Course Development

The Gadfly's Guide to the Galaxy

(Ancient Philosophy)

Do you wish to be like the white thread in the tunic? If so, then it is fitting for you to take care how you should be like others — just as the thread has no design to be anything superior to the other threads. If, however, you wish to be purple — that small part which is bright, and makes all the rest appear graceful and beautiful — then this course is the start of your awakening, your emergence from the cave. 

The Gadfly’s Guide to the Galaxy is a thematic and media-rich introduction to ancient philosophy, exploring key concepts like time, power, desire, freedom, justice, and the cosmos not as historical curiosities but as live tools for thinking. Drawing on figures such as Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, and Epicurus, and pairing them with science fiction provocations, the course engages questions of virtue, metaphysics, and moral reasoning that continue to shape contemporary debates—especially in fields like bioethics, where the resurgence of virtue ethics highlights the enduring relevance of ancient insights into character, flourishing, and the examined life.

Reflections on Disability 

(Intro to Disability)

A foundation course on the philosophy of disability that explores the contested meanings, models, and lived realities of disablement. Structured into descriptive and evaluative modules, the course introduces students to medical, social, relational, and phenomenological models of disability, while encouraging critical reflection on structural injustice, epistemic harm, and embodied difference. Topics include definitions of impairment, accessibility and design justice, intersectionality, sexual citizenship, and the ethics of care and interdependence. Philosophical texts are paired with media case studies and activist writings to emphasise the lived dimensions of exclusion and inclusion. The course supports cross-listing (e.g., Health Sciences, Social Work, Disability Studies) and can be adapted for advanced learners through deeper theoretical engagement.

Contemporary Moral Problems

(Intro to Applied Ethics)

A versatile upper-level ethics course that introduces students to contemporary moral problems through case-based and participatory learning. Designed for flexible delivery and accessible to non-specialists, it can be adapted for cross-listing (e.g., Political Science, Health Science, Science and Technology Studies). Topics range from AI companionship and antinatalism to disability justice, reproductive ethics, and first contact scenarios. Emphasises discussion-based learning, active engagement, and scaffolded assessment in lieu of traditional essays. Suitable for adaptation into asynchronous or hybrid formats. The course incorporates multimedia case studies, accessible readings, and real-world dilemmas, encouraging students to apply philosophical frameworks to emerging ethical issues. Sessions are structured around thematic provocations and collaborative inquiry rather than fixed doctrinal positions.

‘Help us, Space Bioethics — You’re Our Only Hope!’

(Space Bioethics)

This foundational course introduces core bioethical concepts, examining their application on Earth and extending them to the unique challenges of space exploration. It distinguishes between space bioethics — concerned with human health in space — and the bioethics of space, which addresses the ethical implications of extraterrestrial life. Topics include human enhancement, first contact protocols, astrobiology, space law, and resource rights. By exploring these areas, the course highlights how the absence of Earth's social constraints can influence critical bioethical decisions in the context of space exploration. The course invites students to critically assess whether existing ethical frameworks are sufficient for guiding responsible action beyond Earth — or whether wholly new models are needed.

The Prime Directive: Question Everything 

(Intro to Philosophy)

A bold, thematic introduction to philosophy taught through the stories of Star Trek. This course is designed for non-specialists and first-time philosophers, using episodes and arcs from the franchise to explore the biggest questions we can ask: What makes us who we are? What’s the right thing to do—especially when it’s not obvious? How do we know what’s real? Each topic—ethics, metaphysics, personhood, justice—is paired with classic texts and contemporary debates, turning sci-fi dilemmas into real-world thinking. Highly adaptable for asynchronous delivery or cross-listing (e.g., with Media Studies or STS), the course emphasises active learning, creative assessment, and accessibility. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to live a good life—or whether an android can have one too—this is your invitation to boldly think where few have thought before.

It’s Health, Jim — But Not as We Know It

(Medical Sociology)

A survey course that broadly investigates the social causes (and resultant consequences) of ill health. This course includes perspectives on health, healthcare economics, distributive justice, determinants of health and disease, healthcare rights, and the nature of the Human Condition; it can, similarly, be cross-listed with relevant departments. Students explore the structural and institutional forces that shape health outcomes across lines of race, class, gender, and disability, and examine how social policies, ideologies, and inequalities become embodied. Designed for interdisciplinary relevance, the course draws on materials from sociology, public health, and philosophy, and encourages students to critically evaluate the ethical frameworks underpinning contemporary healthcare systems.

Take Me to Your Leader... Erm, Who is that, Exactly?

(The Social and Political Philosophy of Space)

A foundation course in the philosophy of space that examines the ethical, political, and conceptual challenges posed by extraterrestrial life, interstellar communication, and off-world governance. Drawing from philosophy of language, epistemology, ethics, game theory, and political theory, students explore topics such as first contact protocol, the Hobbesian Trap, astrobiology, space bioethics, and the evolving definitions of life and intelligence. Case studies include METI/SETI transmissions, space property rights, and the legitimacy of space law, with media examples (e.g. Arrival, The Expanse) used to support conceptual analysis and risk reflection. Designed for flexibility across disciplines, the course is suitable for students in philosophy, politics, and STS.

Research for the Mildly Terrified — Now with 80% Less Panic!

(Research Methodologies)

A practical, skills-based course that walks students through the messy, magnificent process of writing a research paper from scratch. Designed for non-specialist learners in applied fields, this course covers literature reviews, research design, peer review, and dissemination—alongside field-specific lessons in citation, ethics, and data collection. Assessment is scaffolded and progressive: students draft their own research paper across the term, receiving detailed feedback at every stage. The course prioritises writing confidence, critical engagement, and real-world applicability over jargon or abstraction, and is highly adaptable for cross-listing or asynchronous formats.

Ethics at the End of the World (And Other Bedtime Stories)

(Advanced Ethics)

A senior-level seminar in advanced applied ethics, this course examines complex moral problems at the intersection of philosophical theory and lived experience. While grounded in normative traditions, it also engages metaethical questions about the authority and limits of moral reasoning in contexts of uncertainty, injustice, and collapse. Topics include structural violence, ethical risk, intergenerational responsibility, and moral breakdown in crisis scenarios. Emphasis is placed on student-led inquiry, dialogical learning, and independent research development.

‘You Look Lonely': The Ethics of Virtual Companionship

(Ethics of AI And VIrtual Companion Technologies)

An interdisciplinary applied ethics course exploring moral, social, and legal issues raised by artificial intelligence and human-machine relationships. Topics include algorithmic bias, moral agency in autonomous systems, data ethics, and the emergence of virtual companions in healthcare, intimacy, and everyday life. The course draws on philosophy, social science, and policy studies to help students critically evaluate emerging technologies.

Critical Thinking 101 — Thinky Things and the Art of Not Being Fooled 

(Intro to Logic)

An entry-level critical thinking course that builds core reasoning and argumentation skills through humour, informal dialogue, and real-world relevance. Students analyse deductive and inductive arguments, identify fallacies, and explore moral reasoning, thought experiments, and provocatively weird examples. Emphasises clarity, self-reflection, and accessible design. Assignments include quizzes, collaborative challenges, and the signature “Thinky-Thing” project, which invites multimodal submissions (e.g., Pecha Kucha, podcast, zine, video). Designed for non-specialist learners and suitable for adaptation across disciplines or asynchronous delivery.