the agora

A big thanks to the presenters, organizers, and attenders of yesterday’s symposium.

For those of you who were unable to attend (and also those of you who want to relive every exciting moment by reading the papers again), we’re making the paper’s available right here.

Here’s Miraj’s paper: “The Contextual Person”

Here’s Das’ Paper: “The Persistently Transgressive Subject“

Also, perhaps in the heat of the discussion, you didn’t get a chance to make your brilliant comment or raise that thought-provoking question; you tossed and turned all night thinking about it.

Toss no longer. You’re most welcome to raise that question here, or to make your comments right here!

CALL FOR PAPERS:

Spring 2008 Fordham Philosophical Society Symposium

Philosophy and Psychology graduate students are invited to submit papers on philosophical topics related to psychology

Possible Topics Include:

* Moral motivation
* Development
* Habits
* Intersubjectivity
* Will / Soul / Psyche
* Epistemology & beliefs
* Emotions
* Empathy
* Mind / body problems
* Phenomenology

Gain valuable presentation experience and feedback on your work from faculty in a supportive environment!

Class papers are welcome.
Papers should have 25-minute reading time (12 pages double-spaced)

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, February 05

Symposium Date: Wednesday, March 05

Submit papers to Dave Zoller by email: davezoller@gmail.com

For further information please contact: eleanor.helms@gmail.com

Date: 1/16/08

Time: 2:05-2:45pm

Present: Margaret H., Dan F., Walter W., Katherine K. Aline R., Zane Y., Scott O., Jared W., David Z., Dylan F., David S., Jeremy A., Adam W., Gary G., and Eleanor H.

Call to order – [Scott O.]

Graduate Conference Update - [Jared W.] Plans for the graduate conference on April 11-12th featuring Seyla Benhabib (Yale) and John Davenport (Fordham) as keynote and plenary speakers are on schedule. The deadline for papers has passed and we’ve received 34 submissions. A sign-up sheet was passed around for people to be readers for these papers.

More help may be needed as the date approaches for people to help with things like lodging and hosting the guest speaker.

Some funding is coming from the GSA and will be procured shortly.

Spring Symposium – [Eleanor H.] Voting on the on-line poll is very close between psychology and theology department. In lieu of an impending an executive decision, 3 people voted for collaborating with the psychology department during the meeting, making psychology the “winner.”

A sign-up sheet was passed around for those interested/willing to serve on the symposium committee. There will be an organizational meeting on January 24^th (Thursday). The committee will decide here if there will be a specific topic or a open call for papers. A date will also be finalized; mostly likely one before spring break.

Reading/language groups – [Scott O.]

Brendan P. wanted to remind people about Latin reading group that meets with Dr. Pini. Contact Brendan if interested.

Dr. Gosetti has mentioned her willingness to lead a German reading group.

David S./Zane Y. passed around a sheet for those interested in reading Charles Taylor’s new book, “A Secular Age.”

Financial report - [David S.] We have $.13 in our account. More funding will be coming in from the GSA for the symposium and conference. Dr. Drummond has also promised some more funds for things like social activities.

Informal graduate student paper sharing group - [Dylan F.] A brief report was given on efforts from last semester to organize semi-regular gatherings for students to present their work and have it discussed. Plans are to carry this on this semester, once every 3 weeks. These meetings will most likely be on Wednesday afternoons at 5pm.

Sports/Intermurals - [Discussion] Dylan F. asked if there was any interest in a soccer group that “kicked around” one afternoon a week. Dan F. suggested a departmental intramural team. There was brief discussion about softball and/or dodgeball. Contact Dylan F. if interested in soccer. Or if there is any interest in other sports, feel free to send out an e-mail.

Social coordinator - [Scott O.] The possibility of a new position to revive the sociality of the department was raised. In the past the philosophy department was very social. This has diminished to a large degree. Those that led out in the past seem to have moved on. If there is interest in helping revive this tradition, please contact Scott O.

New funding scenario - [Gary G.] Because of new funding program, it seems that funding for teaching jobs for those that have used up their funding will not be available. Once allotted funding dries up, there will be no teaching associate positions. There are a number of people, especially 5th students and on, who are adversely affected by this new situation. This concern will be brought up to Dr. Drummond at a meeting that is being called to address some of the confusion.

4^th year and younger are included in meeting, but it seems that 5^th year plus students needs to be involved in another meeting. Adam W. will bring up this concern at the meeting.

Website – [Zane Y.] The FPS website has been redesigned. We are hoping to have one page devoted to information about graduate students currently in the program. Margaret H. will help collect the data (interests, undergrad institutions, year student entered program) and we’ll be posting it on the website.

Lunch with interviewees - [Scott O.] A sign-up sheet for lunch with potential new department hire was passed around. People (3-5) are needed to go eat lunch with interviewees during the next few weeks. Lunch will be free.

