"Philosophy emphasizes the importance of, and helps students develop skills in, critical thinking. I think students major in Public Affairs to become thoughtful citizens who might also work in areas of public life where melding political knowledge with ethics is an asset."







 
 
Laura Purdy
 
 

For Professor Purdy, teaching is all about helping students think critically, especially about the moral and political issues that face them as persons and citizens. Her own areas of specialization are applied ethics (particularly bioethics, reproduction, and issues having to do with children) and feminism. She enjoys teaching students who are open-minded and want to learn, and is also quite fond of the beautiful Wells campus.

Education:
1970     B.A. San Jose University
1971     M.A. San Jose University
1974     Ph.D. Stanford University

Select Publications:
Purdy, L. “The Politics of Preventing Premature Death.” in Boylan, M. (ed.). Public Health Policy and Ethics, 2004.

Purdy, L. & Teays, W. Bioethics, Justice, & Health Care. Wadsworth, 2002.

Purdy, L. Reproducing Persons. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1996.

Courses Taught:
Logical and Critical Thinking
Ethics
Bioethics Today
Reproductive Ethics
Ethics and the Human Genome Project
Ethics, Law, and Social Policy
Moral and Political Issues in Education
Issues in Feminism
Reproductive Ethics

Last updated: 10/04/2005



 


Professor of Philosophy;
Ruth and Albert Koch Professor of Humanities

Chair, Public Affairs

Pre-law advisor

Ipurdy@wells.edu
315.364.3244
Macmillan 316
http://aurora.wells.edu/~lpurdy