Colloquium (10/2): Catherine Elgin, "Making an Example of It"

Catherine Elgin, Professor of the Philosophy of Education, Graduate School of Education at Harvard University

Thursday, Oct. 2nd @ 4:30 PM   » Academic West 108 

Abstract: Thinking with things often involves taking them to exemplify some of their features. Rather than being mere things, as exemplars, they function as symbols that highlight features and afford epistemic access to them.

Professor Elgin is one of the leading figures working on philosophical problems about the nature of understanding, its relationship to knowledge, and its role in science and art. She has developed the notion of "exemplification" to characterize how scientific experiments as well as works of art provide understanding, and so, cognitive access to the world.

Lunch Chat (9/25): Understanding Understanding

Join us at noon on September 25 in the Willard-Smith Library in Vaughan Lit for a lunch chat with Philosophy Professors Matthew Slater and Jason Leddington to discuss understanding, how it differs from knowledge, and why this might matter for science communication.

This lunch chat is the first of a series of events connected to the Production of Public Understanding of Science Project for which Professors Slater and Leddington have secured a grant from the Varieties of Understanding Project at Fordham University. (For further understanding-related events in Fall 2014, see this post.)

For some background on understanding, its nature, and why we care about it, check out this post by NYU philosopher of science Michael Strevens on the NYT philosophy blog, The Stone. Also have a look at this interesting interview with Fordham philosopher Stephen Grimm at 3AM.

Fall 2014 Philosophical Events

We have a great series of events schedule for the Fall 2014 Semester, several of them connected with the Production of Public Understanding of Science grant project.

Colloquia

"Making an Example of It"

Catherine Elgin, Professor of the Philosophy of Education, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University
October 2nd at 4:30PM

   » Academic West 108

"The Ethics of Veganism"

Gary Francione, Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of Law & Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy, at the Rutgers School of Law
October 23rd at 7:30PM

   » Bucknell Forum, Langone Center

"How Understanding Human Beings Differs from Understanding the Natural World"

Stephen Grimm, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University
November 4th at 4:30PM

   » Willard–Smith Library, 125 Vaughan Literature Building

"(Really) Recovering Understanding"

Gary Hardcastle, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bloomsburg University
November 20th at 4:30PM

   » Academic West 108

Philosophy Lunch Chats

On select Thursdays at noon, interested faculty, staff, students, and community members gather to chat about some philosophical topic in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Lunch (pizza and salad) is provided.

"Understanding Understanding"

with Professors Matthew Slater and Jason Leddington, Philosophy
September 25th in the Willard–Smith Library

"Is Race Real?"

with guest Professor Michael James, Political Science
October 9th in the Traditional Reading Room, Bertrand Library

"Why Don't Philosophers Take Animal Rights Seriously?"

with guest Professor Gary Francione, Rutgers School of Law
October 23rd in the Traditional Reading Room, Bertrand Library

"Engineering and Philosophy"

with guest Professor Alan Cheville, Electrical & Computer Engineering
November 13th in the Willard–Smith Library

Philosophical Film Night

Finally, we'll be showing one "philosophical film" this term: Woody Allen's classic (1989) dark comedic exploration of morality, "Crimes and Misdemeanors", showing at the Campus Theatre on November 11th at 7:30PM; with a post-screening discussion.

Sheila Lintott giving a lecture at Montclair State on October 16

Oct 16: Sheila Lintott Lecture

"The Art of Friendship"

Sheila Lintott is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bucknell University, and Chair of the Department of Women's & Gender Studies. 

Lecture Description:  Personal relationships are not usually considered sites of aesthetic appreciation or activity.  In contemporary western culture, this honor is too often reserved exclusively for Art.  But why continue relying exclusively on the well-worn association of Art and aesthetics?  Ignoring the aesthetic aspects of friendship impoverishes our understanding of the value and meaning of friendships, relationships that give shape and content to our lives.  My view is that friendships are aesthetic expressions and impressions in and of our lives, just as form and color are aesthetic expressions and impressions in and of paintings. Here I investigate the aesthetic aspects of friendship, including how aesthetic taste influences with whom we are friends, how cultivating and sustaining friendships invites creative and relatively free expressions of self, and how good friendships help to harmoniously round out a life.