Karen Hoffman

Biography

Although my academic areas of specialization are ethics and existentialism, I have the privilege of teaching a wide range of classes that cover various philosophical topics and historical periods.

I also co-directed the Honors Program at Hood for 9 years. Some of my publications focus on the nature of evil and the moral complexity of forgiveness, while others explore the connections between philosophy and film.

I am particularly interested in the philosophy of film, the ways in which philosophy helps us understand films, the extent to which film does philosophy, and the ways in which films help us to understand philosophical arguments and ideas; I enjoy exploring those topics in my Philosophy through Film class.

My areas of interest also include studies of women and gender, which are the focus of my Philosophical Issues in Feminism course. I also enjoy teaching Logic, Ethics, Vice and Virtue and multiple courses that emphasize the works of historically significant philosophers. I believe that philosophy is central to a liberal arts education not just because of the critical thinking and analytical skills it promotes or the reflections on moral character and values that it encourages but because of the kinds of questions that it teaches us to ask.