Autumn 2013 Newsletter

The big news is that, for the first time since the recession began four years ago, we have added a new tenure-track colleague to the Department. Colin Marshall received his PhD from NYU and has been teaching at the University of Melbourne in Australia for the last two years. He works in the history of philosophy and specializes in Kant and Spinoza. He already has many publications in prominent journals and he is an accomplished teacher. We are looking forward… Read more
In a recent UW Press release, two faculty members demonstrated the possibility of a brain-to-brain interface. An electrical engineer imagined moving his finger on a keyboard, and across campus, his friend's finger moved accordingly. How is that possible? The engineer wore a skull cap with multiple recording electrodes. A computer algorithm was trained to… Read more
We are pleased to introduce the newest member of the Philosophy Department's faculty, Colin Marshall. Professor Marshall is currently teaching Modern Philosophy (PHIL 322). During winter quarter he will be teaching Philosophy of Kant (PHIL 438) and a Seminar in Modern Philosophy (PHIL 522). This spring he is slotted for one of our large lecture courses, Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 100). We recently caught up with Colin to learn more about him and his introduction to UW. What areas of… Read more
In late October we had a week of some of the most successful philosophy events ever at UW. The events were organized around the Walker-Ames Lecture of Seyla Benhabib, Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at Yale University. They began on the evening of Tuesday, October 22, when an audience of well over 200 attended a free screening of "Hannah Arendt," a 2012 biographical film, co-sponsored by the Stroum Jewish Studies Program, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, and the UW… Read more
The controversial 20th-century philosopher Hannah Arendt was the subject of a series of UW events in late October, which were all organized around the Oct. 24th Walker-Ames Lecture by noted Yale University political philosopher Seyla Benhabib. Benhabib's lecture addressed "Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem: Fifty Years Later." On Oct. 22 the Stroum Jewish Studies Program hosted a free film screening of "Hannah Arendt," the 2012 biographical film directed by Margarethe… Read more
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Faculty Michael Blake published a new book Justice & Foreign Policy. He also finished another book, jointly written with Gillian Brock, called Justice in Emigration: Debating Brain Drain. He created a radio show about paternalism, together with Simone Chambers and Arthur Ripstein of the University of Toronto. The show is: My Brother's – and My Sister's – Keeper,… Read more
Congratulations to Kaiwen Sun for being selected as a 2013 Bonderman Travel Fellow! Bonderman Travel Fellow Kaiwen Sun, senior Philosophy and Electrical Engineering major, will be spending a minimum of 8 months traveling solo to various countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Kenya, and South Africa. His objective is to delve into radically different cultural ideologies, learn how those ideologies influence each culture's world outlook, and how they impact its beliefs,… Read more
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The Advisory Board advises the chair, supports the department's community and public relations activities, and assists in implementing fund development and outreach efforts. Advisory Board members are: David Byrne, Meaghen Friel, Dan Gerler, Jana Mohr Lone, Ann Owens, Jack Sabin and Jasmin Weaver. For the sixth year, the Board is funding the department's Outreach Coordinator position, held by Kate Goldyn. This is the only such position at the university that is funded by a department advisory… Read more
by Jana Mohr Lone, Director The Center for Philosophy for Children has had a year of exponential growth. We're very excited about the expanding regional and national K-12 philosophy field and the Center's role in supporting new initiatives around the country. The University of Chicago is starting a pre-college philosophy center modeled on the UW Center, and director Jana Mohr Lone… Read more
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Gifts to the department are crucial to our success in enhancing educational opportunities for our students. The Philosophy Department at the University of Washington thanks the following individuals and organizations, as well as those donors who wish to remain anonymous, whose contributions help to support our programs. Undergraduate student awards, scholarships, and resources for graduate scholarships would be impossible without the support of our donors. We also depend upon donated funds to… Read more
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