PHIL 220 Philosophy of Race and Racism

In this course, students enter contemporary philosophical debates about race and racism. They will explore questions such as: 1) What is race? Do races exist, or are races properly defined a mere fiction? If race doesn’t exist, should we retain the concept of race, or does conserving race exacerbate racism? 2) How does racism operate today? Is individual racism best understood as fundamentally a matter of beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors? How best to combat racism? Many of our discussions will be anchored in contemporary racial politics. Issues to be addressed include: white privilege, colorblindness, implicit racial bias, race and the prison system, and more. Educational Studies, Political Economy, Africana Studies elective. Offered every other year.