Science and Society Science is not developed in a vacuum. Social circumstances influence the practice of science and in turn, science shapes how we organize ourselves as a society. We will investigate both directions of this relationship, asking such questions as: how do the values of society drive scientific research? What does it mean for science to be understood as objective? And how can socially and politically influenced scientific work be trusted? Drawing on the work of philosophers of science and interdisciplinary science studies scholars we will investigate what makes science such a powerful method of understanding the world, and how social and political pressures play a role in shaping and applying that understanding. We will also investigate the challenges of developing public trust in science by focusing on examples of socially significant scientific research such as climate science and research related to the Covid pandemic.

Philosophy as Theory and Practice: Intersections with Feminism, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Philosophy is inherently a theoretical discipline. Yet in spite of its abstractions, much of its work is influenced by the culture and social practices within which it is embedded. In this course we will investigate the philosophical significance of many of the contributions of feminist and anti-racist theorists who work to diminish oppression in society. We will examine a selection of topics from the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and social philosophy. Our goal will be to better understand how feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppression theorists have influenced the contemporary field of philosophy, and how philosophy itself has offered theoretical tools to better understand oppressive social forces and help envision non-oppressive practices. 3 hrs. Lecture

Introduction to Modern Logic Logic is concerned with good reasoning; as such, it stands at the core of the liberal arts. In this course we will develop our reasoning skills by identifying and analyzing arguments found in philosophical, legal, and other texts, and also by formulating our own arguments. We will use the formal techniques of modern propositional and predicate logic to codify and test various reasoning strategies and specific arguments. No prior knowledge of logic, formal mathematics, or computer science is presupposed in this course, which does not count towards the PHL distribution requirement but instead towards the deductive reasoning requirement.

Responsible Knowing: Issues of Trust, Expertise, and Agency In this course we will explore a variety of contemporary philosophical accounts of testimony, expertise, and epistemic trust as articulated by the approaches of social and virtue epistemology. We will investigate how philosophers have incorporated this work into an assessment of what it means to know well—that is, what is it to be a responsible knower in a world where much of our knowledge is acquired through others? What additional challenges do we face with online sources of information? We will also assess accounts of how social power and oppression manifest themselves in our positionalities and thus our pathways to knowledge. Open to junior and senior philosophy majors/minors or by permission.

Science and Democracy: Philosophical Perspectives The scientific method has been heralded as inherently democratic, based as it is on observation rather than authority. Yet the relationship between science and democracy is much more complex: what happens to our own relationship to democracy when we find ourselves needing to rely on expert scientific knowledge to make informed decisions? In this course we will explore the work of philosophers and science studies scholars to help us understand the many challenges of integrating science and democracy. We will consider what might be required for scientific and technological research to be objective, trustworthy, just, and able to serve the needs of a diverse society well, and we will examine challenges such as the commercialization and politicization of science. Topics such as climate change, health policy, medical research, AI, and food safety will help frame our considerations of the appropriate role of science in developing sound public policy.

Senior Independent Research In this course senior philosophy majors will complete an independent research project. The course has two components: (1) a group workshop in which students refine their research skills and develop parts of their projects, and (2) individual meetings with an adviser who is knowledgeable about the student's research topic. Students will engage in research activities such as tutorials and peer reviews. Before the course begins, students’ research topics and advisers will be decided in consultation with members of the department.

Philosophy and Feminism This course will examine the contributions of various feminists and feminist philosophers to some of the central problems of philosophical methodology, epistemology, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and ethics. Are there gendered assumptions in operation in the way particular philosophical problems are framed? For example, do the politics of gender contribute to accounts of objective knowledge and rationality? Are some philosophical perspectives better suited to the goals of feminism than others? We will also examine the general relationship between feminism and philosophy, and we will reflect on the relevance of theorizing and philosophizing for feminist political practice.

Heidi Grasswick

Reviews and ratings for Heidi Grasswick at Middlebury College.Heidi Grasswick teaches Science and Society, Philosophy and Anti-Oppression, Introduction to Modern Logic and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Heidi Grasswick good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I took this course with Grasswick, and while she was enthusiastic, it seemed like she tried to trip us up in the exams and even problem sets. Definitely don't recommend taking the class with her, although I liked the class overall. Super math-based more than philosophy, but the concepts are pretty easy to understand. I would take this class with a different professor if you need to take it. 

This J-term class was the hardest I've taken. I have never ever complained about a class before. But I think you cannot just use the same syllabus as a regular term class, as it is too condensed and really makes things harder.

The course covers an introduction to formal logic. The pace is very slow, as there are many students in the class without a natural ability to pick up on logic. Thus, if the material comes easy to you, the classes might feel slow. If the material is difficult, Grasswick will accommodate and make sure you understand. Problem sets are easy, as are the exams. 