The Department of Philosophy is closely associated with the Department of Gender and Social Justice our staff administrates both programs and many of our faculty teach in both areas. For more information on the Gender and Social Justice Department visit their website
Philosophy addresses some of the most fundamental and difficult questions there are, such as:
- What is the nature of the human mind?
- What makes knowledge trustworthy?
- What are the standards of good reasoning?
- What is a just society?
- What is the best way to live?
Philosophy as an academic discipline attempts to answer these questions with a combination of creativity and analytical rigor.
News
Jessica Oden's new publication
The Philosophy Department's own Jessica Oden has published a new article in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science, titled Reconstructions of quantum theory: methodology and the role of axiomatization.
This article discusses "Hardy’s “Quantum Theory from Five Reasonable Axioms” (2001), arguing that reconstructions represent a modern usage of axiomatization with significant points of continuity to von Neumann’s axiomatizations in quantum mechanics. In particular, [Oden] show[s] that Hardy and von Neumann share similar methodological ordering, have a common operational framing, and insist on the empirical basis of axioms."
Congratulations To Jessica on this achievement.
"Solidaristic Listening" by Katy Fufler and Janet Jones
See the latest publication from our department's own Katy Fulfer and Janet Jones in Hypatia.
This article discusses how "storytelling in solidaristic communities can foster agency and challenge oppression."
"Speaking of ‘Violence’: Figleaf Use in Sexualized Violence Contexts" by Madeline Kenyon
Our department's Madeleine Kenyon has a new publication Speaking of ‘Violence’: Figleaf Use in Sexualized Violence Contexts.
The article looks at "the concept of a sexualized violence figleaf, a speech mechanism often used in sexualized violence discourse to dismiss or characterize assault as some other kind of thing: a misunderstanding, a change of heart by the victim, a mischaracterization of the perpetrator, or any other number of things which are not rape, or violence."