Embedded Files
Making art from key claims in Thi Nguyen's 'Epistemic Bubbles'
Tulane Archetypes
in Tulane Tarot
Classroom activity: Unusual materials reveal what annotation is for.
Philosophy
in Newcomb
Art Gallery
Current Courses (Spring 2025)
Current Courses (Spring 2025)
Click the titles or flyers to read the course descriptions.
Multi-award-winning Delia McDevitt's EURēCA poster presentation on the epistemology of sexual assault trials.
Courses
Courses
These course guides are all paired with an "Auxiliary Course Guide". For examples of "Auxiliary Course Guides", and why I provide them, see below.
This course engages with philosophy through art, play, and tarot.
During the semester, we visited two art galleries, an artist's studio, a tarot archive. We also heard from guest experts in pedagogy through game design, curators, and others. We made philosophical art and designed philosophical games.
Many of these activities are explained below.
The above 'Intro to Philosophy' course was developed at Tulane. This is my older Introduction to Philosophy course, at the University of Tennessee.
Upper level undergraduate course
Graduate Seminars in Epistemology
Ignorance, Distraction, and Confusion Graduate Super Seminar
Featured in the APA's Syllabus Showcase
Featured in the department newsletter (Description)
Social Epistemology Graduate Seminar
Teaching Philosophy Through Studio Art
Black out poem by Phoebe Clutter
Text is Begby's 'The Epistemology of Prejudice’
Annotation exercise: What matters about annotation?
Packing for a conference: PPE ELAI lunch, and giving Regina Rini a student- annotated article
Pascal's Wager
Materials for Teachers
Materials for Teachers
Teaching Activities
Teaching Activities
Here are some ideas for teachers.
If you're looking for the paper that explains how I scaffolded the game-design assignment, I can email it to you.
This section is being developed and re-organised. For now, click on the titles for links, not the images and please excuse the mess.
A "steered conversation" about Nozick's thought experiment.
Adaptable to other philosophy topics.
Use images and ideas in tarot decks to explore values.
You will need tarot decks.
See the Philosophical Tarot page for further resources.
Valence-Switch Pitch Competition
Virtues to Vices; Vices to Virtues.
Combined with artist studio visit.
A philosophical adventure.
Applied ethics: Debate long-term trust investment.
No reading required; students listen to two podcast episodes.
Inventing Hermeneutical Resources Using Art
Based on an art exhibition that combined evocative words & images.
To adapt this, one can scatter words & images across tables.
The Human Library
The Human Library of Sexualities
Role Play for Empathy and Understanding
Easily adapted to other social roles, viewpoints, & positions, such as vegetarians and meat eaters
More Activities, but the section is formatted differently:
The ‘Mix-and-Match’ Instructional Manual
This handout was designed for my Creativity course. But the final section notes that I think Mix-and-Match books can be used to teach valid and sound arguments.
Students can either design the books or merely use them.
Mix-and-Match book featuring valid/invalid (or sound/unsound) sets of arguments would be a cool public philosophy project or pedagogy resource.
At some point I might design a handout to scaffold this.
The Human Library and the Facilitated Conversation
[I'll edit this later, to explain better]
I provide an example of the simulated (role play) human library and the steered '7th generation' conversation.
The Human Library of Sexualities (using sexuality as an example)
Seventh Generation Steered Conversation (using Nozick's experience machine as an example)
The main difference between a simulated (role play) human library and an adapted ‘seventh generation’ activity is that the former is structured like an organic conversation. The latter is facilitated.
If you want students to engage with particular questions, use the seventh generation structure.
Doing the simulated human library activity with new topics might help you to design the questions that can be later used for a seventh generation activity on that same topic.
These pedagogy ideas focus on conceptual innovation, weighing competing values, or thinking creatively beyond the barriers of current conventional thought.
For something more generally applicable, philosopher Melissa Jacquart provides a wonderful repository of topic-independent classroom activities.
Innovative Pedagogy Resources
Innovative Pedagogy Resources
Handouts for Students Doing Innovative Assignments
The 'How to Make Projects Sufficiently Philosophical' Handout
The 'Don't Panic': Creative Approaches to Hard Tasks Handout
Innovative Assessment Modes
Explanation of DiscussionSparkers. These replace class presentations.
