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| Upcoming Mercer Events |
Upcoming Talks, Conferences
and Calls for Papers in the Region |
Past Events |
Academic Center to Conduct Lecture Series and Campus Conference On America's Western Foundations
Mercer's recently established Center for the Teaching of America's Western Foundations will sponsor three lectures this fall and spring, as well as a conference in April, to illuminate the intellectual underpinnings of the American political order, particularly the influence of prominent Western philosophers and thinkers. The new center seeks to promote the study and teaching of the foundational works of Western Civilization, toward strengthening knowledge and understanding of the cultural-intellectual inheritance of America.
An assumption at many colleges and universities in our country is that students already know about the importance of Western Civilization simply because we live in the West, and that an exploration of the foundations of the West, including the American political order, is simply unnecessary, or something secondary, rather than primary and an indispensable ground for developing self-knowledge. Mercer, however, is one of a select few colleges or universities in the country that has a Great Books of Western Civilization program as part of our general education curriculum. We hope this center will complement Mercer's curriculum with programs, such as this year's lecture series and campus conference, and reinforce the importance of traditional liberal-arts education against the trend in contemporary academia away from a study of Western Civilization.
The first lecture occurred Thursday, Sept. 18, and featured Tulane University philosophy professor Ronna Burger, for a talk titled, "What is the Best Human Life? On Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics." In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle stages a contest among three lives: the life of pleasure, the political life, and the theoretical life. Dr. Burger explored a number of crucial questions that emerge from this contest, particularly the question of "happiness." The talk occurred in the Fickling Recital Hall in the McCorkle Music Building and was a great success.
Forthcoming lectures and events are as follows.
"Why Study the Classics? On the Abiding Importance of Classical Education"--Dr. Christian Kopff, Professor of Classics, University of Colorado, Boulder--Thursday, November 20, 2008, Medical School Auditorium, 5:30-6:45 pm. Dr. Kopff will explore how classical education provides an indispensable ground for the flourishing of intellectual life and political liberty, as evidenced by the Renaissance and the American Founding.
"Justice and Expediency in Thucydides' Mytilenaean Debate"--Faculty-Student Seminar Discussion w/ Dr. Christian Kopff--Friday, November 21, 2008; Groover 112, 10:00-10:50 am.
"Caveat Lector: The Veiled Beginnings of Modern Political Life"--Dr. Stuart Warner, Professor of Philosophy, Roosevelt University--Thursday, February 19, 2009; Willingham Auditorium, 6:00-7:30 pm. What thoughts and discourse characterize modern political life? When, how, and why did these thoughts and discourse first arise and subsequently develop? Dr. Warner will examine the first thoughts and remarks of several crucial early modern thinkers to explore how they introduced modern political thought and guided the development of modern political life. Recommended Readings for the talk: Machiavelli, "Dedicatory Epistle to Lorenzo de' Medici," The Prince (2 pp.); Montaigne, "To the Reader," Essays (1 p.); Descartes, "Dedicatory Letter to the Sacred Faculty of Theology at Paris," Meditations (5 pp.); Descartes, "Preface to the Reader," Meditations (3 pp.); Descartes, "Part I," Discourse on the Method (6 pp.); Hobbes, "The Introduction," Leviathan (3 pp.); Montesquieu, "Preface," The Spirit of Laws (3 pp.).
"Machiavelli's Sketch Book"--Faculty-Student Seminar w/ Dr. Stuart Warner--Friday, February 20, 2009; Groover 112, 10:00-10:50 am. Recommended Readings: Machiavelli, "Dedicatory Epistle to Lorenzo de' Medici," The Prince (2 pp.).
Conference on the Triumphs and Travails of the Natural Rights Republic--April 1-2, 2009. The conference will consist of the following events. The evening of April 1 will feature an Introductory Lecture on the intellectual influences on the American Founding. During the day of April 2, the conference will feature a Mercer Student Panel, then a Guest-Faculty Panel, and finally, a Keynote Address, by Dr. Michael Zuckert, Professor of Government, Notre Dame University. Dr. Zuckert will address the issue of race in the American founding by discussing the controversy over slavery at the Constitutional Convention.
