Philosophy in an Inclusive Key: A Summer Institute for Undergraduates

PIKSI’12FEAST/APA

ROCK ETHICS INSTITUTE, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

June 24–July 1, 2012

Philosophy: Experience, Reflection, Transformation

Ellen K. Feder, Director
Associate Professor of Philosophy, American University

Guest Faculty:
Charles Mills, John Evans Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, Northwestern University
Elizabeth Millan, Professor of Philosophy, DePaul University

Along with works in feminist, critical race, disability, and queer theory, students will read historical and contemporary philosophical texts that explore recurring human concerns and investigate the ways in which experience informs philosophical reflection. In addition, writing assignments, visiting lecturers, and mentoring will help students learn that their own perspectives matter to philosophy.

Participants will be named Iris Marion Young Diversity Fellows
One international student will be designated the Golightly Fellow

Undergraduate women or men from underrepresented groups including racial, ethnic and sexual minorities, and people with disabilities are urged to apply. All students will receive a stipend, free transportation, and lodging.

APPLICATIONS DUE: March 15, 2012

For more details see
http://rockethics.psu.edu/piksi

Co-Sponsors: APA • FEAST • Penn State’s Rock Ethics Institute, College of the Liberal Arts, and Department of Philosophy • Iris Marion Young Diversity Scholars Fund • The Program on Philosophy after Apartheid • American Society for Aesthetics

2010 Institutional Co-Sponsors: Department of Philosophy, University of Alberta, Edmonton • Department of Philosophy, University of Michigan • Department of Philosophy, University of Oregon • Ann Arbor Philosophers’ PIKSI Funding Initiative

To download a flier for posting: PDF.

Lunch Chat (2/9): Are We Ready for a 'Morality Pill'?

For the next Philosophy Lunch Chat, I'd like to continue thinking about potential sources of moral commitments by reading Peter Singer's fascinating article "Are We Ready for a 'Morality Pill'?". 

Hope to see you there! Thursday, February 9th at noon in 62 Coleman Hall. We'll have pizza and no one will run you over on purpose. 

Washington and Jefferson Undergraduate Conference

WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Washington and Jefferson College Washington, Pennsylvania


CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers in any subfield of philosophy are welcome. All submissions should be 1500-3000 words in length and be readable in 15-20 minutes. Please prepare papers for blind review by striking all references to the author’s name or other identifying features in the manuscript and include all contact information as a separate file.

Only papers submitted for undergraduate coursework are eligible for submission. Please include contact information for a faculty sponsor to confirm that the paper was written for a class.
Please submit all papers electronically directly to Michael P. Wolf (mwolf@washjeff.edu) in either .doc, .docx, .rtf. or .pdf format.


Submission Deadline: February 17, 2012
Lunch and dinner will be provided for all students involved in the conference. We will also provide overnight accommodation for conference participants who need it.
The Washington and Jefferson Undergraduate Philosophy Conference is coordinated by the PA-Zeta Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau and the Washington and Jefferson Philosophy Club. 

Lunch Chat: Good without God? (2/2)

Lunch chats continues this week — again merging pizza and deep philosophical chitchat, nourishing brain and body alike. Stop by on Thursday, February 2nd at noon in 62 Coleman Hall. Our topic will be whether atheists can make sense of morality or whether theists have an inherent philosophical advantage there. Suggested reading is Louise Anthony's Stone column, "Good Minus God?"

Please feel free to leave a comment on any of these posts if you have a request for a particular topic you'd like to see considered in a future lunch chat.

Lunch Chats Return for Spring 2012!

Philosophy Lunch Chats are back starting this week — and now with pizza! As we begin a new term, I thought it'd be appropriate to read and discuss Gary Gutting's recent "Stone" column  "What is College For?".

We'll talk about this on Thursday the 26th at noon in the philosophy lounge (Coleman 62). Copies of the reading will be outside of my office (Coleman 61) as usual and made available at the lunch.

You might also be interested in looking at the provocative follow-up  Professor Gutting posted in response to many reader comments.

Hope to see you there. Stay tuned for more chats and upcoming events.

Reading Group on Species and Biodiversity

I was delighted to receive a David T. Scadden Fellowship to fund a project investigating the philosophical and biological underpinnings of the concept of biodiversity. It seems to me that this term is much used, but poorly understood. The more I've thought about the vagaries of biological classification, the more problematic the issue seems.

So starting in the Spring 2012 term, I will be running an interdisciplinary reading group on the nature of species and biodiversity. The group will include a mix of students and professors and we will read several books and articles — to be decided, but right now I'm thinking about reading Wheeler & Meier (eds.) Species Concepts and Phylogenetic Theory: A Debate, Richard Richards' The Species Problem, James Maclauren and Kim Sterelny's What is Biodiversity?, and some chapters form my book manuscript, Are Species Real? (forthcoming from Palgrave-Macmillan in 2012), among other things. Meetings are tentatively scheduled for alternating Wednesdays from noon-1PM (over lunch).

Students may join the reading group for credit (a full course-credit section of PHIL 320). If you're interested, please send me an email (matthew.slater@b...) or come chat with me about your experience/coursework in biology (and philosophy, if any). Specific requirements (papers, projects, &c.) for receiving credit will be negotiated on an individual basis.

The Fellowship will also allow me to fund one or two students to continue their research over the summer or fall of 2012 (and possibly attend a relevant conference). So students who are interested in getting some independent research experience on biodiversity are especially encouraged to join.

Philosophy Lunch Chats on Hiatus until January

Thanks to all who came out for Philosophy Lunch Chats this term! We'll get going again on the 19th of January, when I hope to meet some more philosophically-inclined Bucknellians. In the meantime, please feel free to email me (mhs016@) with suggestions of readings or requests for topics you'd like to see make the schedule.