Women continue to be under-represented in the discipline of philosophy; for example, only about 30% of PhDs in philosophy are awarded to women.  To address this problem at the local level, students and faculty decided to create a new student organization – Women in Philosophy (WiP).  According to the Rebecca Stanley, president of WiP, the group was founded to create a safe space for undergraduates to discuss current issues in Philosophy, including feminism. The group includes both male and female students. Although only in its first year as a recognized student group, WiP has hit the ground running.  Under the leadership of Stanley and Professor Sheridan Hough (faculty advisor), WiP already has dedicated group of students who meet twice a month. Topics this year ranged from scholarly discussions of Simone de Beauvoir and Edith Stein, to films and TV shows (from Agora and Hannah Arendt to Archer). When Sally Haslanger (an eminent philosopher at MIT and founder of WiP at the University of California, Berkeley – pictured left) recently visited the College, WiP students had a wonderful opportunity to meet Haslanger and discuss her work over lunch.

The faculty in the department believe it is crucial to insure that we reach out to all of our students.  We hope that the creation of WiP will make the department a more inviting place for all of our students to explore the rich world of philosophical ideas.

Because philosophy is excellent preparation for graduate school, quite a few of our alums attend graduate school – some in philosophy, some in other fields.  Here is the latest news on alumni pursuing graduate work.

Adam Briskin-Limehouse (‘06) served in the Peace Corps in Suriname and is now working toward a Masters in Public Policy at John’s Hopkins, focusing on health care policy.

Daniel Threet (‘06) received an MA from the University of Houston and is now pursuing a PhD at Georgetown University, focusing on political philosophy.

Andrew Aghapour (‘07) received an M.Phil in history and philosophy of science at Cambridge University and is a doctoral candidate studying religion and science at University of North Carolina.  Andrew recently gave a lecture at CofC, entitled “The Religion of Homo Nexus: Neuroplasticity and the Age of Enhancement.”

Damon Hansen (‘07) is studying particle physics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Laura Pustarfi Reddick (‘07), received an MA in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at California Institute of Integral Studies.

Greg Trotter (‘10) received an MA in philosophy from Loyola University (Chicago) and is now pursuing a PhD at Marquette, focusing on 20th century continental philosophers such as Sartre and Lacan.

Daniel Weissglass (‘11) is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at the City University of New York, focusing on the foundations of cognitive science.

Javier Gomez-Lavin (‘12) is in the PhD program in philosophy at the City University of New York.

Amberjade Mwekali Taylor (12) is studying international development at George Washington University.

If you’re in graduate school and were inadvertently omitted from this list, we apologize.  Please send us your information and we’ll include you in a future newsletter!

Please join us as Rebecca Stanley and Jake Webb present their Bachelors Essays on Thursday, April 17th at 2:00 in ECTR 111

Prof. Rachel McKinnon is a invited speaker at the third annual Davis Extravaganza Philosophy Conference (DEX3) at the University of California-Davis from March 29 – 30, 2015.

Prof. Jennifer Baker will be proving commentary for the “Happiness” Symposium.

Prof. Christian Coseru will be speaking at the symposium centering on his book Perceiving Reality: Consciousness, Intentionality, and Cognition in Buddhist Philosophy.

Prof. Sheridan Hough will be providing commentary for the Heidegger Colloquium.

Prof. Larry Krasnoff will be presenting his paper On the (Supposed) Distinction Between Classical and Welfare Liberalism: Lessons from the Doctrine of Right.

Prof. Richard Nunan will be charing the group meeting of the Society for the Philosophic Study of the Contemporary Visual Arts and providing commentary for the Society for Lesbian and Gay Philosophy session.

Prof. Thomas Nadelhoffer “Luck, Desert, and Fairness: An Empirical Investigation” (with Daniela Goya Tocchetto), at the annual meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: New Orleans, LA, April 2, 2015.

Prof. Thomas Nadelhoffer has been invited to give a talk “Measuring and Manipulating Beliefs about Free Will,” Department of Philosophy at Georgetown University: Washington, DC, March 4, 2015.

He will also be presenting the talk “Self-Control: The Linking of Self, Motivation, and Virtue” (with Jen Wright), The Interdisciplinary Moral Forum at Marquette University: Milwaukee, WI, March 14, 2015.