Laura Sizer

Biography
Laura Sizer is Associate Professor of Philosophy in the School of Cognitive Science. She received a B.A. in Philosophy from Boston University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000. She specializes in the philosophy of mind and philosophy of psychology/cognitive science. Her research currently focuses on affect (emotions and moods), but she is also interested in questions about consciousness, representation, personal identity, the other minds problem, and issues in aesthetics. She has published in The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Philosophical Psychology, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, and Mind and Language. In addition to her primary research and teaching interests, Professor Sizer occasionally teaches topics in applied ethics, philosophy of biology, and environmental ethics. Professor Sizer served as Dean of the School of Cognitive Science from 2011 to 2015. She was Director of the Culture, Brain & Development Program Culture, Brain and Development Program from 2008-2011 and remains on the steering committee. Professor Sizer is also on the steering committee for the Ethics & the Common Good Program.

Education
B.A. in philosophy from Boston University Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Courses
Some recent courses taught:

Neuroethics

Philosophy of Mind

The Philosophy & Science of Emotions

Happiness

Other Minds

Varieties in Mind

Science and Religion: Origins: Fall 2009 (co-taught with Salman Hameed)(crosslisted with NS)

The Emotions Through Culture, Brain & Development

Students I Advise
I work with students with a wide variety of interests, from students who view philosophy as their main focus, to students who want to bring philosophy to bear on another field or set of questions. I also work with students interested in the emotions and/or cognitive science more broadly

RESEARCH:

"Two Facets of Pleasure," in 'Philosophical Topics', Vol.41, No.1 Spring 2013

Review of Paul Bloom’s How Pleasure Works, in Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism (Summer 2012)

“Good and Good for You: An Affect Theory of Happiness” in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research,Vol. LXXX, No.1 January 2010

“Moods in the Music and the Man: A Reply to Kivy and Carroll” in The Journal for Aesthetics and Art Criticism'' 65:3 Summer 2007

“What Feelings Can’t Do” in Mind and Language, Vol. 20, no.1 February 2006

Review of Aaron Ben-Ze’ev’s The Subtlety of Emotions, in Philosophical Psychology'', Vol. 15, No. 3 (2002)

“Towards A Computational Theory of Moods” in ''The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science,Vol. 51, No.4. (December 2000)

OFFICE HOURS FOR ADVISING DAY: Wednesday, March 29th, 2017

Please sign up for 20 minute slots below. If you need more than 20 minutes please sign up for more than one slot.

9:20am - 9:40am Kiyoshi Nature

9:40am - 10:00am Jules Petersen

10:00am - 10:20am Alison Lima

10:20am - 10:40am Charlotte Treiber

10:40am - 11:00am Gaelyn Lindauer

11:00am - 11:20am Colin McIntire

11:20am - 11:40am Siena Sardana

11:40am - 12:00pm Meara Geraty (maybe with Alan?)

LUNCH BREAK

1:00pm - 1:20pm Katherine Torres

1:20pm - 1:40pm Tyler Chang

1:40pm - 2:00pm Eelly Zhang

2:00pm - 2:20pm Charlie Hailey