Spring is always a busy time, both in and outside of the Department. Here are just a few highlights of what's been happening in our world.
In early April two of our faculty were honored at the recent meeting of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association in Seattle. More than four hundred people gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Hotel to hear Professor Alison Wylie deliver the Presidential Address, "Feminist Philosophy of Science: Standpoint Matters." The next morning, former students of Professor Arthur Fine convened a panel to discuss Arthur's famous book, The Shaky Game: Einstein, Realism, and the Quantum Theory, twenty five years after its publication. A packed room listened to the distinguished group of philosophers of science offer their evaluations and criticisms along with Arthur's response. There was a reception afterwards with a lovely toast given by Professor Andrea Woody. We also announced the "Arthur Fine Prize in Philosophy of Science," which we will award to the best essay submitted by a graduate student to a biennial conference. These events were just two of the most notable ways in which our department participated in the meeting. Faculty and graduate students presented papers, chaired sessions, and engaged in conversation with philosophers from all over the country.
A week later we hosted the Rabinowitz Symposium in Bio-Ethics. It was organized by Professors Sara Goering and Ingra Schellenberg and focused on the theme of "Disordering Personalities? Psychiatric Diagnosis and Moral Responsibility." The speakers were truly interdisciplinary, coming from such diverse fields as forensic psychology, medical anthropology, and of course philosophy. The symposium was a great success and there were many stimulating exchanges among the speakers and with the diverse audience.
Presently, we are getting ready to celebrate Professor Ken Clatterbaugh, who will be retiring after 46 years at the UW, 15 of which he served as Chair of the Department. Ken has taught and influenced innumerable undergraduates, mentored our graduate students, and worked tirelessly to transform the department into a vital center of research and teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us for this celebration on May 23rd at the Urban Horticultural Center. If you can't make the party, then please consider contributing to the Undergraduate Scholarship fund that we have established in Ken's honor.
Our departmental graduation ceremony is scheduled for June 8th at the Urban Horticultural Center. It is always a wonderful event that gives us a chance to recognize the hard work and achievements of our students. When we applaud their success we are also congratulating the friends, families and donors that have done so much to make their college experience possible.