News and events
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If you other news (or pictures) you would like to see put up please contact the web maintainers
Spring 2011
- CONVOCATION: Congratulations to all our graduating students, undergraduate and graduate! As a front-page article on the university website points out, philosophy grads are cleaning up as far as honours and scholarships go:
- for the article "Philosophy grads receive top honours" click here
- Congratulations to the following students for their awards or honours: Joseph Carew, for the University Medal for Excellence in Grad Studies for a thesis-based master's program, Bradley Dart, for the Philosophy Gold Medal for best graduating student, Sarah Khraishi for a SSHRC M.A. scholarship, and Steven Woodworth for an Erasmus Mundus scholarhip for M.A. study in Europe
- If you have convocation or other news (or pictures) please contact the web maintainers so they can put these up
Winter 2011
- the Philosophy Winter Colloquium: "The Body" has concluded for the term click for list of talks
- Student Colloquium, Winter 2011(Fridays 1-2pm, AA1049): "Mind" has concluded for the term: Please click for the poster and a list of the talks
- Downtown Public Lectures in Philosophy (13th. Series)
Dr. Peter Trnka (Dept. of Philosophy) spoke on
"Suicide: Lowest Low or Highest High?"
8.30-10.00
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25,
THE SHIP PUB click for poster - The Philosophy Society Society held a joint mixer with Classics and Religious Studies, Friday Jan. 28th, 2011. Pictures will be coming sometime soon (with all the other ones)
- Downtown Public Lectures in Philosophy (13th. Series) Alex Liepins (Dept. of Philosophy) spoke on: "Atrophy and the Excess of Body-Building" by 8.30-10.00
TUESDAY, February 22
THE SHIP PUB click for poster - PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
JAMES ROBERT BROWN, FRSC
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
gave a lecture on 'NUMBERS AND NATURE'
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2.00-3.30, CHEMISTRY C-4036
This talk was about a current debate in the philosophy of mathematics, concerning how math hooks onto nature and whether math can provide any sort of explanation for things in the natural realm. - PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
JAMES SCOTT JOHNSTON (QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY) gave a lecture on 'THE EXISTENCE OF THE WORLD AS A LOGICAL PROBLEM:
RUSSEL, DEWEY, AND THE BOUNDS OF INQUIRY' - Downtown Public Lectures in Philosophy (13th. Series)
Peter Duchemin spoke on: "Elements of Magic (k): Esotericism, Illusionism, and Philosophy" 8.30-10.00
TUESDAY, March 29th, The Grape Vine: Please note the temporary change of venue from the other lectures - PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
GUEST LECTURE and JOB CANDIDATE TALK
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2,00-3.30, CHEMISTRY C-4036
Dr. Peter Gratton, Candidate for the position of Assistant Professor--Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, spoke on:
"Realism and the Politics of Time... Or, Why I'm not (Yet) a Materialist"
Thursday, May 5th, 2-3:20pm, A 2071
- PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
GUEST LECTURE and JOB CANDIDATE TALK
Dr. Joel Madore, Candidate for the position of Assistant Professor--Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, spoke on:
"Imperatives of Resistance: Kant, Levinas and the Totalitarian Experience"
Thursday, March 31, 2-3:20pm
Chemistry 4036
Abstract: By defining evil as simply deceiving oneself into reversing the moral incentives, it seems that Kant's argument is inadequate to the understanding of the death camps. Worse, in precluding the right to resistance, he actually appears to promote a potential endorsement of a lawfully elected Nazi regime. Is the totalitarian experience, as John Silber suggested, outside the reach of Kantian ethics? This paper will argue that on the contrary, by subordinating politics to morality, and by refusing to identify evil – even in its most monstrous forms – as diabolical, Kant has influenced a generation of responses to the horrors of the past century, Levinas and Arendt in particular. In this respect, he sets moral and ontological imperatives of resistance that remain essential to the essential question imposed by Auschwitz: that it should never happen again.
