PHIL 220 - Philosophy of Race: Identity, Racism, and Justice

Credits: (3)
College Curriculum: COLL 200, COLL 350
Domain (Anchored): ALV
Domain (Reaching Out): CSI

The purpose of this course is to explore issues of race and racism from a philosophical perspective. The course will begin with the question, what is race? We’ll look at various answers about the nature of race, e.g., race as social/cultural, biological, or merely morphological. Next, we’ll focus on questions surrounding racial identity and its intersections with our other identities, especially class and gender. Then, we’ll turn to the question of the nature of racism. Individualistic conceptions of racism will be contrasted with institutional/structural conceptions. We’ll focus on three case studies of structural racism: mass incarceration, immigration policy, and redlining in real estate. Our final topic is where we go from here in the pursuit of racial justice, with a focus on sources of hope and despair and our individual and collective responsibility.