Explanation of an (excellent) Poster Presentation system. This can replace class presentations or add a creative communication or 'oral exam' element. (I owe this structure to Anne Baril.)
Teaching Philosophy by Visiting Art Galleries
Activity Sheet on The Roles of Art in Affecting Cognitive Conditions of Social Movements
Conceptual art gallery handouts focusing on applied epistemology and creativity
Printmaking art gallery handout
Philosophical Activity Sheets for Encounters and Adventures
Carnival 2025 Activity Sheet
Tarot in the Classroom
Tarot in the Classroom
I am developing activities to use tarot as a philosophical pedagogical tool for college classrooms.
See the Philosophical Tarot page for resources.
On the Value of Auxiliary Course Guides
On the Value of Auxiliary Course Guides
I split my course guides into two: The Course Guide and the Auxiliary Course Guide. This webpage explains why. (Why Two Course Guides?)
This is an example of an Auxiliary Course Guide (Intro to Philosophy, Dec 2024).
Feel free to use this content for your own course guides.
Creative Philosophy at Tulane
Creative Philosophy at Tulane
Philosophy Games Designed by Students
Philosophy Games Designed by Students
‘I learned that the real philosophical game was coming up with the game itself.’
- Student quote
Students gave permission for their games to be featured here, and specified whether they preferred to be named or anonymous. This is not a complete compendium of the philosophy games made by my students.
Click the game titles for game descriptions and printable materials.
Trust and Truth
A game about credibility judgements, made by Sofia Aquino, Emily Pederson, and Sophie Scanlon. To play this you will need a basic "race game" board, some counters, and cards displaying the numbers -3 to 3. See photo for example.
Designers: Sofia Aquino, Emily Pederson, and Sophie Scanlon
Philosophy Cards Against Humanity
This was a lot of fun. Improving the set of prompt and response cards would be an interesting, challenging, engaging philosophy question. Maybe the game would work better if they focused on specific areas--such as aesthetics, philosophy of religion, or ethics--for example.
Prejudiced Guess Who
Designed by Shelby Irwin, Finley Rupright, and [TBD].
Player try to guess the opponent’s character using only yes-no questions. The questions cannot be directly related to appearance. Players then discuss the effects of bias on their guesses. Discussion questions are provided.
Tulane Tarot: The Game
Uses college archetypes and associations to think through college life and values. A journey of 'self-awareness and discovery' for college students.
Tulane Tarot was made by
Bella Cannalonga, Phoebe Clutter, Avery Steele, & Priyanka Shah
Funded by CELT
Tulane's Center for Engaged Teaching & Learning
Credit: Knowlton Weinstock
Jessica Anderson, Olivia Lynch, Georgia Tribe, & Ava DeMattia
VR Day
Student Philosophical Artworks
Student Philosophical Artworks
Hermes
by Addie Carmouche (lead artist), Aaron Dixon, Sara Ben Hmida, & Maya Galloway
Student Abstract about Hermes
“Hermes,” named after the Greek god of communication, was constructed as a representation of the impact hermeneutical resources have on our ability to not only articulate our own life experiences to others, but to also understand them on an introspective level. Although the central focus of the art piece is one person, this wooden sculpture represents each of us in our perpetual endeavor to understand the world around us and have our experiences validated by the understanding of others. Hermeneutical resources are a vital part of this process because without these pivotal resources, we would be less equipped to communicate our experiences, emotions, and thoughts.
Bowl of Fear
By Tess Azzouz, Bella Cannalonga, Marissa Wilson, and two anon students
First exhibited at the Carroll Gallery, New Orleans
Wording in the Sculpture
Our piece is an interactive, participatory, co-created sculpture.
There are two rules:
1.) Anyone can add any fears about being harmed or judged by others.
2.) Anyone can move any fears between the two bowls.
You can add or move as many fears as you like.
Abstract
Over the course of three weeks, leading up to Hallowe’en, this conceptual art installation will investigate what fears people have, and which fears people should release themselves from.
