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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.

UPCOMING EVENTS
 WHAT'S NEW

2010

  • New Third Annual Philosophy Undergraduate Colloquium on "Being"

    Every Friday, 1-2, AA1049: Feb 5 Bradley Dart "Cantor and the Mathematics of Infinity" Jan 29 Sarah Khraishi 'technology, art, and pornography

  • Philosophy Winter Colloquium, 2010: "Imagination"

  • ROOM CHANGE* as of January 26: new location Science 2098 2.00-3.30pm

Click for a list of colloquium talks

STUDENT NEWS:

  • Joseph Carew, currently completing his M.A. in the Dept., has won a prestigious Erasmus Munduns Europhilosophe Scholarship to do doctoral work in Europe. In addition to lots of money, the scholarship allows him to get three diplomas from three French-German speaking universities, starting with Louvain. (Joe has already won a number of fellowships, including the inaugural James Good Fellowship in philosophy in his undergraduate study at Memorial). Congratulations, Joe! For complete story click here
  • HOT Topics Prorogation: Is It Democratic?
    A public panel discussion featuring the Hon. Richard Cashin and the Hon. James McGrath.
    Thursday, Feb. 4 from 7-8:30pm in Chemistry-2045.

  • Philosophy Colloquium: Visiting Speakers' Series

    Robert Piercey (University of Regina) spoke on

    'Reading as a Philosophical Problem',
    Thursday, January 14, 2-3:30
    Chemistry 4002
    Robert Piercey is an alumnus of the department and of MUN. He is the author
    of *The Uses of the Past from Heidegger to Rorty: Doing Philosophy
    Historically* (Cambridge, 2009), and *Crisis in Continental Philosophy:
    History, Truth and the Hegelian Legacy* (Continuum, 2009)

  • Jockey Club Finale for 2009

click for more pictures

  • Holiday time: the Department's Christmas Dinner

For the rest of the dinner pictures click here

click for more pictures from convocation

  • Faculty and student news:
  • Retired faculty member Dr. David Thompson has recently come out with a book on Daniel Dennett. Dr. Thompson gave a lecture on his book out at Sir Wilfred Grenfell, along with a talk on the environment
  • The M.O. Morgan Scholarships for Philosophy for 2009-10 have been awarded to Leah Costello and Sarah Khraishi.
  • The James Good Fellowship best philosophy student for 2009-2010 went to undergraduate Sarah Khraishi, in her third year in the Dept.

Per course teaching positions Winter 2010

The Department held its first Meet and Greet of the year on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009, 1-2pm, A3017 complete with pizza and other refreshments.


Welcome: Dr.Seamus O'Neill joins the Department this fall as its new specialist in ancient philosophy. Dr. O'Neill is well-known to the Memorial community, having taught in the Department previously. More...
More news and upcoming events in the department»