- CONVOCATION: Congratulations to all our graduating students, undergraduate and graduate! As a front-page article on the university website points out, philosophy grads are cleaning up as far as honours and scholarships go: for the article "Philosophy grads receive top honours" click here
- Congratulations to the following students for their awards or honours: Joseph Carew, for the University Medal for Excellence in Grad Studies for a thesis-based master's program, Bradley Dart, for the Philosophy Gold Medal for best graduating student, Sarah Khraishi for a SSHRC M.A. scholarship, and Steven Woodworth for an Erasmus Mundus scholarhip for M.A. study in Europe
Fall 2010
- Downtown Public Lectures in Philosophy (13th. Series)
"The Second-Wave of
Eco-Anxiety: Nature is Coming Back and It is Nasty"
Dr. Sean McGrath (Dept. of Philosophy)
8.30-10.00
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30,
THE SHIP PUB click for poster
The Philosophy Society held a journal launch and mixer for the latest edition of Codgito, Friday, Sept. 24th. 2010, in the Kiefte Room. Stay tuned for pictures, coming soon, and the on-line version of the new issue.
Philosophy Meet and Greet: students, staff, and faculty met, ate, and greeted in the Dept., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, 1-1:50, AA 3017
Downtown Public Lectures in Philosophy (13th. Series)
'GETTING MEDIEVAL IN THE POSTHUMAN AGE' Dr. Jeremy Citrome (Dept. of English)
8.30-10.00 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26,
THE SHIP PUB
Discussion Colloquium: Professor Steven Davis (Carleton University & Simon Fraser University) led a discussion seminar on his paper on 'Social/Political/Psychological Identity'. please contact the Department for a copy of the paper
Philosophy Seminar Room, AA3081.
2.30-3.30 p.m.
Winter 2010
- The Jockey Club continued this term under the active and able organizing of Gil Shalev. Fish and chips, pizza, and, of course, lots of philosophical discussion--thanks, Gil!
- Coffee & Conversation Fridays
A new tradition was started, Friday mornings, winter 2010, in the Philosophy Department, 9:30 – 10:30am. A chance to catch up with friends, students, and faculty. All welcome. Many thanks to Seamus O'Neill and Catherine van Buren for organizing this.
- The St. John's Public Lectures in Philosophy continued with Dr. Natalie Oman presenting on, "Is International Law Really Law?" Tues. March 30 at The Ship pub, 8:30-10pm.
- An especially active Friday, March 26th: It started with coffee and conversation in the morning at the Dept., on to a student colloquium talk at 1pm, then a book lecture/launch at 4pm and a philosophy mixer at 5pm. Then mulling it all over on the weekend....
Philosophically Active Friday:
LECTURE AND BOOK LAUNCH
Science and Human Value:
Daniel Dennett's Defence of Humanity
by David L. Thompson (Philosophy Dept.)
Friday March 25, 2010, 4-5pm
Arts Bldg, Memorial University, Room A -3017
The lecture was followed by a Philosophy Department mixer, at which copies of Dr. Thompson’s book on Dennett were available for sale.
-
Third Annual Philosophy Undergraduate Colloquium on "Being"
Every Friday of the winter semester 2010, 1-2, AA1049: March 26 Rebecca Lash "Derrida, Butler and Gilligan: A Problematization of Feminist Theory" March 19 Anna Westin "A Platonic Medical Intervention" March 5 Brad Dunne "Oh, Behave: Brainwashing and the Master-Slave Dialectic in Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange" Feb 26 Sarah Henick "The Phronimos and the Meaning of Life" Feb 19 Jon O'Keefe "Mortal Kombat: Annihilationism" Feb 5 Bradley Dart "Cantor and the Mathematics of Infinity" Jan 29 Sarah Khraishi 'technology, art, and pornography
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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
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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 - The M.O. Morgan Scholarships for Philosophy for 2009-10 have been awarded to Leah Costello and Sarah Khraishi. Congratulations to Leah and Sarah!
- The James Good Fellowship best philosophy student for 2009-2010 went to undergraduate Sarah Khraishi, in her third year in the Dept. Congratulations, Sarah!
- Stephen Gardner, a sessional lecturer in the Dept., has been awarded his doctorate at the University of Ottawa. Congratulations, Steve!
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Philosophy Colloquium: Visiting Speakers' Series:
Prof. Andrzej Wiercinski, University of Freiburg, presented a talk titled "The Hermeneutics of Education: 'Bildung' as Return to Oneself." Thurs. March 18, 2-3:20 pm, SN 2098 - Professor Wiercinski also led a special Jockey club discussion, Friday March 19, on Gadamer's “Apologia for the Art of Healing.” Professor Wiercinski is the president of the
International Institute for Hermeneutics whose journal, Analecta Hermeneutica, is hosted at Memorial
- St. John's Public Lectures in Philosophy presented Michael Austin on "Hollywood's Undead & the Philosophy of Fear," Tues. Feb. 23 at The Ship pub, 8:30-10pm.
