Sensitive Content

Teaching in the department sometimes involves challenging material on topics such as abuse, death, politics, religion, and sexuality. Such material is included when it is important for the teaching goals of the course.

In the analysis and discussion of sensitive material and topics, both teachers and students have to strive for dispassionate intellectual rigor, just as they have to do for any other topic in philosophy. While it is of course both normal and acceptable to have an emotional response to challenging topics, this response must not diminish the intellectual rigor of one's analysis, and discussion of the topics has to proceed with as much kindness towards others (and oneself) as possible.