Courses

Please note that if you need advising you should contact Prof. Elise Crull ( ecrull@ccny.cuny.edu "> ecrull@ccny.cuny.edu ). Office hours are by appointment.

Spring 2026 Philosophy Courses

Questions? Email Prof. Crull (the current Philosophy Advisor): ecrull@ccny.cuny.edu

PHIL 10200 • Introduction to Philosophy • [Various instructors]

Numerous sections offered, both in-person & online – check CUNYFirst for details
By studying both classical and contemporary thinkers, this course introduces students to
some of the central questions of philosophy – for example: how do we know there exists
an external world? What’s the nature of causation? Does God exist? What is
consciousness? Are we free? When is an action moral? When is it just?

PHIL 20100 • Logical Reasoning • Pappas, Weinbaum

Several sections offered, both in-person & online – check CUNYFirst for details
This course provides students with an introduction to the elements of logical reasoning.
Basic rules and methods of assessing validity and proving arguments as they occur in
natural language are introduced (such as truth tables and rules of inference). The goal of
the course is to enable students to translate and evaluate arguments in natural language
using the basic tools of modern logic. The course serves as excellent preparation for
LSATs and other standardized tests, as well as an analytic resource for further academic
studies in any domain.

PHIL 20600 • Philosophy of Science Fiction • Pigliucci (In Person), Schabner (Online)

Several sections offered, both in-person & online – check CUNYFirst for details
An analysis of some of the central questions of philosophy as they are represented in
science fiction (and occasionally, science fact). Selections from science fiction works will
range over topics such as space and time, infinity and eternity, identity, knowledge of
other minds; artificial intelligence; moral dilemmas and technology; the meaning of life.

PHIL 30500 • History of Philosophy I: Ancient • McNamara
In-person: Tu/Th 3:30p – 4:45p • Online synchronous: F 10:00a – 12:30p

A survey of early Greek philosophy, centered on the figures of Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle. Some attention is paid to pre-Socratic philosophers (e.g. Heraclitus,
Parmenides) and to at least one current of thought after Aristotle (e.g. Stoicism,
Skepticism, neo-Platonism, or early Christian theology).

PHIL 30600 • History of Philosophy II: Modern • Vilhauer
In-person: Tu/Th 11:00a – 12:15p

The formulation of the subjects and methods of modern philosophy in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries. Rationalism: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz. Empiricism: Locke,
Berkeley, Hume. Transcendental idealism: Kant. Topics include the human mind, free
will and determinism, knowledge of the external world and God.

PHIL 30800 • Ethics • Finbloom
Online synchronous: Tu 6:00p – 8:30p • W 6:00p – 8:30p

Analysis of the concepts employed in moral reasoning, such as good, right, duty,
obligation, virtue, freedom and choice. Critical study of various theories of moral
justification-such as utilitarianism, deontological ethics, virtue ethics-and of status of
moral judgments-such as subjectivism, objectivism, relativism and skepticism. The
relation between morality and religion, moral dilemmas, and some problems in practical
ethics (abortion, famine, the environment, etc.).

PHIL 30900 • Social-Political Philosophy • Arvedon
Online synchronous: M/W 6:30p – 7:45p

An analysis of the concepts and principles employed in reasoning about the social and
political aspects of human life, such as social structure and function, equality and justice,
property and rights, social and political obligation. A critical analysis of theories of the
state of society, such as liberalism, Marxism, communitarianism, conservatism, and
anarchism.

PHIL 31124 • Metaphysics • Weissman
In-person: M/W 2:00p – 3:15p

Metaphysics is arguably the most fundamental type of philosophy, for it is the subject
area where one confronts entirely basic -- yet incredibly rich -- questions. For example,
metaphysics is concerned with the very nature of being and existence, of time and change,
personal identity, free will and determinism, and object-property or part-whole relations.
This course introduces students to historical and contemporary debates on such
metaphysical issues.

PHIL 31152 • Philosophy and Memory • Blustein
In-person: Tu/Th 9:30a – 10:45a

Students will learn about philosophical issues centered around memory, including
traditional epistemological and metaphysical issues, as well as lesser-known moral and
political issues. Readings include classics from Locke, Hume, Freud, Halbwachs, Russell
and Ryle, as well as contemporary readings on the personal and collective memory,
memory and morality, and the significance of memorialization.