These bowls—which we made—are unfired clay. Unfired clay absorbs the paper and ink that is placed in it. Since these bowls are unfired, they will never be finished. Like us, they continually change and evolve, and will be affected by their environment and experiences.
Pictured
A member of the public engaging with the sculpture in the Carroll Gallery
Student philosophical artwork about conceptions of violence, displayed at the Healing Center, New Orleans
Bowl of Fear. An interactive co-created sculpture
Photo Credits
The black and white photo of me is a screenshot from a student's hilarious and beautiful commemoration video for an Introduction to Philosophy course, autumn 2020. (Photo credit: Nathanael Parsons.)
All images and descriptions of students, their games, and their artworks, are shared with the kind, written permission of those students.
Student art entitled '
Webbed Interest'.
Text from Thi Nguyen's 'Epistemic Bubbles'
Graduate-Level Epistemology
Graduate-Level Epistemology
Epistemology Working Group
Epistemology Working Group
My advanced students and I meet regularly to workshop each other's research. The group, which started in 2020, is called the Epistemology Working Group (EWG). Description here.
Update: In 2023, my colleague (then) Jon Garthoff (U. Tennessee) joined the group and we expanded the remit to include ethics. After I left U. Tennessee in 2024, Jon continued to lead the group.
Epistemology Crash Course
Epistemology Crash Course
About four years I filmed a crash course in epistemology for my students.
Here are some of those videos.
I will swing back at some point, to supply the handouts, relevant readings, and the rest of the videos. I need to first edit the handouts. (They currently contain non-public content, such as students' names.) And I need to locate the other videos.
Posting the incomplete resource will incentivise me to do this, as opposed to indefinitely delay this task.
I also have a 40-page document of advice for philosophy graduate students. I'll supply that too. As above, I need to edit it first.
Student News
Student News
Recent news about student projects I advise and collaborations with students. Details on request.
Ali Saunders has published her essay "Why I Was Wrong About the South", which she wrote in her Introduction to Philosophy midterm test. A wonderful start to Ali's university career.Congrats, Ali! [LINK to be added.]
Linh Mac defended her PhD thesis today. Congratulations, Dr. Mac! April 2025
Claire Dartez's essay "Comprehension and Competence: The Grasping Condition for Theoretical Understanding" is published in the Australian Journal of Philosophy. Congrats, Claire! February 2025.
Addie Carmouche's philosophical artwork is being exhibited at the Healing Center of New Orleans. Congratulations, Addie! December 2024.
Student artwork from Introduction to Philosophy was accepted into the Carroll Gallery. Congrats to the co-artists, Addie Carmouche, Aaron Dixon, Sara Ben Hmida, & Maya Galloway! November 2024.
Brant Entrekin has accepted a position as the international organiser for Minorities and Philosophy international (MAP). Congrats, Brant! August 2024.
Linh Mac has received a Society for Applied Philosophy Grant to present her research in Lisbon. Congrats, Linh! August 2024.
I have joined Kaleena Stoddard's PhD committee at Tulane. Stoddard's thesis is on phenomenal conservatism, July 2024.
I am moving to Tulane University. A huge thank you to all my students -- undergrad and graduate -- at the University of Tennessee. I am especially grateful to the many EWG (Epistemology Working Group) members. I loved our meetings so much, and they improved my research and thinking in so many ways. I will miss you so much. July 2024.
Update: Carson O'Leary is heading to George Washington University for an MA in forensic psychology, and plans to focus on sexual violence. Congrats, Carson! And thanks for all your extraordinary research assistance! July 2024.
Carson O'Leary is having a great grad school admission season (of course!) And she will soon decide. Stay tuned. June 2024.
Michael Ebling has defended his excellent doctoral dissertation, Presentations of Value: Evaluative Outlooks and Practical Reason. Congrats Michael! June 2024
Dario Vaccaro and I have received a grant from the Berry Fund of the APA for Philosophy Through Theatre Games (PTTG) community engagement and high school outreach project. Thanks, APA! February 2024
Brant Entrekin has received a Graduate Student Senate Travel Award. Brant will present at Boston University’s graduate conference on research values. Congrats, Brant! February 2024.
