Dear Friends of UW Philosophy,
I write to you from my new “office suite”, a desk previously known as the dining room table, combined with a videoconference room conveniently located in my bedroom. My teen and I negotiate private spaces for Zoom meetings and search for solid internet connections. The transformation of our lives has been both dramatic and quiet.
This unanticipated change descended right in the middle of a bustling, productive year for the Department of Philosophy. Our courses… Read more
The Department of Philosophy is pleased to announce that three new Assistant Professors will be joining us beginning in Autumn 2020. Please join us in welcoming these three distinguished scholars to the department!
José Mendoza – philosophy of race, philosophy of law, Latin American philosophy
Amelia Wirts – philosophy of law, political philosophy, feminist theory,… Read more
Earlier this year we asked students to create short videos on the theme “Why Philosophy?” In their videos the students explored such as questions as “Why is philosophy important to today’s society?,” “Why is philosophy important to study?,” and “Why is philosophy important to you?” The videos were judged on relevance, creativity, storytelling, and production. Prizes were made possible by generous gifts from the Department of Philosophy Advisory Board.
We are pleased to announce the following… Read more
Two philosophy faculty members were featured in a Thomson Reuters Foundation story asking "Online classes, video meetings: Can coronavirus spur low-carbon habits?" Read what Ian Schnee and Colin Marshall have to say about technology in the classroom and hosting speakers remotely both during and beyond the coronavirus context.
The Center for Philosophy for Children has created a resource for parents and others for helping children with their big questions during the COVID-19 crisis. The resource guide contains ideas for questions, books, and videos to facilitate conversations with children about the difficult issues they are contemplating at this… Read more
Philosophy lecturer Ian Schnee’s innovative new e-textbook on logic was recently featured in the campus-wide news. Using evidence-based teaching and learning approaches, Ian’s textbook is mobile and interactive, saving students money while allowing them to use it on the go.
Read all about Ian’s e-textbook here.
The seventh annual Washington State High School Ethics Bowl was held on February 29, 2020. Eighteen teams from twelve high schools competed in analyzing ethical dilemmas covering a wide range of topics including: confronting family members with different values; donations to the Notre Dame Cathedral rebuilding; involuntary commitment for drug addiction treatment; compensation for organ donations; and the news media’s use of photographs showing suffering and injustice.
The High School Ethics Bowl… Read more
Professor Stephen Gardiner participated in the Cambridge Global Conversations, which brings together thought leaders from around the world to discuss and disseminate world problems. Cambridge Global Conversations shines a light on and brings a guided response to complicated international challenges.
Professor Gardiner gave two talks as part of the Cambridge Global Conversations Climate Ethics Event, both of which are available to watch online:
Stephen… Read more
Congratulations to Professor Emeritus Karl Potter for completing the 25th volume of the Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Professor Potter has been working on the Encyclopedia for over 40 years. Each volume contains an introduction by its editor(s), followed by summaries of the texts of the philosophical system to which the volume is devoted. Most of these summaries are based upon texts that have been translated into a Western language, although some of the texts remain… Read more