- The Global Education Initiative presented its February lecture on Human Rights with Drs. Delores Mullings and Natalie Oman, Feb. 18, 7-9pm, EN-2006.
- 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.
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Philosophy Colloquium: Visiting Speakers' Series
Robert Piercey (University of Regina) spoke on
'Reading as a Philosophical Problem',
Thursday, January 14, 2010, 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
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Holiday time: the Department's Christmas Dinner
- Dr. Steven Carr, "This View of Life" Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. What it is & What it is Not
- 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 department.
- The Barend Kiefte Memorial Award for excellence in moral and political philosophy for 2008-2009 was awarded to Kyla Bruff for her paper in PHIL 3890 (Marxism).
- From last year: the Philosophy Medal at convocation was awarded in May to Kyle Rees, also the winner of the 2008-2009 James Good Scholarship (stay tuned for pictures from May convocation)
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Dr. Christopher Lockett, "Harry Potter and the Banality of Magic: Thoughts on Fantasy, Politics and Nostalgia"
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8:30-10pm, Tuesday October 27th, 2009 at The Grapevine, Water Street (please note the change of venue from previous years)
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Philosophy Colloquium Visiting Speakers’ Series:
John Ashton, D. Litt. (Wolfson College, Oxford) spoke on:
"Questioning Tradition In Gadamer's Hermeneutics" on October 20, 2 -3:30 p.m., SN2098 (Science Building). Dr. Ashton also gave the inaugural Annual Humanities Lecture: "Tradition in Art and Literature" on October 22. -
Philosophy on Film: “The Examined Life”
Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 7 - 9 p.m.
For more information on this film please go to the St. John's international Women's Film Festival site
Click here for more pictures from John's retirement party-
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...
- The Diploma in Applied Ethics, Department of Philosophy, presented: Round Table on the Issue of Patient, Resident and Client Rights and Responsibilities, Tuesday, August 4, 1-3:45pm, Room 2J618, Health Sciences Centre
- Codgito, Memorial’s student journal of philosophy, launched this year’s issue on Wed., April 8th, 2009, Kiefte Room, 5pm. Stay tuned for the on-line version of this year’s and last year’s issues, coming soon, and for revisions to the journal home page (Last year’s issue came out as a special double-issue in hard copy)
- The Diploma in Applied Ethics, Department of Philosophy, presented: Forum on Ethics Issues Regarding a Smoke Free Environment Policy, Monday, April 6, 2-4pm Lecture Theatre A, Health Sciences Centre, Level 1:
- The Philosophy Department at Memorial now hosts the new journal of the International Institute for Hermeneutics, Analecta Hermeneutica, edited by the Department’s Sean McGrath and Andrzej Wiercinski, University of Freiburg. For the full story and link to the journal, click here
- Click for pictures from the James Good Award Ceremony, at Government House, NL
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For the rest of the dinner pictures click here
The St. John's Public Lectures in Philosophy, 12th series continued this term with:
Tuesday November 24th, 2009, 8-9:30pm at The Grapevine, Water Street. Dr. Carr's lecture fell on the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species
Welcome lunch for the graduate students, fall 2009
click for more pictures from the lunch
Blast from the recent past: Pictures from spring Convocation 2009
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
Philosophy Colloquium Visiting Speakers' Series
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2-3:30 p.m. in SN 2098 (Science Building)
Helmut Maasen (Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf) spoke on:
"Conflict Solving in Gandhi and Whitehead”.
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.
Something old, something new
Click for more pictures from this year's Halloween mixer
The St. John's Public Lectures in Philosophy, 12th series kicked off with:
Pictures from last year: January 2009: Long-time faculty member Dr. John Scott finally obtains his freedom, i.e., retires.
Panel: Eileen Robinson, Joseph Griffiths, Bryan Grace & Melissa Ryan (DAP students)
Facilitators: Dr. P. Trnka, Co-ordinator, Diploma in Applied Ethics and Dr. Rick
Singleton, Director, Pastoral Care and Ethics Department, Eastern Health
Panel: Lauren Carroll, Philip Milley, and Kiel Mercer (DAP students)
Facilitators: Dr. P. Trnka, Co-ordinator, Diploma in Applied Ethics and Dr. Rick Singleton, Director, Pastoral Care and Ethics Department, Eastern Health
“Goodfellas”