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Department of Philosophy

Welcome to the Department of Philosophy

For upcoming events and current news click here

Memorial's Department of Philosophy offers a thriving intellectual community where students are invited to explore the nature and problems of human existence and human thought.

What is philosophy?

As a discipline, philosophy is concerned with the age-old questions of why we are here, how we ought to live, what is knowledge and what are the principles of reason, and ultimately, what is the essential nature, if any, of being human.

Exploring these questions is a lot more than fun: the study of philosophy develops your intellectual abilities. Beyond the knowledge and skills required for any particular profession, a good philosophical education enhances the capacity to participate responsibly and intelligently in public life.

Philosophy majors also develop finely honed analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and writing skills that make them extremely effective in a variety of professional careers.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

 IN MEMORIAM:  In honour of our colleague and friend, Jim Bradley, the Dept. is holding a series of lectures in 2012-2013, The Bradley Memorial Lectures in Speculative Philosophy. The inaugural lecture was given by Jim's longtime friend, colleague, and collaborator, Dr. Peter Harris, Tuesday, October 30th, 2012, 5-7pm in the Junior Common Room,Gushue Hall with reception after. Each lecturer will also lead the Jockey club discussion, usually the day after the lecture. Dr. Harris  led a lively Jockey Club discussion Friday, Nov.9 on an essay by Collingwood, a philosopher of special interest to Jim Bradley. For complete list of lectures please click here. 

Dr. Phil Rose will give the sixth Bradley Memorial Lecture, "Another Guess at the Riddle: More Ado About Nothing" on Thursday, February 14th, 7-8:30pm, Room: A-1046 Please note the different time

         

 JAMES BRADLEY HONOURED IN OTTAWA: Jim Bradley was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Dominican University College in Ottawa, granted posthumously on the 21st of October 2012. His wife, Jennifer Dyer, received the degree on his behalf. Jim was a key figure in building and maintaining the ties between philosophers at Memorial and at DUC.

 PHILOSOPHY WINTER COLLOQUIUM, "What is Metaphysics"? The Philosophy Winter Colloquium this semester is running in conjunction with the Bradley Lectures. The first Colloquium speaker was Dr. Jennifer Flynn, " Metaphysics and Ethics--Are there Moral Principles"? Tuesday, January 22, 2013: 2-3:20, Chemistry 4036, followed by the Bradley Lecture on Thursday. For a full list of Colloquium speakers, please click here

 STUDENT HONOURS: The winners of the James Good Scholarship in Philosophy are Meagan Cole for 2012-2013 and Melissa Skanes for 2011-2012. The awards were presented at a ceremony at Government House, courtesy of the Honourable John and Jane Crosbie along with Mary Symons, the late James Good's partner. Faculty, staff,  and students from the Department and friends of James Good were present. congratulations Megan and Melissa! (pictures coming)

 FACULTY HONOURS: Sean McGrath has won the President's Award for Outstanding Research for 2012. Earlier this year Sean also won the Dean of Arts Award for Outstanding Research while his third book, on the philosophy of Schelling, appeared in print. Congratulations, Sean!  For more, click here.

FACULTY RESEARCH:  The Department held a book launch Friday, October 26th,  5-7pm at the Peter Easton Pub. The launch featured  recently published books by Dept. faculty: Peter Gratton, The State of Sovereignty: Lessons from the Political Fictions of Modernity, Sean McGrath,  The Dark Ground of Spirit: Schelling and the Unconscious, Arthur Sullivan, Reference and Structure in the Philosophy of Language: A Defense of the Russellian Orthodoxy. Each author gave a short presentation followed by question and response discussion. This was followed by more informal discussion, socializing, and, of course, the signature event these days of a philosophy event--the consumption of pizza.

   

 Pictures from the launch coming soon

 STUDENT RESEARCH: The 2012 issue of Codgito, Memorial's philosophy student journal,  is now on-line
 
