To do philosophy one must engage in a conversation; one must engage in the practice of exchanging and evaluating ideas, both one’s own and others’. This is done in many ways, ranging from talking about various ideas to writing about them. In short, doing philosophy is an active and dynamic exercise. Yet, the traditional university learning environment is not always the most conducive to this manner of engagement. All too often courses are taught solely by lecturing, where the student is expected to sit in one place for a prolonged period of time and listen to what is said by the instructor. Although I strongly believe that giving a lecture is very valuable and has an important role to play in good pedagogy, I do not think that learning, that is, deep and meaningful learning, can happen solely via this teaching strategy. It is my firm belief that in order to get students to engage in doing philosophy, one must get students engaging in the conversation of philosophy. By doing so, I hope to show them the value of being critical, engaged citizens capable of hearing and charitably considering various positions beyond their own.

Courses Taught at Illinois State University

Basic Issues in Philosophy

Introduction to Cognitive Science

Topics in Philosophy of Mind (Consciousness & the Body; the Emotions; Self, Subjectivity, & the Structure of Consciousness; Feminist Issues in Contemporary Philosophy of Mind)

Philosophy of Mind

Science and Human Culture

Visions of the Self

Courses Taught at the University of Toronto

Persons, Minds, & Bodies

Knowledge & Reality

Phenomenology (guest lecturer for Evan Thompson)

Seminar in Philosophy of Mind (guest lecturer for Evan Thompson)