This is a place to get #BoiseState students thinking... about philosophy! We are a small but vibrant department, with over 100 undergraduate majors and over 80 minors.
If you ask one of our majors why he or she has chosen to pursue a degree in philosophy, you’ll likely hear, “Because I love it!” Our faculty share this passion for inquiry into the most fundamental questions concerning the nature of reality and the place of human beings within it. Our relatively small size fosters a strong sense of community, and students enjoy extensive interaction with faculty m
Operating as usual
The Phil Club and the Department of Philosophy welcome guest speaker Dr. Chris Heathwood for two engaging talks via Zoom Friday, Jan. 21 at 3:30 p.m. MST & Saturday, Jan. 22 at 11:00 a.m. MST
Zoom info (same for both talks):
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/93261977169?pwd=M0tXdmd2U1NzUVdVdEkvTkxIU2JLdz09
meeting code: 932 6197 7169
passcode: 318894
Friday, January 21 3:30-5:30 p.m. MST
“Fear of Death”
Is it rational to fear death? What about other negative emotions, such as sadness or terror? For a negative feeling about your death to be rational, it would seem that your death, or being dead, would need to be a bad thing for you. But is it? How can it be, if you aren’t even around to experience it? These are the sorts of questions we’ll be thinking about together in this talk.
Saturday, January 22 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. MST
“Are Adaptive Preferences a Problem for Subjective Theories of Well-Being?”
An adaptive preference is one formed or changed in response to the belief that one’s options are limited. In the paradigm case, the subject comes to want or like or accept a thing upon realizing that they are stuck with it anyway. For example, upon learning that one is not qualified for the promotion one really wanted, one might, as a coping strategy, come to prefer one’s current position to the unattainable one (Bruckner). It is widely believed that cases of adaptive preference pose a serious problem for subjective theories of well-being, as such theories seem unable to agree with the idea that there is something bad going on in cases of adaptive preferences. I argue that adaptive preferences do not in fact pose a problem for subjective theories generally; they only pose a problem for the least plausible versions of such theories.
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Dr. Ramona Ilea will be the guest speaker for the Phil Club and Department of Philosophy Friday, Nov 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6 via Zoom.
Friday, Nov 5, 3:30pm
"Clothing Ethics: What We Wear as Important as What We Eat"
Abstract: Although clothes are a big part of our culture, economy, and identity, philosophers have paid very little attention to them. In
this presentation, Dr. Ramona Ilea will show that clothing ethics
should be a vibrant and significant area of applied ethics. To do
this, she will argue that clothes raise important ethical concerns
related to sourcing, production, use, and disposal; they also link to
cultural, gender, and class issues in ways that are unique and
philosophically interesting.
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/97458352969?pwd=cm1RNzQ2aGZrMnU1L2ZsVnIvTWFQZz09
meeting ID: 974 5835 2969
passcode: 610006
Saturday, Nov 6, 11:00am
"Philosophy and Activism: Compatible or in Tension?:
Abstract: In this presentation, Dr. Ramona Ilea will explore the
relationship between activism philosophy and share her work in
implementing and assessing student-led civic engagement projects. These projects have the common themes of encouraging activism,leadership, responsibility, and outreach. A primary goal of theseassignments is to empower students to learn ways in which to work toward social change, and, ultimately, become better citizens.
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/97458352969?pwd=cm1RNzQ2aGZrMnU1L2ZsVnIvTWFQZz09
meeting ID: 974 5835 2969
passcode: 610006
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Welcome back to campus for the fall semester. We look forward to seeing everyone!!
Welcome back to campus! We are excited for the start of the Fall 2021 semester and look forward to seeing you.
Philosophy Department students, faculty, and staff please join us for an end of semester virtual celebration tonight, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. (MST).
We look forward to seeing you!!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/96147054789?pwd=Z29ONGZzN1FMVlJOWGswa2FPRW05QT09
Meeting ID: 961 4705 4789
Passcode: 150048
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We would like to congratulate our own Dr. Christopher Innes on his recent published essay titled: A Class Act: Explaining Karl Marx with Indian a Jones
https://andphilosophy.com/2021/02/04/a-class-act-explaining-karl-marx-with-indiana-jones/
Dr. Maegan Fairchild from the University of Michigan will be the Guest Speaker for the Phil Club this Friday and Saturday. Please use the Zoom link to join the talks. We look forward to seeing you.
Friday, February 26, 3:30-5:30 p.m. MST
(general audience talk)
TikTok: Algorithms and Authenticity
Like many other feed-based social media apps, TikTok relies centrally on a recommendation algorithm: a system that generates a personalized “For You” page, based on each user’s engagement patterns. We’ve got many reasons to be worried about the political and epistemic effects of (often opaque) recommendation engines. However, in this talk I suggest that despite these risks, algorithmic feeds might be uniquely valuable for informing philosophical questions about social identities, authenticity, and self-discovery. I take TikTok’s “For You” page -- and the ways that users relate to it -- as a case study for exploring some of these questions. (Disclaimer: I am entirely too old for TikTok.)
Saturday, February 27, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST
Incredible Ontology
Should it be a constraint on metaphysical theories that we can believe them? I’ll suggest that it needn’t be; that “incredible” theories might nonetheless be serious contenders. I’ll take as my foil Lewis’ Maxim of Honesty: you ought not defend a theory that you yourself cannot believe. On the face of it, the Maxim functions like a kind of ‘common sense’ constraint on metaphysics, but gives belief a radically different role in theory choice than other more familiar Moorean appeals. In this talk I explore three varieties of incredible metaphysics, and argue that even Lewis’ minimal constraint oversteps. Along the way, I hope to cast some light on the vexed relationship between “ordinary belief” and metaphysical theorizing.