Big news: Linh Mac has received the (extremely competitive) UT Humanities Center Fellowship. This major award releases Linh from teaching duties for a year! Congrats Linh! February 2024.
I'm on this fellowship this year, so maybe she'll take over my office next year, and we'll call it the Philosophy Wing of the research centre!
Mergoat Magazine is featuring Brynn Brickell's write-up of the "Philosophy Through Theatre Games" public scholarship event that I organised. Nicely done, Brynn! February 2024.
Brynn Brickell has been collecting up the honours lately: Brynn received the Zack Binkley Memorial Scholarship. She has an internship with Jupiter Entertainment, she is a writer for Land Grant Films, and the communications volunteer for Rooted East. January 2024
Linh Mac has received the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Fellowship for Outstanding Scholarship. Congrats Linh! January 2024.
Claire Dartez's essay "Comprehension and Competence: The Grasping Condition for Theoretical Understanding" has been accepted at the Australasian Journal of Philosophy . Congrats Claire! October 2023.
I received funding for another undergraduate research assistant for Spring 2024. Awesome sauce projects incoming. October 2023.
Revus will feature a symposium on Linh Mac's translation of Habermas. Congrats Linh! October 2023.
Dario Vaccaro is giving three talks this semester: “Kantian Fallibilism vs Kantian Infallibilism” at the Tennessee Philosophical Association, “G. E. Moore’s Naturalistic Fallacy” at Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY), and “Epistemic Overshooting”, for the Inquiry Network. And Brant Entrekin will present at the Florida State Free Will Conference. They are both in their second year of the doctorate. Nicely done! September 2023
Linh Mac's translation of Habermas's essay "How is Legitimacy Made Possible Via Legality?" is published in Revus! Congrats Linh! September 2023
Brynn Brickell and Carson O'Leary have joined the team as funded Research Assistants. Welcome Brynn and Carson! August 2023.
Linh Mac has received a Summer 2023 Graduate School Fellowship Award. Congrats, Linh! July 2023.
The Center for Applied Epistemology has received its first centre-specific funding. Launching later this year! July 2023.
Brynn Brickell and Georgi Gardiner have created a philosophy of love video. Featured at New Work in Philosophy. July 2023.
Claire Dartez has been appointed Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the University of Tennessee. Congrats Claire! July 2023.
Mikaela Mackenzie has advanced to candidacy. Congrats, Mikaela! June 2023.
Congrats to Claire Dartez and Catherine Dartez, who both graduated yesterday, with a doctorate and a BA, respectively. May 2023.
I have joined the Mikaela Mackenzie's (UCLA) doctoral committee as the external member. I look forward to reading more of her work, May 2023.
Linh Mac has advanced to candidacy. Congrats, Linh! April 2023.
Carson O'Leary received a College of Arts and Sciences Achievement Award. Congrats, Carson!
After writing an exceptional Haslam Thesis on the epistemology of juror selection procedures for sex crime trials, earning an 180/180 LSAT score, and collecting university prizes and law school scholarship offers as though they were Pokemon cards, Delia McDevitt is off to Harvard Law School! Congrats, Delia! They are lucky to have you!
Claire Dartez defended an astonishingly good doctoral dissertation, April 2023. Congrats Dr. Dartez!
It's prize season at the Epistemology Working Group (EWG)!! We're collecting prizes in every direction: Michael Ebling received the prestigious Yates Fellowship. Claire Dartez received the departmental essay prize, with Dario Vaccaro receiving the runner up award. Delia McDevitt won a College of Arts and Sciences Achievement Award, a departmental research award and was the runner-up in the undergraduate philosophy essay prize, and I received the Provost's early career research award. All in epistemology, and all in April 2023!
Nathanael Parsons has received the $3000 Herman Scholarship. Congrats Nate! April 2023.
Hannah Fantuzzi's law school application season is blazing. Updates coming soon!
Delia McDevitt is knocking it out of the park with law school applications. Update coming soon.
Claire Dartez won the 2023 departmental essay prize, and Dario Vaccaro received runner-up (in his first year here!). UTK Epistemologists taking it home! April 2023.
