Ajume Wingo's area of specialty and training is social and political philosophy. Central to his research program are problems related to the establishment and support of citizen-based government: What civic attitudes are needed to sustain citizen-based institutions and how to foster these attitudes? How to maintain existing institutions and freedom-enhancing attitudes in existing liberal democracies? Wingo considers both theoretical and practical aspects of these questions as they arise in two distinct contexts: (1) existing liberal democracies such as the United States, Western Europe and their outposts such as Japan and (2) the non-liberal and democratizing states in the developing world especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Wingo focuses specifically on electoral democracy.
keywords
social, ethical and political philosophy, African Philosophy, Comparative Democratic Philosophy
PHIL 1200 - Contemporary Social Problems
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Summer 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Summer 2022 / Summer 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024
Examines competing positions in debates over a wide variety of controversial moral, social and political issues. Topics may include: abortion, world poverty, animal rights, immigration, physician-assisted suicide, freedom of religion, hate speech, cloning, income inequality, pornography, gun rights, racial profiling, capital punishment, overpopulation, prostitution, drug legalization, torture. Formerly titled 'Philosophy and Society.'
PHIL 3040 - African Philosophy: Personhood and Morality
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Fall 2020 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Examines conceptions of personhood, humanity, and morality among several African ethnic groups (including the Akan and Nso), employing a comparative approach that challenges traditional Western philosophical presuppositions and builds sensitivity to unfamiliar conceptions of morality and politics. Gives special attention to the effects of history, geography, and the environment on different societies� ways of conceptualizing ethical questions. Topics include human rights; free will and responsibility; custom and morality; and methodological questions concerning cross-cultural comparisons. Recommended prerequisite: 6 hours of Philosophy course work.
PHIL 3200 - Social and Political Philosophy
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2022
Introduces students to an in-depth examination and analysis of central operational ideas in social and political philosophy, such as power, freedom, equality, democracy, justice, rights, community, individuality, civil disobedience, and law. A thorough treatment of any of these ideas may call for some cross-cultural and/or comparative political and social analysis. Recommended prerequisite: 6 hours of philosophy course work.
PHIL 4260 - Philosophy of Law
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
Considers philosophical topics concerning law and the U.S. legal system. Topics that may be considered include the nature of law, relations between law and morality, justifications of punishment, the moral duty to obey the law, and law and liberty. Recommended prerequisite: 12 hours philosophy course work. Same as PHIL 5260.
PHIL 4950 - Honors Thesis
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Spring 2019
May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisite: 12 hours philosophy course work.
PHIL 5100 - Values Proseminar
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2020
Covers seminal classic texts and/or fundamental topics in analytic ethics and social/political philosophy, including its history.
PHIL 5260 - Philosophy of Law
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Considers philosophical topics concerning law and the U.S. legal system. Topics that may be considered include the nature of law, relations between law and morality, justifications of punishment, the moral duty to obey the law, and law and liberty. Same as PHIL 4260.
PHIL 6200 - Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Provides an in-depth look at some particular topic in social and political philosophy, such as rights, political freedom, political obligation, or democracy.
