PHIL 208Contemporary Philosophy

3 credits · Philosophy · Penn State

Treating contemporary philosophy as history encourages us to ask what current ideas are likely to resonate in the future. The course focuses on philosophical work that crosses disciplinary boundaries, addresses new social and political problems, introduces experimental styles, and opens novel areas of investigation. By engaging with the ideas of philosophers who are writing and thinking right now, students gain the opportunity to consider how well philosophy addresses issues of concern to a world that they themselves belong to. Examples include climate change, racism, posthumanism, globalization, gender and sexual identity, and the science of the mind. Working with living philosophers also affords the opportunity to see the authors speak about their work on video or, when practical, in person.