Splash Biography



RYAN SMITH, Yale senior studying Ethics, Politics, & Economics




Major: Ethics, Politics, and Economics

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2024

Picture of Ryan Smith

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I'm from Hillsboro, Oregon, a town about 30 minutes outside of Portland. Excited to meet all of you!



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

H4765: Is God Real? Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion in Splash Fall 2023 (Nov. 11, 2023)
For as long as there have been humans, there has been belief in the supernatural. To what extent is this belief justified? What arguments have philosophers put forward for the existence of gods/God, and what arguments exist against this belief? This course is an introduction to the philosophy of religion, and will cover areas such as the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, the proper relationship between faith and reason, and the problem of evil. Prepare to leave with more questions that answers.


H4685: The Philosophy of Truth in Splash Spring 2023 (Apr. 01, 2023)
How do we know what is "true" and "untrue," "real" and "fake?" Can we trust our senses? Is there such a thing as an independent reality? In this class, we will explore some basic questions of epistemology (the study of knowledge) and metaphysics (the study of reality), considering the ideas of Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, and other trailblazing philosophers. Prepare to come away with more questions than answers.


H4593: The Philosophy of Truth in Splash Fall 2022 (Oct. 29, 2022)
How do we know what is "true" and "untrue," "real" and "fake?" Can we trust our senses? Is there such a thing as an independent reality? In this class, we will explore some basic questions of epistemology (the study of knowledge) and metaphysics (the study of reality), considering the ideas of Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, and other trailblazing philosophers. Prepare to come away with more questions than answers.


A4548: The Philosophy of Truth in Splash Spring 2022 (Apr. 16, 2022)
How do we know what is "true" and "untrue," "real" and "fake?" Can we trust our senses? Is there such a thing as an independent reality? In this class, we will explore some basic questions of epistemology (the study of knowledge) and metaphysics (the study of reality), considering the ideas of Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, and other trailblazing philosophers. Prepare to come away with more questions than answers.


E4439: The Philosophy of Truth in Sprout Fall 2021 (Oct. 02 - 16, 2021)
How do we know what is "true" and "untrue," "real" and "fake?" Can we trust our senses? Is there such a thing as an independent reality? In this class, we will explore some basic questions of epistemology (the study of knowledge), considering the ideas of Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, and other trailblazing philosophers. Prepare to come away with more questions than answers.