Amy Flowerree (TTU) has joined Linh Mac's doctoral committee. February 2023.
Dario Vaccaro has been interviewed for the Philosopher's Nest podcast. Great work, Dario! Nov 2022
Donnie Barnett successfully defended his doctoral thesis, Content Externalism and Self-Knowledge. Congrats to Dr. Barnett! Nov 2022.
Delia McDevitt and I have received a Faculty Research Assistants Funding (FRAF) Award to continue our research on sexual harrassment and voir dire selection procedures, September 2022. I look forward to working even more with Delia!
Liz Camp (Rutgers) has joined Claire Dartez's doctoral committee. July 2022.
Michael Ebling received the 2022 Prados Summer Fellowship for his research on moral knowledge. Congrats, Michael! May 2022.
Lots of Milestones this week! Jeffrey Pannekoek defended his doctoral thesis, Dignifying Decisions: The Role of Dignity in Representative Decision-Making. Michael Ebling and Claire Dartez have both advanced to candidacy for the doctorate. Congrats! May 2022.
Paige Greene defended her fantastic undergraduate Haslam Scholars thesis, Gray Area: The Discursive Erasure of BDSM Abuse. April 2022.
Delia McDevitt has received a departmental scholarship. Congratulations, Delia! April 2022.
Michael Ebling received the departmental essay prize for "Apriority and Moral Knowledge". Claire Dartez received runner-up, for "Understanding and the 'Grasping' Condition". Congrats to Michael and Claire! March 2022.
Jeffrey Pannekoek has received the fantastic two-year Cleveland Fellowship in Advanced Bioethics! Congratulations, Jeffrey! January 2022.
Nathanael Parsons and I have received university funding to study the epistemology of trauma, January 2022
Delia McDevitt and I have received a Student Success Research Award to study the epistemology of legal proof and rape; and the ethics of belief, December 2021.
This co-authored essay has been published, October 2021.
Linh Mac has been accepted into both the Cologne Summer School on experts, authority, and epistemic autonomy and the Vienna Summer School on resistance. Congrats Linh! August 2021.
Hannah Fantuzzi has been awarded both the Bacon-Beard Scholarship and the Louise Carr-McClure Scholarship. Congrats! July 2021.
Alex Richardson successfully defended his dissertation, Civility and the Politics of Resistance. Congrats, Alex! June 2021.
Jeffrey Pannekoek has been awarded the Prados Summer Dissertation Fellowship, May 2021.
Jacob Smith joins the philosophy doctoral programme at the University of Virginia, Summer 2021. Congratulations!
Kamyar Asasi joins the HPS doctoral programme at the University of Pittsburg, Summer 2021. Congratulations!
Jacob Smith and I co-authored 'Opacity of Character: Virtue Ethics and the Legal Admissibility of Character Evidence' (forthcoming) Phil Issues.
Research by Jacob Smith and Georgi Gardiner is featured on the Open for Debate blog at Cardiff University, June 2021.
Jacob Smith has been selected for a Student Spotlight at the Office of Research and Engagement, based on his legal epistemology research.
Linh Mac has been awarded a Spring Fellowship for doctoral research, March 2021.
Jacob Smith and I received a Graduate Research Assistance Award for our joint work on the epistemology of character evidence. February 2021.
Paige Greene has been nominated for Undergraduate Researcher of the Year for her work on hermeneutical injustices in BDSM discourse. December 2020.
The course 'Ignorance, Distraction, and Confusion' received funding for a graduate assistant. Michael Ebling has been appointed. December 2020. The course also received "super seminar" funding and will feature seven guest speakers. October 2020.
Spencer Atkins's essay 'Moral Encroachment, Wokeness, and the Epistemology of Holding' is forthcoming in Episteme. October 2020.
Linh Mac received the North American Society for Social Philosophy (NASSP) Graduate Student Award for her essay on the epistemology of #BelieveWomen. July 2020.
Linh Mac received the University of Tennessee's Thomas Fellowship Award for her research on hermeneutical and testimonial injustice concerning rape accusations. May 2020.
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