Matt DeStefano
Welcome! I'm a philosophy instructor passionate about making complex philosophical ideas digestible and interesting. My personal research consiststs primarily in philosophy of cognitive science, with significant interest in epistemology, philosophy of religion, and neuroethics. I'm currently an adjunct philosophy professor at Ottawa University, and a doctoral student at the University of Arizona.
I'm currently teaching:
Basic Issues in Philosophy
Introduces philosophy as a discipline, and focuses on the nature and purpose of philosophical reflection. Emphasis on questions concerning metaphysics, epistemology, and social/political philosophy. Students are encouraged to develop their own ideas in dialogue with selected readings and other class members.
Neuroethics
This course introduces students to the emerging field of "neuroethics," or the exploration of ethical issues that have arisen from rapid developments in neuroscience. Such issues include ethical issues surrounding pharmacological 'enhancement' of individuals; 'memory blunting' of those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder; 'brain reading' of persons suspected of deception; reduced criminal responsibility due to putative neurological 'dysfunction'; and the undermining of traditional views of personhood, personality, morality, and spirituality.