PHIL 31153 • Philosophy of Mental Disorders • Apparicio
In-person: M/W 12:30p – 1:45p

Mental disorders raise important issues in many areas of philosophy, including the
nature of consciousness, free will, moral responsibility, and social and political
philosophy. But what are mental disorders? Are they the result of an underlying
neurological condition? Or do mental disorders arise from a failure of the individual to
adapt to their environment? How do we know if someone is suffering from a mental
disorder? What are the signs? Should how we treat someone with a mental disorder
depend on whether we believe the underlying condition is neurological or social? How
do we distinguish between these two root causes? These are some of the issues we will
be exploring in this course. We will first consider the general question of what constitutes
a mental disorder, reviewing phenomenological, neurological, social constructionist,
dysfunction, and distress accounts. We will, then, examine current theoretical analysis of
mental disorders such as depression/mania, schizophrenia, addiction, dissociative
disorders, autism, and psychopathy. We will, also, investigate the DSM and the methods
used therein to distinguish between disorders, paying careful attention to any cultural
and historical distinctions in philosophical theories of diagnosis and treatment.

PHIL 31156 • The Metaphysics of Gender • Rifkin
In-person: Tu/Th 2:00p – 3:15p

This course will introduce students to the major themes and positions in the metaphysics
of gender. Through a combination of course readings, lectures, in-class discussions, and
argumentative essays, students will gain the ability to discuss and critically analyze
claims about gender. After completing the course, students will be able to apply their
knowledge of gender to concrete personal experiences and societal issues, in order to
better understand and grapple with gender in their personal and professional lives.

PHIL 31157 • Mind, Representation & Reality • Pion
In-person: M/W 9:30a – 10:45a

Mind, Representation, and Reality explores a deceptively simple question: how can the
mind represent reality? Our thoughts seem to be about things?rocks, numbers, people,
even imaginary creatures?but what makes this possible? In this course, we will explore
how philosophers have tried to explain the mind?s representational abilities, from
theories mental content (what do our thoughts mean, and how do they mean it?) to
debates about the format of thought (do we think in words, images, or some other form?).
Along the way, we will consider striking cases where the mind misrepresents, such as
perceptual illusions, ambiguous figures, and linguistic puzzles. What do these cases
reveal about the mechanisms of thought? By examining these puzzles, students will gain
an introduction to some of the central debates in the philosophy of mind and learn how
questions about representation interact with psychology, linguistics, and other cognitive
sciences.

PHIL 32200 • Philosophy of Science • Crull
In-person: M/W 11:00a – 12:15p

This course examines, from a philosophical perspective and using philosophical tools,
the nature of scientific theories, practices, explanations, & laws, what counts as “good"
science, who gets to participate in science, and how science progresses. The course
also introduces students to contemporary issues emerging from science and technology’s
evolving, complex relationship with various aspects of society, like religion, politics, &
gender.

PHIL 32600 • Philosophy of Law • Mendez
In-person: M/W 3:30p – 4:45p

A critical analysis of some central concepts employed in legal reasoning and judgment,
such as justice, crime, evidence, responsibility, legal and civil rights, punishment, civil
disobedience, and constitutional interpretation. Examination of major theories of law
such as natural law theory, legal positivism and social realism, and of the relation
between the law and morality.

PHIL 34401 • Chinese Philosophy • Marinoff
Online synchronous: Tu/Th 6:30p – 7:45p

This course treats the main thinkers and themes of classical Chinese philosophy. We will
begin with salient extracts from Confucius?s Analects, then move on to a detailed reading
of the Dao De Jing. We will contrast the moral, social and political philosophy of the
traditionalist Confucians (including Mencius, or Mengzi) with that of the rebellious
Daoists (including Lao-Tzu or Laozi, and Chuang-Tzu, or Zhuangzi). We will examine
the metaphysical doctrine of yin-yang: duality derived from unity, manifest as
complementarity. We will seek to understand how natural laws of change, balance and
harmony allow one to discern and follow the Way (Dao). We will briefly compare Lao
Tzu?s unique version of ideal society with the visions of Plato, Hobbes and Marx. We will
briefly survey China?s transformation of Buddhism, and its elevation to a comparable
status with Confucianism and Daoism (600-900 CE). Ultimately, we will see how Chinese
philosophy applies directly to diverse areas such as martial arts, medical sciences, and
modern physics.

PHIL 34905 • Biomedical Ethics • Auwerda, Jenkins

Numerous sections offered, both in-person & online – check CUNYFirst for details
Biomedical Ethics is a philosophical overview of leading theories, principles, and
problems in the field of bioethics. Ethical theories and principles are examined to
provide a theoretical structure for analysis of concrete ethical problems. The course
considers the ethics of the doctor-patient relationship, including paternalism, informed
consent, confidentiality, and truth telling, as well as larger systemic issues of social
justice and access to health care. Topics in reproductive ethics, end-of-life ethics, and
some of the newest developments in the field arising from genetics and neuroscience
are also discussed. Extensive use is made of case studies

Philosophy Department, North Academic Building (NAC 5/144C)
160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031
Phone: (212) 650-7291
E-mail: philosophy@ccny.cuny.edu