Talks, Conferences and Calls for Papers in the Region
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Nearby Conferences |
Calls for Papers |
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February 16, 2008 Conference: Southeast Philosophy Conference (undergraduate) Clayton State University, Morrow, GA |
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February 22-23, 2008 Conference: Midsouth Philosophy Conference University of Memphis |
Submissions due January 7 |
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February 22-23, 2008 Conference: 4th Annual SWAP Conference for Topics of Diversity in Philosophy Florida State University, Tallahassee |
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March 8, 2008 Conference: Georgia Philosophical Society Meeting Emory University |
Submissions due February 8 |
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March 13, 2008 Conference: Philosophy and Science: Contemporary Explorations Duke University |
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March 19-22, 2008 Conference: philoSOPHIA: a feminist society, Annual Meeting Decatur, GA |
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March 28-29, 2008 Conference: Southeast Graduate Philosophy Conference University of Florida, Gainesville |
Submissions due January 15 |
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March 28-30, 2008 Conference: Hannah Arendt Circle Emory University, Atlanta, GA |
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April 10-12, 2008 |
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July 14-August 1, 2008 Conference: Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy: Big Ideas in the History of Philosophy University of Colorado, Boulder |
Applications Due April 1 |
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September 5-7, 2008 Conference: Human Flourishing and Restoration in the Age of Global Warming Clemson University |
"NEUROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SOME RELIGIOUS/MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES"
By Dr. Ananda Weerasuriya, Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology, Mercer University School of Medicine
Friday, April 18
Stetson 251
3 PM
Ever since the publication of ‘Varieties of Religious Experiences’ by William James more than a century ago, empirical sciences and psychiatry have attempted with varying degrees of success to investigate and analyze the biological underpinnings of religious/mystical experiences. Technical advances within the last few of decades in brain imaging and conceptual breakthroughs in cognitive neuroscience have provided an added impetus to address this most intriguing theme. We will initially discuss religious/mystical experiences across a range of cultures. Next we will briefly review some basic concepts and principles of neurobiology and the ‘explanations’ offered for several intriguing cognitive phenomena. Finally, we will discuss the extent to which this reductionist neurobiological approach, which has yielded rather impressive results, can contribute to our understanding of the biological basis of religious/mystical experiences. Embedded herein is the question as to whether there is an irreducible core of subjective experiences which is beyond the purview of the current concepts of empirical sciences.
Guest Speaker Series on Plato, Spring 2008
Thursday, April 10, 4:30-5:30, Knight 210
The Project of Intellectual Conversion: Reading Plato with Saint Augustine
Eric J. Morelli, Emory University
What is the real, and how do we know it? For Plato, it seems the answer is clear: the real is the world of true being, and we know it by understanding. But what does this mean? Questions of Plato interpretation can be just as complex as questions of metaphysics. By reading Plato in light of the work of Saint Augustine--arguably the first philosopher of interiority--we get a rare view of Plato as someone acutely aware of the existential demands of philosophy. Plato's point about the world of true being is not simply metaphysical. For Augustine and for Plato, it implies that we must undergo an intellectual conversion if we hope ever to know and to live in light of reality.
THURS., MARCH 13, 4:30-5:30, KNIGHT 210
Plato on Poetry, Myth, and Allegory
Jennifer A. Lobo, Emory University
In this paper, I raise the question of whether Plato's critiques of poetry, myth, and allegory can be reconciled with his use of these very forms in several of the dialogues. I seek to resolve the alleged inconsistency between the form and content of Plato's writings in this respect by appealing to some of the major positions taken by the commentators who have addressed this problem. After evaluating the relative strengths and weaknesses of these positions, I select certain elements -- viz., imagination, memory, playfulness, and transcendence -- and argue that when taken together, they provide us with the most plausible explanation for why Plato both criticized and utilized certain poetic forms as modes of philosophical expression.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 5:00 pm, KNIGHT 210
DISCOURSE AND KNOWLEDGE IN PLATO'S THEAETETUS
Chris
Edelman, Emory University
Plato's Theaetetus is the dialogue that examines "What is knowledge?"
If you don't know how (whether) you do actually know what you supposedly (think) that you know, this talk might be for you.
You are
cordially invited to the next Mercer University Physics Seminar...
"Why Did the Church Have a Problem with Galileo?"
