News
CategoryNew Bertrand Russell Archives and Research Centre Opens
The Bertrand Russell Archives and Research Centre at McMaster University has opened. While McMaster University acquired the Russell Archives 50 years ago, and has had a Research Centre focused on Russell since 2000, the collection is now in what the university newspaper, The Silhouette, reports is its own “state of the art facility.” (more…)
Philosopher Victim of Anti-Semitic Attack and Police Brutality
Yitzhak Melamed, professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, was the victim of an anti-Semitic attack on the streets of Bonn, and then was beaten by German police who mistook him for the assailant. To add insult to injury, the German police are now apparently lying about what happened. (more…)
Separating Migrant Children From Their Parents Is Not Required By Law, But Even if It Were…
There is no law requiring family separation at the border. And even if there was, that still would not be enough to justify the administration’s cruel policy. (more…)
APA Election Results
The results of the 2018 American Philosophical Association (APA) elections have been released. Elections were held for new divisional officers, a new at-large member of the APA Board of Officers, and two new members of the Graduate Student Council (GSC). (more…)
Racism at Yale and Philosophy in Real Life
Lolade Siyonbola, a graduate student in African studies at Yale University, took a break from working on a paper Monday night in a common room in her dorm to take a nap. The next thing she knows, she was awakened by a white student who reportedly flipped on the lights, told her she had no right to be there, and who called the campus police to report her. (more…)..
University Reprimands Students Who Warned Others About Philosophy Professor
Two seniors at Fordham University have been officially reprimanded by the school for violating its code of conduct after warning other students about a professor who in the past had complaints of sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct against him substantiated. (more…)
Fordham Philosophy Professor Suspended Pending University Investigation (updated)
Fordham University associate professor of philosophy William Jaworski has been suspended until the end of the calendar year pending a university investigation, according to the university’s student newspaper, The Observer. (more…)
Concordia Philosophy Faculty Response to Sexual Harassment Allegations
Last month it was reported that several students had accused a professor of philosophy at Concordia University of sexual harassment. Faculty in the university’s Department of Philosophy have now issued a statement in response to the allegations. (more…)
Rubio Warms Up To Philosophy
In November of 2015, Florida Senator and then presidential candidate Marco Rubio had some critical remarks for higher education in the United States, calling it outdated and saying, “I don’t know why we have stigmatized vocational education. Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers.” (more…)
Ubermess: Philosophers Discuss the Self-Driving Car Crash
On March 19, 2018 a self-driving Uber car-for-hire struck and killed a pedestrian, Elaine Herzberg, in Tempe, Arizona. This was not the first trouble Uber has had with its self-driving cars, nor was it the first fatal crash involving a self-driving car (for example). (more…)
Stubblefield Pleads Guilty (Update: Sentenced to “Time Served”)
Anna Stubblefield, the former professor of philosophy at Rutgers University-Newark whose October 2015 conviction for sexually assaulting a disabled man was overturned last June, has now pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact. (more…)
Students Allege Sexual Harassment by Concordia Philosophy Professor
Several students at Concordia University have accused a professor in its Department of Philosophy of sexual harassment. One of the students has accused the university of “systemic failings of its sexual violence and sexual harassment policies,” filed a civil rights complaint against the school that includes a request that the accused professor “face sanctions for ..
Interview with the Philosopher Running for Congress
Too many of us have been denied economic security and equal opportunity. I have spent my life trying to address these societal problems. Now I want to take the fight to Congress.
Kipnis & Harper Collins Fail To Get Lawsuit Dismissed
The motion filed by Laura Kipnis and her publisher, Harper Collins, to have philosophy graduate student “Jane Doe”‘s lawsuit against them dismissed has been denied. (more…)
Philosophers Help Fight for Chimpanzee Personhood
Seventeen philosophers co-authored and submitted to the New York Court of Appeals an amicus curiae brief in support of legal personhood for a pair of chimpanzees. (more…)
Philosophy Professor Charged With Possession of Child Pornography (updated)
A professor of philosophy at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania was arrested last Thursday after child pornography was discovered on his university-issued computer. (more…)
Philosophers Object to Denial of Asylum to Humanist Unfamiliar with Plato & Aristotle
Two weeks ago, the British government’s Home Office rejected the asylum request of Hamza Bin Walayat because, while he described himself as a “humanist” worried about religious persecution in his home country of Pakistan, be could not answer questions about Plato and Aristotle. Now, 120 philosophers have signed onto a letter objecting to the decision. (more…)
Israeli Philosophers Object To Deportation of African Refugees (updated w/ link to petition)
Over 70 Israeli philosophers have signed an open letter objecting to their government’s efforts to deport African refugees and migrants. (more…)
Giving the Horse A Thorough Dental Exam
T1: Johns Hopkins announces that its Department of Philosophy is receiving a $75 million gift from investor Bill Miller—the largest single donation ever to a philosophy department.
T2: Philosophers say, “This isn’t a good idea.” (more…)
Grad Student Tuition Waivers to Remain Tax-Exempt
Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives have been meeting this week to reconcile their different tax reform bills, and various news outlets are reporting that the proposal in the House version to remove tuition waivers from their current tax-exempt status will not make it into the final bill. (more…)
Support Net Neutrality
Tomorrow, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to undo the Open Internet Order, in place since 2015, that requires internet service providers to adhere to “net neutrality.” Take one minute today to try to help save it. (more…)
NCAA on Boxill: “Cannot conclude she committed unethical conduct”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has released its “Public Infractions Decision” regarding academic fraud at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Over an 18-year period, some student athletes were steered towards phony “paper classes” that never met and were assigned work that was graded—if at all—by the department’s office manager, o..
Philosophers Call for Peaceful Resolution of Catalonia Crisis
Amidst the chaos following Catalonia’s independence referendum, a group of philosophers working at Catalan universities have launched a petition calling for an end to state violence in Catalonia and proposing some steps to be taken for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the Spanish and Catalan governments. (more…)
University of Central Missouri Loses Philosophy Program
Students at the University of Central Missouri will no longer be able to major in philosophy, according to the school’s news site, Muleskinner.
Brooklyn College / CUNY Philosopher Among Faculty Targeted By Anti-Muslim Organization
Samir Chopra, a professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College and City University of New York (CUNY), is among faculty and students being slandered as “terrorist supporters” by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a rightwing, anti-Muslim organization. (more…)
The Philosophy of Hurricanes
The destruction recently wrought by Hurricane Harvey will take years to recover from. Now, weather forecasters are drawing attention to Hurricane Irma, currently in the Atlantic Ocean and heading west towards the islands of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and then possibly Cuba, Florida, and elsewhere along the eastern United States. (..
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
Vida Yao, assistant professor of philosophy at Rice University, writes in suggesting that people interested in helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey contribute to the Hurricane Harvey Community Relief Fund. She says: (more…)
All Members of President’s Committee on Arts & Humanities Resign
All 17 of the non-governmental members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH) today submitted a group resignation letter (posted below), effectively disbanding the committee. (more…)