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Education .
Ph.D. University of Notre Dame (1998)
BA Wheaton College (1988)
Professional Appointments .
Williams College, Department of Philosophy, Fall 2003-Present
Harvard University, Department of Philosophy,1997-2003Areas of Specialization .
Metaethics
Normative Ethics
History of Ethics (especially Hume)Areas of Interests .
Epistemology
Philosophy of Science
Political Philosophy
Feminist Theory
- Introduction to Moral Philosophy (PHIL 101)
- Moral Objectivity (PHIL 335)
- Introduction to Moral Philosophy (PHIL 101)
- Contemporary Ethical Theory (PHIL 236)
PHIL 101(F,S) Introduction to Moral and Political Philosophy (W)
Throughout the history of Western philosophy, there have been debates concerning how human beings should live: What should we do both with our lives as wholes and in specific problematic situations? The debates have addressed us both as individuals and as members of political communities. This course aims to aid us in responding to these debates, and in living our lives, on the basis of reasoned conclusions rather than from unrecognized presuppositions. The course concentrates on Plato's Republic, the most influential ethical and political text within Western philosophy, but we assess the Republic in light of elaborations and criticisms that have developed over the past 2500 years, in works by Aristotle, Kant, and Mill. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: class discussion, frequent short papers (totaling 20-30 pages). No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 per section (expected: 19 per section). Preference given to first-year students and sophomores.
BARRY, CLARKE, WILBERDINGPHIL 335(F) Moral Objectivity (W)
We often speak as if moral judgments can be true or false, well-reasoned or not. That is, we speak and think as if morality can be objective. But how should objectivity in this domain be understood? Is it best thought of as being like scientific objectivity, assuming we have a clear sense of what that involves? Or should objectivity in ethics be conceived of differently? While answers to such questions are implicit in historical accounts of morality, these issues have become the topic of explicit, sustained debate in the twentieth century. Our focus will be on the most recent and sophisticated work in this area. We will examine several different approaches in depth, including non-naturalist and naturalist forms of realism, constructivism, and various well-developed forms of anti-realism (both skeptical and non-skeptical). Readings will include works by the following authors: Moore, Stevenson, Harman, Mackie, Railton, Boyd, Blackburn, Williams, McDowell, Korsgaard, and Nagel. Format: seminar. Requirements: final paper, several shorter assignments, attendance and participation. Prerequisites: Philosophy 101 required; one 200- or 300-level Philosophy course highly recommended. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 5-15). Preference given to Philosophy majors and those considering the Philosophy major.
BARRYPHIL 236(S) Contemporary Ethical Theory
In this course we will examine in depth the two most influential approaches to ethics in the twentieth century: utilitarianism and deontology. According to the first, the moral status of an action depends entirely on its consequences for human happiness. According to the second, the morality of an action has a more complex relation to the intrinsic nature of the action and the interpersonal relationship involved. While both theories have their roots in earlier thinkers-utilitarianism in Bentham and Mill, deontology in Kant-our central focus will be on contemporary developments of these views. After examining the debate between these two rival theories in some depth, we'll turn our attention to recently developed alternatives that attempt to transcend the dichotomies that continue to divide utilitarian and deontological approaches. Readings will include works by the following authors: Bentham, Mill, Feinberg, Nozick, Railton, Brink, Williams, Wolf, Taurek, Rawls, Smart, Scheffler, Nagel, Kant, Kamm, Quinn, Kagan, Ross, Scanlon. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: two seven-page papers, take-home essay exam, attendance and participation. Prerequisites: Philosophy 101. Enrollment limit: 30 (expected: 10-20). Preference given to Philosophy majors and those considering majoring in Philosophy.
BARRY
