Check out our Summer 2025 course offerings!
Registration will open on March 20th for degree students – please view your time ticket in Carleton Central. If you face any issues registering, contact the Departmental Administrator, Lauren Wells-McGregor.
Early Summer (May/June)
PHIL 1200 [0.5 credit]: The Meaning of Life
Scheduled in the Early Summer session (May/June), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Modality: In-person (not suitable for online students)
An introduction to concerns expressed by the perennial philosophical question, “What is the meaning of life?” Students will be familiarized with the major philosophical approaches to life’s meaning through a consideration of various contemporary and late modern works in the philosophy of life.
PHIL 1550 [0.5 credit]: Intro to Ethics & Social Issues
Scheduled in Early Summer session (May/June), Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Modality: Online (combined synchronous/asynchronous)
An introduction to understanding, assessing, and formulating ethical arguments concerning controversial issues. Particular issues studied may include, world hunger, capital punishment, terrorism, euthanasia, abortion, pornography and hate speech, animal rights, the environment, and topics in theories of race, gender and disability.
PHIL 2380 [0.5 credit]: Introduction to Environmental Ethics
Scheduled in the Early Summer session (May/June)
Modality: Online (asynchronous)
Major questions in environmental ethics: How should human beings view their relationship to the rest of nature? Is responsible stewardship of the environment compatible with current technology? Must future generations be protected? Do animals, other life forms, endangered species, ecosystems and/or the biosphere have value/rights?
*This course is open to first year students*
PHIL 2405 [0.5 credit]: Philosophy of the Paranormal
Scheduled in the Early Summer session (May/June), Monday and Wednesdays, 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Modality: Online (synchronous)
Examination of claims, concepts, theories and methods in parapsychology. Their scientific character and the relation of paranormal phenomena to philosophical issues such as survival of death, human nature, time, space, causality and perception.
Late Summer (July/August)
PHIL 2001 [0.5 credit]: Introduction to Logic
Scheduled in the Late Summer session (July/August), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Modality: Online (combined synchronous/asynchronous)
An introduction to the techniques and philosophical implications of propositional and predicate logic with emphasis on translation of expressions into symbolic form, testing for logical correctness, the formulation and application of rules of inference, and the relation between logic and language. While the course will be accessible to students with non-philosophical backgrounds, the textbook and assignments will provide students with basic knowledge of propositional and predicate logic that are assumed by higher-level courses in philosophy.
*This course is open to first year students*
PHIL 2330 [0.5 credit]: Happiness, Well-Being, and the Good Life
Scheduled in the Late Summer session (July/August)
Modality: Online (asynchronous)
A philosophical exploration of what makes a good human life. Topics may include the role of happiness, well-being, and flourishing in a good life, the relations between these aspects, and the extent to which they depend on luck and social considerations.
*This course is open to first year students*
PHIL 2340 [0.5 credit]: Philosophy and Popular Culture
Scheduled in the Late Summer session (July/August)
Modality: Online (asynchronous)
Philosophy is all around us, it permeates culture. This course explores philosophical questions through the lens of popular culture. The material used may include films, shows, music, novels, video games, advertising, comic books, and so on.
*This course is open to first year students*
PHIL 2501 [0.5 credit]: Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
Scheduled in Late Summer session (July/August), Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Modality: Online (synchronous)
An introduction to major philosophical issues concerning human cognition. Topics may include: the relation of mind to body, knowledge of other minds, the relation of mental states to personhood and personal identity, mental illness, consciousness, intentionality, action, mental realism.