Wednesday, February 20, 4:30pm
Science and Engineering Building Auditorium (SEB 110)
Creighton Rosental
Department of Philosophy
Mercer University
Most of us know that The Church (which church, and which part, exactly?) did
something nasty to Galileo (details are often remembered fuzzily), and the story
we are taught is that The Church did so because Galileo dared to reveal the
truth by doing science, or proposing that the earth orbited the sun (or
something like that). Even if this is exactly what happened (and I will argue
that much of what we are taught about the Galileo affair is myth), it still
leaves unexplained exactly why The Church would have a problem: was it simply
that the Church hates science, or was there something about Galileo's work on
his heliocentric model of the solar system that bothered them? But, again, why
would The Church have a problem with either? In this talk, I propose to examine
carefully the details of the case, the science and theology involved, and try to
discern the motivations behind the actions of those involved.
Philosophy Society Meeting, February 4, 10 AM, Knight 211
For Info, contact Kristen Tyndall
Evolutionary Antecedents of Morality
by Dr. Ananda Weerasuriya,
Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology,
Mercer University School of Medicine
December 6, 3:05 PM
Stetson 251
Morality provides the conceptual framework for humans to interact and function within cohesive social groups. It not only promotes and fosters the development of individuals but also contributes to the stability, growth, and evolution of society. But, and this is a critical BUT, social behavior and group living are not a prerogative of humans. This raises the interesting question of whether moral codes govern the social behavior of non-human primates. If not, is there a “culturally transmissible” code of conduct they live by? Recent studies in primate ethology, cognitive psychology and neuroscience strongly suggest that the biological machinery needed for moral behavior is encoded in our genes. Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that non-human primates exhibit altruistic and empathetic behavior, which contributes to social cohesiveness and reduced aggression within their social groups. We will examine these lines of evidence and the tantalizing speculations arising therein to address whether a Kantian logic of pure reason provides a comprehensive and complete explanation of moral philosophy.
As usual, in this exercise, answers are less important; what is of greater importance is that the questions are grounded in the empirical sciences and framed within the context of testable hypotheses.
Political Philosophy
Presentation Series
Fall 2007
Scheduled to Present
Sept. 20 "Eros, Democracy, and Tyranny in Thucydides"
THUR -- Dr. Matthew Oberrieder
Wiggs 102 @ 4:30
Oct. 18 "Hobbes' Implicitly Realist Conception of the State"
THUR -- Mr. James Dunson
Wiggs 102 @ 4:30
Nov. 7 "What is Sovereignty?"
WED -- Dr. Edward Thomas
Wiggs 102 @ 4:30
Questions? Contact Dr. Oberrieder (x2169) oberrieder_m@mercer.edu
MERCER UNIVERSITY PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL SCIENCE SPECIAL EVENT
CONFERENCE ON POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY, AND CONTEMPORARY CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2007
FICKLING RECITAL HALL, MCCORKLE MUSIC BLDG.
SCHEDULE
1:00 - 2:30 PM Student Panel on Political Philosophy
3:00 - 4:30 PM Guest-Faculty Panel on Liberal Education
7:00 - 8:30 PM Keynote Speaker
DR. EDUARDO VELÁSQUEZ
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
(ISI Books, 2007)
Senior Thesis Defenses
Each year senior philosophy majors have an option of writing an honors thesis representing the culmination of his or her philosophical development in college. This semester, the philosophy department is proud to present three senior thesis defenses, in which the papers are presented and then the presenter is questioned by faculty, fellow students and other guests. All are welcome and philosophy majors in particular are encouraged to come to these talks.
April 10, 4:30 PM, Alex Morrison, "Ethical Decision Models: A Media Ethics Study"
Abstract: When setting out to make a decision, it can be of great benefit to employ a decision making model. Clifford Christians and other editors created a model for media ethics that raises many questions about the validity of such a model. As it turns out, Christians' model does have many shortcomings. In this paper, I set forth criteria for a sufficient ethical model, with careful consideration of the conventional ethical theories of many great philosophers and how they could possibly fit into a model. In the end, I propose a specific model to more appropriately address the issue of media ethics.
April 17, 4:30 PM, Andrew Jones, "In Pursuit of Knowledge"
Abstract: How does anyone know anything? In my thesis, I answer this question by explaining the three necessary components: experience, reason, and intuition. In order to know anything, a person must use these three elements in cooperation. Knowledge does exist and is obtainable. By acknowledging these three components, we can keep our beliefs in check and prevent as much false belief as possible.
