussion. The course assumes no particular background in the course topics or methodologies?all are welcome to join.

Introductory Seminar. Preference to sophomores; first-year students admitted if space available. Advance sign-up process and deadlines at http://introsems.stanford.edu

Sophomore Seminar. First preference to Sophomores; second preference to Freshman. What makes a video game world feel like a real place? What is our relationship to the real world? Can we learn anything from video games about our relationship to the real world, and can we learn anything from philosophy that can help us create compelling video game worlds? In this course we will examine elements of video game design and development in the context of related philosophical topics including the nature of worlds, the nature of the mind, and the nature of action. For example, while some games are open-world, some consist of a set of sandboxes, and could the distinction between what philosophers call 'possible worlds' and 'situations' help us understand the difference? (Or vice versa?) Video game worlds are often sprinkled with 'pick-ups' -- do philosophical accounts of how agents perceive the real world help to explain why this is such an intuitive game mechanic? In this course we will play and tinker with video games while also reading philosophical texts, and see if each domain can stimulate our thinking about the other. There are no prerequisites for this course, but all students should come prepared to read challenging literature, to play some games, and to make some games!

This course presents how the "seven sages," Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, and the ancient Skeptics believed we should make decisions and then evaluates those theories with an eye towards present day needs and uses for a decision theory. We will consider how ancient Greek philosophers formulated answers to questions like: What is the role of knowledge in decision making? How do urgent circumstances change how we make decisions? How should we factor in experts and mentors into our decision making? What is the relationship between morality and rationality? How much do we need to know about ourselves to make good decisions? No philosophical experience is presupposed.

This course is an introduction to philosophical issues raised by the growing field of artificial intelligence. What does the rise of increasingly complex artificial intelligence models (OpenAI; ChatGPT, AlphaGo, text-to-image generators) tell us about the nature of mind, rationality, and human creativity? What are ethical issues raised by the increasingly sophisticated use of algorithms in our daily lives - whether it be spotting credit card fraud, targeted advertising, curating our social media content, or prison sentencing? How do notions such as 'moral agency', 'practical reason', and 'responsibility' pertain, if at all, to applications of artificial intelligence, e.g., automated cars and weapons? What does the future of human work look like in light of developments in artificial intelligence? No philosophical background is presupposed. The aim of this class will be to help students engage with the philosophical issues raised by emerging technologies. Individual and group assignments will enable students to develop their critical skills in both written and discussion¿based work.

What's the difference between sex and gender? What's does it mean to be a man or woman, cis or trans, straight or gay?and everything in between and outside of the box? How are gender and sexuality related to race, class, ability, and other identities? What is the patriarchy and does it really benefit all men? What does it mean to be oppressed??And how can we change the world to be more gender just? In our class, we will draw on feminist theory to critically investigate these questions and discuss their relevance to our own lives. Together, we will work to build a collaborative learning environment where we can collectively reflect on how our personal experiences are illuminated by feminism. To do so, we will engage each other both intellectually and personally, going beyond the lecture based model of education to center our shared exploration of the course topics. Main ideas will include intersectionality, performativity, deconstruction, structural analysis, theories of injustice, social knowledge, and care ethics. Primary thinkers will include Simone de Beauvoir, Angels Davis, Judith Butler, Catherine MacKinnon, Audre Lorde, Donna Haraway, Robin Kimmerer, and Michel Foucault.

Should the U.S. close its border to immigrants? What are the ramifications of income inequality? How has COVID-19 changed life as we know it? Why are Americans so politically polarized? How can we address racial injustice? As the 2020 election approaches, faculty members from across Stanford will explore and examine some of the biggest challenges facing society today. Each week will be dedicated to a different topic, ranging from health care and the economy to racial injustice and challenges to democracy. Faculty with expertise in philosophy, economics, law, political science, psychology, medicine, history, and more will come together for lively conversations about the issues not only shaping this election season but also the nation and world at large. There will also be a Q&A following the initial discussion. Attendance and supplemental course readings are the only requirements for the course.

This class introduces students to political philosophy through the problems of justice, equality, and freedom. We will focus on contemporary political thought, engaging with debates about each of these concepts and identifying connections between them. What is justice? What is the relationship between ideal conditions of justice and current social conditions? What forms of injustice should the state try to remedy? What is the point of equality? How should we assess equality? Is there an obligation to mitigate 'natural' inequalities? How much personal freedom should be allowed in society? When is state authority legitimate? Do we have an obligation always to obey the law? Throughout the course we will evaluate answers to these questions, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments and theoretical frameworks.