Teaching

This is a list of the classes I taught. For some classes, recent syllabi are provided.

 

Courses in philosophy (general):

  • Metaphilosophy: What is Philosophy? (fall/winter 2011/2012, fall/winter 2013/2014, spring/ summer 2017, fall/winter 2020/2021).
  • Introduction to Metaphysics (spring/summer 2014, spring/summer 2016).
  • Introduction to Theoretical Philosophy (course leader, with lectures given by multiple instructors – fall/winter 2014/2015).
  • The Problem of Induction: Classical Texts from Four Centuries (fall/winter 2014/2015, spring/summer 2018).
  • Francis Bacon: Novum Organum (fall/winter 2011/2012).
  • John Locke: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (spring/summer 2010, spring/ summer 2014).
  • George Berkeley: A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge & Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Phylonous (fall/winter 2012/2013).
  • David Hume: An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (fall/winter 2019/2020).
  • Saul Kripke: Naming and Necessity (fall/winter 2016/2017).
  • The Philosophy of Natural Kinds (spring/summer 2006).
  • New Work in Ontology and Classification (spring/summer 2017).
  • Research Colloquium for Bachelor and Master’s Theses (spring/summer 2011; spring/ summer 2020; fall/winter 2020/2021).

 

Courses in the specific area of philosophy of science and technology:

  • Core Concepts in the Life Sciences: An Introduction to the Philosophy of the Life Sciences (fall/winter 2001 & spring/summer 2002 at Leiden University; fall/winter 2004/2005 & fall/winter 2005/2006 as a seminar at Leibniz Universität Hannover; fall/winter 2012/2013 & fall/winter 2015/2016 as lecture course at Leibniz Universität Hannover; spring/summer 2018 as a lecture course plus accompanying seminar at Leibniz Universität Hannover; spring/summer 202o as a seminar at Leibniz Universität Hannover).
  • Biology and Society (fall/winter 2010/2011, fall/winter 2015/2016, fall/winter 2020/2021).
  • Science & Religion: The “Intelligent Design” Debate (spring/summer 2009; spring/summer 2012; spring/summer 2017; spring/summer 2019).
  • How Does Biology Explain? Forms of Explanation in the Life Sciences (fall/winter 2014/ 2015).
  • Biofatalism? The Debate on Evolutionary Psychology, Human Nature, and Society  (spring/summer 2016).
  • The Ontology of Biology (spring/summer 2015).
  • Species Concepts (Leiden University, spring/summer 2003).
  • Philosophy of Ecology (fall/winter 2007/2008).
  • Environmental Ethics and the Philosophy of Nature and Biodiversity Conservation (spring/summer 2011, spring/summer 2014 & fall/winter 2016/2017; spring/summer 2019; spring/summer 2020).
  • The Ethics of Agricultural Biotechnology and Food (spring/summer 2012, spring/summer 2013, spring/summer 2015, spring/summer 2016 & spring/summer 2018; spring/summer 2019; spring/summer 2020).
  • Ethics for Students in the Life Sciences (course director since 2005; taught myself: spring/summer 2005, spring/summer 2006, fall/winter 2006/2007, spring/summer 2008, spring/summer 2009, fall/winter 2009/2010, spring/summer 2010; spring/summer 2018).
  • Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) in the Life Sciences (co-taught with Nils Hoppe; spring/summer 2015, fall/winter 2015/2016).
  • Topical Lecture Series: Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (co-taught with Susanne Beck and Nils Hoppe; spring/summer 2017).
  • “Philosophy of …”: The Philosophies of the Special Sciences (fall/winter 2010/2011).
  • Theories and Methods of Research / Philosophy of Science for Life Science and Engin-eering Students) (fall/winter 2015/2016, fall/winter 2016/2017, fall/winter 2017/2018).
  • Philosophy of Technology (fall/winter 2009/2010, fall/winter 2017/2018; spring/summer 2019).
  • Scientific Knowledge: Selected Topics in the Epistemology of Science (fall/winter 2019/2020).
  • Karl Popper: The Logic of Scientific Discovery (spring/summer 2013, spring/summer 2017).
  • The Nature of Science as a Topic in Philosophy of Science and Science Education (spring/summer 2015).
  • The Social and Moral Responsibilities of Scientists (spring/summer 2015, fall/winter 2017/ 2018; spring/summer 202o).
  • Good Academic Practice: Thinking about Responsible Conduct of Research Through-out the University (fall/winter 2016/2017, fall/winter 2018/2019; fall/winter 2020/2021).
  • Research Ethics and Good Scientific Practice (spring/summer 2011, fall/winter 2011/2012, spring/summer 2012).
  • Ethical Issues in the Natural Sciences (fall/winter 2010/2011).
  • Project Seminar & Project Week for MA-Students in Philosophy of Science (fall/winter 2019/2020).