Philosophy Colloquium Series

The department offers colloquia two or three times each semester, whereby department members (and sometimes guest speakers) can share ideas with the rest of the department, along with interested philosophy students, and colleagues from other departments, in an informal yet structured setting.  They are collegial, stimulating, and enjoyable.  Light refreshments will be available at all events, which are free and open to the public.   Join our conversation!

Fall 2012
TBA - watch this space!

Spring 2011
Thursday, Mar 17, 3:30-5:00, MDR Postponed, date TBD
Dr. Matthew Dasti, "Selfhood and Happiness in Indian Philosophy"

Past Colloquia
In 2002, Dr. Fitzgibbons discussed his recent work on the theory of concepts, and Dr. Sanders read and discussed some excerpts from his philosophical novel-in-progress.

In 2003, Dr. Womack gave a talk on computing procedures and empiricism, Dr. Skoble gave a defense of the neo-Aristotelian approach to classical liberalism, Dr. James made the case for a qualified pluralist position on morality, and Physics Prof. Ed Deveney gave a talk on quantum effects.

In 2004, Psychology Prof. Jonathan Holmes made a presentation on the emergence of psychological concepts as mind and consciousness in ancient sources; Homer and the Pre-Socratic philosophers.

In 2005, Dr. Quaglio offered her reflections on the self, Dr. McAlinden discussed her interpretation of Leibniz's unorthodox view on how God concurs with things in producing natural events, and Dr. Womack discussed visual reasoning, proof, and evidence in mathematics.

In 2006, Dr. Fitzgibbons told us about his recent work on the analytic-synthetic distinction, Dr. McAlinden discussed scholastic influences on Leibniz,  Dr. James argued that various standard ways of parsing moral dilemmas are misleading, and Political Science Prof. Jordon Barkalow discussed different ways of understanding American national identity.  2006 also saw our first off-campus guest, Prof. Tibor Machan of Chapman University, who discussed the nature of objectivity and defended it from some recent critics.

In 2007, Dr. Skoble gave a talk on the ethics of vigilantism, which included considerations of how these issues are dealt with in popular culture.  We also hosted our second off-campus guest, Prof. Aaron Garrett of Boston University, who discussed the connection between Hume's practice as an historian and as a moral philosopher.  Prof. James spoke on different theories of knowledge.

In 2008, Dr. Womack discussed her work on levels of causal explanation as it relates to public health issues, Dr. McAlinden spoke about Leibniz, striving for perfection, and natural explanation, Dr. Devlin gave a talk on Kuhn's understanding of science, Dr. James discussed morality and nihilism, Dr. Fitzgibbons gave a talk on moral justification, and we had another guest speaker, Prof. Kirk Wegter-McNelly from BU, who spoke on quantum theory and its implications for philosophy and theology.

In 2009, Dr. Devlin gave a talk on Nietzsche's concept of the Overman, and Visiting Lecturer Ed Kamoski spoke on Wittgenstein.  Dr. Skoble talked about the possible relationship between natural law theory and Hayekian spontaneous order, and Dr. Womack discussed public health issues relating to drug advertising.  Dr. James discussed his recent work on Rawls.

In 2010, Dr. Fitzgibbons gave a talk on the theory of meaning, and Dr. Womack discussed some of her recent findings on eating behavior.

In 2011, Dr. Brown gave a talk on supererogation and Dr. James gave a talk on disagreement and deficiency in ethics.

Light refreshments will be available at all events, which are free and open to the public.   Join our conversation!

Last Modified: August 29, 2012