UPCOMING & ONGOING EVENTS & DEADLINES
 WHAT'S NEW

 
  • Dr. Phil Rose gave the sixth Bradley Memorial Lecture, "Another Guess at the Riddle: More Ado About Nothing" on Thursday, February 14th, 7-8:30pm, Room: A-1046  Dr. Rose also led a lively Jockey Club discussion oon Peirce on Friday afternoon, capped off with pizza. Dr. Rose was a founding member of Jockey, which started off with four people who wanted to discuss a particular article over Friday afternoon refreshment....
  • The Public Lectures in Philosophy started up again this term with a talk by Dr. Peter Trnka, Department of Philosophy on "The Philosophy of Everyday Sounds." Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 8:30-10pm at the Ship Pub. Abstract: The talk will attempt to produce a live, collective philosophicalanalysis of everyday sounds/noises with many real samples to serve asillustrations of the broad range of philosophical issues contained in the  experiences of elevator/mall music, eating sounds (including chewing and specifically chewing gum), clicking, humming, tapping, banging, and so on, in short, a feast for the senses and the mind.
  • The fifth Bradley Memorial Lecture was given by Dr. Daniel Smith of Purdue University on"Time, Truth, and Thought." Thursday, January 24m 2013, 5-6:30pm, A-1046. For poster, click here. On Friday Dr. Smith led the Jockey discussion on Ian Hacking. Turnout for Jockey has been high all year but this was even more so, standing room only. We came, we saw, we discussed--and ate pizza, all at the Peter Easton Pub.
  • The Winter Colloquium Series started up with Dr. Jennifer Flynn's paper "Metaphysics and Ethics--Are there Moral Principles"? Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 2-3:30pm, C-4036. For a complete list of papers, please click here.
  • the Philosophy Society held a mixer  Friday, January 18th, in the Loft (UC 3013) from 5-8pm. stay tuned for pictures from this new venue.
  • The fourth Bradley Memorial Lecture was given on January 10, 2013 by Dr. Brian Henning of Gonzaga University on "Metaphysics: To Live Out of Doors" Thursday, Jan.10, 5-6:30pm. For poster click here However, due to inclement weather, Dr. Henning gave his lecture at the Peter Easton Pub, where philosophy diehards gathered. Dr. Henning also led the opening Jockey of the term on Saturday, January 12, again at the pub as Friday proved impossible, weather-wise. Reports confirm that the lecture and the Jockey discussion were well worth braving the snow.
  • The third Bradley Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Jeffrey Reid of the University of Ottawa on "The Hobbesian Ethics of Hegel's Sense-Certainty." Thursday Dec. 6, 2012 12-2pm, A-1046 For poster click here Professor Reid also led the concluding Jockey Club discussion of the season, an energetic discussion of The Communist Manifesto, Fri., Dec. 7th, at the Peter Easton Pub. The conversation continued informally afterwards, accompanied by the now de rigueur pizza
  • The Public Lectures in Philosophy started up Tuesday, Nov. 27th, 8:30-10pm, The Ship Pub. The lecture featured two members of the Education Faculty and one member cross-appointed between Philosophy and Education speaking: Ethics, Politics, and Education: Multiple Perspectives from East and West.  For the poster, click here
  • The second Bradley Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Guenter Zoeller of the University of Munich on "Church and State: Schelling's Political Philosophy of Religion." Thursday, November 15, 2012, 7-8:30pm.  A-1046. For poster click here. Professor Zoeller was also involved in other activities in the Department, including leading a lively Jockey Club discussion on the French philosopher, Benjamin Constant, Friday, Nov. 16, 5-6:45, at the Peter Easton Pub.
  • MEET, GREAT, AND EAT: The Philosophy Department  held its fall Meet and Greet on Wednesday, November 7th, 1:00-1:50,  A-3020 There were introductions, course descriptions, and, of course, pizza and drinks.
  • The Philosophy Society held a mixer Friday, Nov. 2, UC 2001, 5-8pm. Pictures coming (soon),
  • Bradley Lectures Start: The lectures in speculative metaphysics in memory of JIm Bradley started Tuesday, October 30th, 5-7pm, the Junior Common Room, Gushue Hall.
  • Book launch: the Department held a book launch Friday, October 26, 5-7pm at the Peter Easton Pub, featuring recent books by department faculty
  • Jockey Club has started up again for the semester--please contact the department if you are interested in attending 

       2011-2012 in pictures:

IN MEMORIAM: DR. JAMES BRADLEY

Professor James Bradley, Head of the Philosophy Department, Memorial University passed away on Thursday May 17, 2012 after being seriously ill for the past five months. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services took place Monday, May 21, at 9:30 am at the Basilica, Military Road followed by interment at the Anglican Cemetery, Forest Road.

Posthumous Award: Jim was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Dominican University College in Ottawa, granted posthumously on the 21st of October 2012. His wife, Jennifer Dyer, received the degree on his behalf. Jim was a key figure in building and maintaining the ties between philosophers at Memorial and at DUC.

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