April 24, 4:30 PM, Richard Davis, "A Proposed Justification of Induction"
Abstract: Science, history, and common sense depend almost wholly upon uncertain beliefs; and the justification of uncertain beliefs faces one primary obstacle: since any such belief may possibly be false, an uncertain belief must be justified on some grounds other than its truth value. In "A Proposed Justification of Induction," the author responds to this difficulty by constructing a rigorous calculus of probability on the basis of first principles regarding possibility, rationality, and normative principles. The nature of the system allows it to specify a determinate degree of justification for accepting the truth of any given proposition on the basis of any given evidence. The project culminates in an argument from these principles that there exists a positive correlation, of a specifiable magnitude, between (1) the consistency and frequency with which the coincidence of two events have been observed to occur in the past and (2) the degree of justification there is for accepting the existence of a necessary connection between the two events, as well as, for any given fraction, for accepting that they coincide in at least that fraction of their total occurrences.
Music Building Choir Room (#110)
"Women Who Walked the Line: a Few Lessons from Classical Political Philosophy"
Dr. Charlie Thomas, Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Philosophy, CLA
Modern Philosophy
Guest Speaker Series
Spring 2007
Scheduled to Present
| FRI, Jan 26 |
“Hobbes, Rationalism, and Empiricism:
Reassessing Early Modern Philosophy” --
Michael Krom
|
Stetson
251 @ |
| THU, Feb 22 |
“Thoughts
on the Ancients and the Moderns” --
Kevin Honeycutt
|
Wiggs
102 @ |
| THU, Mar 22 |
“The
Transcendental Problem of Knowledge” --
Eric Morelli
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Wiggs
102 @ |
| THU, Apr 19 |
“The
Nature of Persuasion in Descartes' Discourse -- Keith Fennen
|
Wiggs
102 @ |
Questions?
Contact Dr. Oberrieder (x2169) oberrieder_m@mercer.edu
Political Philosophy
Presentation Series
Fall 2006
Scheduled to Present
| WED, Sep 6 |
“Tyranny versus the Tyrant
in Xenophon’s Education of Cyrus” --
Dr. Charlotte Thomas
|
Stetson
251 @ |
| WED, Sep 20 | “On
Alcibiades
and Erôs in Thucydides” --
Dr. Matthew
Oberrieder
|
Stetson
251 @ |
| WED, Oct 4 |
“What
is Sovereignty?” --
Dr.
Edward Thomas
|
Stetson
251 @ |
| WED, Oct 25 | “Federalism
and Hume’s -- Dr. Will Jordan
|
Stetson
251 @ |
| THU, Nov 9 |
“Rousseau and the Problem of Patriotism” --
Dr. Steve Engel (
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| THU, Nov 16 | “Kant
on the Purpose, Nature, and Limits of Federations” --
Dr. Joseph Knippenberg (
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Med. Sch. Auditorium @ 4:30 |
March 21, 2006, 4:30 PM, Knight 104
"Consciousness:
can philosophy guide the search for its neural basis?"
Dr. Ananda Weerasuriya,
Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology, School of Medicine
Panel Session: Papers from the Southern Political Science Association
Dr. Oberrieder: "On Alcibiades in the Protagoras"
Dr. C. Thomas: "The Geometry of Virtue: A Reading of Plato's Meno"
Dr. E. Thomas: "On Virtue and Medicine: Montaigne's Complaint"
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Past Nearby Conferences |
Conference: Heresy, Blasphemy, and the Freedom of Expression Conference |
Conference: Midsouth Philosophy Conference University of Memphis, Memphis, TN |
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March
8-10, 2007 |
Conference: 11th Annual NE Florida Student Philosophy Conference University of North Florida, Jacksonville |
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March
11-12, 2007 |
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March
23-24, 2007 |
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March
23-25, 2007 |
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March
29-31, 2007 |
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April 5-7,
2007 |
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April 6-7,
2007 |
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April
21-22, 2007 |
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May 4-6,
2007 |
Conference: Society for Philosophy and Technology |
Conference: Politics and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications (PISTA) Orlando, FL |
Conference: International Conference on Persons University of North Carolina, Asheville |
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October 12-13,
2007 Conference: Necessity and Possibility University of Florida - Gainesville |
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October 17-19,
2007 Conference: Science and the Humanities University of North Carolina - Asheville |
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October 21-23 Conference: Cognition: Embodied, Embedded, Enactive, Extended University of Central Florida |
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November 3,
2007 Conference: 10th Annual Southern Appalachian Undergraduate Philosophy Conference University of North Carolina - Asheville |
This
page is
maintained by the Philosophy Department of the
Creighton Rosental, Chair. Comments to rosental_c@mercer.edu
Last Revision: August 12,
2010
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