Arif Amlani

Dr. Amlani’s research interests and teaching are in the areas of philosophy and philosophy of education. In philosophy of education, he focuses on the ultimate goals of education with special attention to the cultivation of reason in education. In philosophy, his interests and research are in the areas of conceptions reason and nature of reason. Dr. Amlani is also the Director of New Initiatives in the Dean’s Office, where he helps conceptualize and launch new initiatives in the school, including new degrees, certificates, centers, and institutes.

Register for our new course available Fall 2025, EDUC 201: What is this thing called ‘Reason’?

What is reason? This course is an investigation into the nature of reason. 

Plato called reason an instrument worth more than “ten thousand eyes.” But despite centuries old deliberations on reason, we do not yet have a clear conception of what it is.

An accurate conception of reason is relevant to all disciplines including philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, cognitive science, education, etc. Given its significance, this course is a search into the nature of reason. The central, overriding question is: What is reason? What is it for? How does it function? How is it related to other entities? How might we master it? Readings in the course will include selections from Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Kant, and others.

In the course, instructor and students will jointly pursue this question. The course will also provide students with analytical tools for examining and evaluating potential conceptions of reason—tools which will be applicable to students own scholarly pursuits. The final aims of the course are to inspire students’ own search into the nature of reason and its applicability to contemporary life.