TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A nationally recognized expert on moral and political philosophy will begin the “Philosophy Today” series of public lectures at The University of Alabama Oct.16.
Dr. Loren Lomasky will speak on “The State of Political Philosophy” at 7:30 p.m. in room 38 of Lloyd Hall on the UA campus.
Lomasky is Cory Professor of Political Philosophy, Policy and Law and director of the Political Philosophy, Policy and Law Program at The University of Virginia. In 1987, he wrote the book “Persons, Rights, and the Moral Community,” in which he proposed a rights-based approach to moral and social issues.
He has served as a researcher for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Center for the Study of Public Choice, the Australian National University, and Bowling Green University’s Social Philosophy and Policy Center.
In addition to teaching moral and political philosophy, Lomasky also teaches philosophy of religion, medieval philosophy and other subjects in the history of philosophy. Lomasky co-authored “Politics and Process: New Essays in Democratic Theory” with Geoffrey Brennan in 1989, and, in 1993, he also co-authored with Geoffrey Brennan “Democracy and Decision: The Pure Theory of Electoral Preference.” Lomasky received the 1991 Matchette Prize for his book “Persons, Rights, and the Moral Community.”
The Philosophy Today series will feature six experts lecturing on several key areas of philosophy during the 2007-2008 academic year. These non-technical lectures will be geared toward a general audience and should be of interest to those in any profession or academic discipline.
The series is sponsored by the UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the department of philosophy, and alumni and friends of the department of philosophy.
“The department of philosophy is grateful to Dean Olin and the College of Arts and Sciences for making possible this parade of philosophical all stars,” said Dr. Scott Hestevold, professor of philosophy and chairman of the UA department of philosophy. “These luminaries will put our students, our faculty, and the community at large in touch with the problems and the cutting edge work of today’s philosophers.”
All lectures will be held at 7:30 p.m. in 38 Lloyd Hall on the UA campus. Parking will be available in the lot on Hackberry Drive behind Nott and Gallalee Halls and in the parking deck at the intersection of Shelby Drive and Campus Drive. Other speakers in the 2007-2008 series are:
Oct. 30, 2007
Dr. Tyler Burge
“The State of Philosophy of Mind”
Tyler Burge, professor of philosophy at UCLA, will speak on important issues in the philosophy of psychology and mind, epistemology (theory of knowledge) and logic. He is known internationally for his writing on these subjects, and he also studies the philosophy of language. He has published articles on the philosophy of Gottlob Frege, and, in 2003, Burge was honored with a festschrift, or volume of writings, as a tribute to his work. The distinguished contributors to the festschrift include such famous names as linguistic theorist Noam Chomsky, and it includes extensive replies by Burge himself.
Nov. 13, 2007
Dr. Geoffrey Sayre-McCord
“The State of Ethics”
Geoff Sayre-McCord, professor and chairman of the department of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss his published research on moral theory, epistemology, and modern philosophy. He has edited “Essays on Moral Realism and Hume: Moral Philosophy.” Sayre McCord has presented papers throughout the United States and in Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom. He has also won several teaching awards.
Feb. 5, 2008
Dr. Ted Sider
“The State of Metaphysics”
Ted Sider, professor of philosophy at New York University, will discuss his research in metaphysics, including problems involving metametaphysics (the study of the nature of metaphysics), modality, natural kinds, ontology, persistence and time. He also studies the controversial area of supervenience, which posits for any mental state, there is an underlying physical cause. Sider is the author of an upcoming logic text, “Logic for Philosophy,” and the co author of an introductory metaphysics textbook, “Riddles of Existence.” He is also co editor of an upcoming anthology, “Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics.” Sider is best known for his work about the nature of identity and time, “Four-Dimensionalism,” for which he received the 2003 American Philosophical Association Book Prize.
Feb. 26, 2008
Dr. Jonathan L. Kvanvig
“The State of Philosophy of Religion”
Jonathan L. Kvanvig, distinguished professor of philosophy at Baylor University, will speak about his research in epistemology and metaphysics as well as the philosophy of religion. He is the author of six books, including “The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Understanding” ( 2003), “The Problem of Hell” (1993), “The Knowability Paradox” (2006), and “The Possibility of an All-Knowing God” (1986). He has written more than 100 articles and reviews, and he is the editor of “Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Religion,” the introductory volume that will be available in 2008. Kvanvig’s lecture marks the first Annual Philosophy Alumni Lecture sponsored by alumni of the department of philosophy. While on campus, he will also discuss his recent work with students in the advanced Philosophy of Religion seminar.
April 29, 2008
Dr. Ernest Sosa
“The State of Epistemology”
After several decades at Brown University, Ernest Sosa, professor of philosophy at Rutgers University, will discuss his research in epistemology and his leadership in the revitalization of virtue epistemology. He was president of the American Philosophical Association (Eastern Division) and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Sosa is editor of two leading philosophical journals, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research and Noûs. His John Locke Lectures at Oxford University have just been published in “A Virtue Epistemology.”
For further information, contact Dr. H. Scott Hestevold, chairman, UA department of philosophy, 205/348 1912.
The College of Arts and Sciences is Alabama’s largest liberal arts college and the University’s largest division with 360 faculty and 7,600 students.