Sherry Blum – Associate Professor of Philosophy

 

Biography

I majored in both Philosophy and Biology at Williams College and received my B.A. in 1983, and received my Ph.D. degree in 1991 from the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond my formal education, I believe in lifetime learning, and am pretty constantly in the process of learning of some kind or another. I taught as a lecturer at the University of Texas before coming to Austin Community College in 1995.

Teaching Philosophy

I expect my students to engage with the texts that we read in class. I usually ask students to come to class having summarized the reading and written down one (or more) question about the reading. My courses usually feature at least one essay with a required draft that receives comments but no grade, a rewrite that does receive a grade, and optional additional rewrites after discussion with me for those who wish for further improvement. In class, I emphasize discussion and try to make connections between the course readings and students’ lives where possible.

Areas of Interest

Ancient Philosophy
Moral Psychology
Ethics
Metaphysics and Epistemology

Courses Taught at ACC

PHIL-1301: Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL-2303: Logic
PHIL-2306: Ethics
PHIL-2316: Ancient Philosophy
HUMA-1301: Prehistory to Renaissance – Great Questions Seminar
Modern Philosophy