Recent News
Arthur Fine: The Shaky Game: 25 Years Later
In nearby Port Townsend, long before becoming a faculty member at UW, Arthur Fine was finishing up writing a book on Einstein and scientific realism. At the Pacific APA in April, we will celebrate twenty-five years since the publication of that book, The Shaky Game, with a symposium and reception in his honor. Speakers will include Paul Horwich (New York University), Laura Ruetsche (University of Michigan), Thomas Ryckman (Stanford... Read more
From the Chair
Each school year starts with a buzz of excitement as students and faculty return to campus and classes begin. But this year in the department there was something extra in the air: for the first time in several years since the recession began we welcomed what we think of as a "normal-sized" entering class of graduate students. Six students from all over the country arrived in Savery Hall ready to begin their careers at the UW. They didn't have too much time to adjust. After a... Read more
Social Sciences Career Night
The Department of Philosophy participated in the first annual Social Sciences Career Night last month, which was comprised of alumni and undergraduates from five social sciences disciplines. According to both student and alumni attendees alike, the event was a resounding success and planning is already underway for the 2nd annual Social Sciences Career Night in 2013. Special thanks to alumni Mr. Dan Gerler '83 and Mr. Ryan Casuro ' 07 for their participation in... Read more
Graduate Student Profile: Benjamin Hole
The Cognitive Science Society Conference is not where you would expect to find a philosophy graduate student whose dissertation is on the intersection of ancient philosophy and ethical theory. However, that is where UW philosophy graduate student Benjamin Hole was presenting his paper "Mirror Neurons and Simulation-Based, Low Level Mind Reading". Ben also presented this paper for "Knowing-How and Knowing-That" a project sponsored by the... Read more
Biological Futures in a Globalized World: Research Ethics / Research Integrity that Matters!
What do such disparate fields as synthetic biology, geo-engineering, and genetic enhancement have in common? In their distinct ways, they each represent cutting edge science and emerging technologies that make it possible to manipulate living systems on an unprecedented scale. And in this they pose dramatic new challenges, not just scientifically but also ethically. The University of Washington is a... Read more
David Glazier, Loyola Law School:
Drones, 'Targeted Killing,' and the Law
Thursday, March 13
Gowen 1-A (Olson Room)
4:30 – 6:00
One of the most controversial aspects of the so-called "War on Terror" has been the use of drones to kill suspected terrorists, including U.S. citizens, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. Initiated by President Bush and expanded by Obama, the strikes show no signs of ending even after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Although the Obama... Read more
APA Pacific Conference: Seattle April 4-7
American Philosophical Association Pacific Division will be holding its Annual Meeting on April 4-7, 2012, at the Westin Hotel, in Seattle.
The Department of Philosophy's own Professor Alison Wylie is the current president of the pacific division. Professor Wylie will be giving the presidential address on "Feminist Philosophy of Science: Standpoint Matters" on Friday, April 6th, at 6 PM. A reception will follow.
Professor Arthur Fine's work will be... Read more
Pick up your own legendary department "Philosophy I'm in it for the money" t-shirt!
The t-shirts come in blue, olive or gray and are $12. The hoodies are vanilla and heather grey and are $25. .
Payment can be made in cash, check or credit card.
We also have t-shirts with just the UW logo and department on the front for the same price. These are available in gold and oatmeal.
To get your t-shirt or hoodie please come to the Philosophy main office or call 206-543-5855 or email... Read more
The Northwest Center for Philosophy for Children has had a busy winter and spring. Some highlights:
Conferences - All three Center staff gave talks at the American Philosophical Association Pacific meeting in Seattle in April. Center Director Jana Mohr Lone is giving the keynote at the San Diego State University Graduate Conference in Ethics in May, "Philosophy and Education: A Gateway to Inquiry," and Jana, Sara Goering and David Shapiro have had a joint paper about respect,... Read more
The 5th annual Rabinowitz Symposium in medical ethics was held Friday, April 13, on the topic "Disordering Personalities? Psychiatric Diagnosis and Moral Responsibility." The first talk, by philosophy professor Nancy Potter, University of Louisville, focused on oppositional defiant disorder, with discussion of radicalized attributions of defiance in the school system, concerns about motivations for diagnosis and treatment, and the possibility of a virtue of defiance. Psychiatrist Jonathan Metzl... Read more