PHIL236

Description

Philosophers have long recognized that the world is organized in certain fundamental ways that they call 'kinds.' The so-called natural kinds, like water, electrons, and oxygen have been the mainstay of philosophical debate for centuries. This course examines a different kind: the social kind. The majority of the course is concerned with analyzing two traditionally central social kinds: race and gender. Along the way, we consider how our theories of race and gender influence our thinking about racism, sexism, and misogyny. We may also consider emerging metaphysical questions, like those posed by virtual reality and other forms of social interaction.