• Contact Info

Potter, Jason Timothy

Instructor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. Potter is working on a book that considers whether Kant's theory of experience and mind has been defeated, or merely supplanted, and if supplanted, whether the new alternative models of mind and experience would benefit from insights borne by his critical project. He is also beginning research into noncomputational theories of cognition.

keywords

  • theory of knowledge, cognition, history of early modern philosophy, logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of art, skepticism

Teaching

courses taught

  • PHIL 1000 - Introduction to Philosophy
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019
    Introduces students to the most fundamental questions of human existence, either topically or through various major figures in philosophy. Topics may include free will, the mind-body problem, the nature of the self, the existence of God, knowledge of the external world, the nature of morality, the meaning of life.
  • PHIL 1100 - Ethics
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021
    Introductory study of major philosophies on the nature of the good for humanity, principles of evaluation, and moral choice as they apply to contemporary moral problems.
  • PHIL 2710 - Philosophy and Film
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
    Introduces students to issues in philosophy through film, including consideration of film itself as an artistic medium. Students will watch films and wrestle with the philosophical problems they present. Topics will vary according to film selection and may include: the distinction (if any) between high and low art; aspects of film production that support or create aesthetic value; and how (if at all) film can and should be used to foment socio-political change.
  • PHIL 3010 - History of Modern Philosophy
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Summer 2021 / Fall 2021 / Summer 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024
    Introduces modern philosophy, focusing on the period from Descartes through Kant. In addition to careful analysis of philosophical arguments, attention is paid to the ways in which philosophers responded to and participated in major developments in the 17th and 18th century, such as the scientific revolution. Recommended prerequisite: 6 hours of philosophy coursework.
  • PHIL 3480 - Critical Thinking/Writing in Philosophy
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
    Focuses upon the fundamental skills, methods, concepts and distinctions that are essential for the study of philosophy. Basic skills covered include the writing of philosophy papers, the reading of articles and the extraction and evaluation of arguments. Recommended prerequisites: 6 hours of philosophy course work.
  • PHIL 4010 - Single Philosopher
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2022
    Intensively studies the work of one historical figure in philosophy, with the aim of reaching a broad understanding of the philosopher's whole body of thought. Philosophers covered include, from year to year, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Hume, and Kant. Includes at least one course per year on an ancient author and one course per year on a modern author. Recommended prerequisite: 12 hours philosophy course work. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as PHIL 5010.
  • PHIL 4950 - Honors Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2024
    May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisite: 12 hours philosophy course work.

International Activities