Coffee pot for kitchen - [Margaret H.] A coffee pot is needed for the kitchen. Gary G. has an extra one and will donate it. Margaret H. will ask Suzie/Margaret about the one that is currently being used and if it is open for communal use by the graduate students.

Meeting adjourned - [Scott O.] 2:45

[from Scott O.]

Welcome back everyone (or for those like myself who are returning shortly, welcome back soon).

What: FPS Meeting
When: This coming Wednesday, January 16, at 2PM
Where: Phil. Conference Room
Why: A lot to plan, organize etc.

There’s a lot on the agenda for FPS and the department this semester, including another symposium (this time with another department) as well as our big conference. I know Jared is already looking for volunteers and coordination on the Cosmopolitanism conference, so we’re getting things rolling early this semester. Plus, there are still a few wrinkles to work out with the new comp system.

So everyone, please make a point to come. The meeting will be brief like usual. It will start at 2 and should be less than an hour.

Alright everyone, I can’t take credit or blame for this one…although I think its credit rather than blame thats due.  Gary, our very nice GSA Vice President reminded me that the GSA has some funds that we might, um, appropriate for our fun use before the end of the year.  So with that in mind, I wanted to invite you all to the Last FPS X of the year.

Since we’re philosophers, you can fill in what the X stands for.    Possible options: pizza party, meeting, study break, grading distraction, GSA ‘town hall meeting’ (dont ask) etc.  I leave it up to you.

When: This Tuesday after Dr. Drummond’s course from 4-6pm or until you want to leave (although you’ll have to move at 7 for Frances class).

What: Again, Im leaving what to call this up to you, just come.

Why:  Because there will be free pizza and soda, and wine if I can find any

Extra:  If you have any questions or suggestions for the FPS, this will also be a time to raise issues, but I PROMISE we the officers of FPS will not bring up ANYthing at this time of year.  January, maybe, but not now.

So come, Jeremy and I will be there so you know it will be cool….and low-key.

For those of you who couldn’t make it to the Symposium (and for those of you who enjoyed it so much, you want relive it again and again, sans the food and libations), here are the to presentations for your viewing and intellectual pleasure. Feel free continue the conversation from the Symposium, or to comment on the papers, here.

An Ideal Dismissed: Kierkegaard’s Rejection of Kant’s Highest Good (Walter Wietzke)

Is There After All A Normative Question? (John Mumm)

Happy readings!

The Fordham Philosophical Society Presents:

The Fall 2007 Graduate Student Symposium

Tuesday, October 30th at 4:15 pm

University Commons Room, Duane Library

Metaethics:

Grounds and Groundlessness

“An Ideal Dismissed: Kierkegaard’s Rejection of Kant’s Highest Good”

By Walter Wietzke

“Is There, After All, a Normative Question?”

By John Mumm

Faculty responses by:

Professor Michael Baur and

Professor Samir Haddad

Join us for food, drinks and conversation

Here’s an interesting article from the NY Times.

<<<

Correction Appended

PRINCETON, N.J.

Many of us have known this scholar: The hair is well-streaked with gray, the chin has begun to sag, but still our tortured friend slaves away at a masterwork intended to change the course of civilization that everyone else just hopes will finally get a career under way.

We even have a name for this sometimes pitied species — the A.B.D. — All But Dissertation. But in academia these days, that person is less a subject of ridicule than of soul-searching about what can done to shorten the time, sometimes much of a lifetime, it takes for so many graduate students to, well, graduate. The Council of Graduate Schools, representing 480 universities in the United States and Canada, is halfway through a seven-year project to explore ways of speeding up the ordeal.

For those who attempt it, the doctoral dissertation can loom on the horizon like Everest, gleaming invitingly as a challenge but often turning into a masochistic exercise once the ascent is begun. The average student takes 8.2 years to get a Ph.D.; in education, that figure surpasses 13 years. Fifty percent of students drop out along the way, with dissertations the major stumbling block. At commencement, the typical doctoral holder is 33, an age when peers are well along in their professions, and 12 percent of graduates are saddled with more than $50,000 in debt.

>>>

Read the rest of the article here and leave comments below!

 [From Scott O.]

For those who missed Dan Fincke’s great discussion of Nietzchean ethics, don’t miss this one.

The relevant details:

Defendant: Jane Dryden

Topic: “Relational Autonomy and the Metaphysics of the Self”

Date and time: Wednesday 3rd of October, 5:00 pm
Venue: Philosophy conference room
Alcoholic refreshments will be served!

“I’m going to give a brief (very brief) overview of where we stand in our understanding of autonomy, bring up the feminist critiques that have led to the current idea of “relational autonomy”, and then sketch out why a metaphysics of self is needed and why I think Fichte and Hegel can begin to provide it. I’ll speak informally for about 25 minutes, finishing with a number of questions (aporias) to invite discussion. There will be a handout. I am going to pitch it assuming some knowledge of the history of philosophy, but assuming no extensive knowledge about feminism or German idealism.”