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/95987542370?pwd=VWJQZUw0b245MkpKMzN4M05TSkQ4QT09
Meeting ID: 959 8754 2370
Passcode: 338345
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Welcome back to campus students, staff, and faculty! We are looking forward to an amazing Spring 2021 Semester.
Philosophy Department students, faculty, and staff please join us for an end of semester celebration!!
Thursday, December 17 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
*This will be an open house format, so feel free to join in for a few minutes or for the entire time.
Please use the following Zoom link.
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/99212687392?pwd=WGdpK2Fqak9ML0swem4yNEhKckhBUT09
Meeting ID: 992 1268 7392
Passcode: 7!ge0J
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,99212687392# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,99212687392# US (Tacoma)
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+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 992 1268 7392
Find your local number: https://boisestate.zoom.us/u/aeabin2zdX
Join by SIP
[email protected]
Join by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
221.122.88.195 (China)
115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai)
115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad)
213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands)
213.244.140.110 (Germany)
103.122.166.55 (Australia)
209.9.211.110 (Hong Kong SAR)
149.137.40.110 (Singapore)
64.211.144.160 (Brazil)
69.174.57.160 (Canada)
207.226.132.110 (Japan)
Meeting ID: 992 1268 7392
Passcode: 426532
Philosophy Talk - "A New Theory of Counterparts" by Bridger Landle
Friday, November 13 via Zoom from Noon - 2 p.m. (MST)
Bridger Landle (one of our own faculty members, and a grad student at University of York) will be presenting one of his papers (co-authored with William Kilborn) tomorrow over Zoom. Please consider attending, it should be fun! And feel free to spread the word.
Zoom link:
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/92674099557?pwd=ZTkwbjh3SlNkNXprSDg0WGdmZk5Ydz09
Other Zoom info:
Meeting ID: 926 7409 9557
Passcode: !00JUJ
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Philosophy Talk - Material Objects
Philosophy Majors and Minors please join us Friday, November 6 from Noon to 2 p.m. for William Kilborn (one of our own faculty members, and a grad student at University of York) will be giving a talk tomorrow over Zoom.
Friday, November 6
noon-2pm
"Material Objects"
Abstract: What is a material object? In this paper, I consider potential answers to this question. I first examine and argue against the leading alternatives, both the location account and the occupancy account of material objects. I then consider in their place, several novel, potential accounts. Two of these accounts, though otherwise plausible, have the surprising consequence that many ordinary objects, including human persons, are not material objects after all. I weigh this worry in reaching reflective equilibrium.
Zoom link:
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/94328327988?pwd=RndRVlV2U0lUdHlUSzlsVmFxYjh2UT09
Other Zoom info:
Meeting ID: 943 2832 7988
Passcode: 761291
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Philosophy Majors and Minors please join us for a Virtual Open House on Thursday, Oct. 8 begining at 2 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://boisestate.zoom.us/j/93487487170?pwd=ZEdmSTJ6N2pZNXZENnByazMzT3IyZz09
Meeting ID: 934 8748 7170
Passcode: 948540
The Philosophy Department is thinking about Fall 2019 - it will be a great semester! Be sure and check out the Phil Table at the Bronco Welcome!
Join us for Phil Club tonight at Papa Joe's for great food, philosophy and brain stretching discussions! 1301 S. Capitol in Boise. We will be talking about Dr. Irem Kurtsal's research (she is the speaker tomorrow and Saturday). Hope you can make it!
April 2019 Colloquia - Dr. Irem Kurtsal, April 12 & 13, 2019
Dr. Irem Kurtsal (Alleghany College, Philosophy & Religious Studies Department) will speak at Boise State April 12 & 13, 2019. Details coming soon! https://sites.allegheny.edu/philo/faculty/irem-kurtsal/
Philosophy Club at Papa Joe's tonight at 7 pm. Here is a link to the short reading so you can read and then come and join the discussion. See you there!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3on2gTAMuQnRXpvYTJKenczcXVPMjNpT1J4Y0ZsX1pOWmI0/view?fbclid=IwAR2t6o18vxsqjHvTwNQIVxtY6TkDFNDyPXWK65_fxVDZU4S4ySLRai6t6tE
Last day in January, and students and faculty are busy with philosophy classes and trying to stay warm. Come by and visit anytime, have a cup of tea and avail yourself of our philosophy 'library'! Watch for upcoming speaker information later this spring!
Philosophers are always in play!
Thinking of Taking A Philosophy Class Next Semester?
In need of a Summer Class?
Boise State Philosophy Department updated their business hours.
Boise State Philosophy Department This is a place to get #BoiseState students thinking... about philosophy!
Congratulations to Dave McKerracher! He is pictured here at the Honors College Winter Gathering and Graduation Ceremony in the SUB on Thursday, December 1, 2016 next to Dr. Andrew Finstuen, (the Honors College Dean during most of Dave's school experience, who is now interim associate provost for undergraduate studies).
This event honored honors students who have the honor of graduating later this month (okay, that was both alliterative AND redundant).
In addition, Dave was chosen to be the Marshal for the College of Arts and Sciences at commencement on December 17th in the Taco Bell Arena.
The Philosophy Department is so proud of Dave. He is an excellent scholar and has a bright future.
Good luck on finals Philosophy majors and minors! Stop in the department and say hi - grab a cup of tea or cocoa, and find a nice corner to study in!
Greetings, Philosophers! There is so much going on this week for philosophy. Tomorrow, Philosophy club is meeting at Papa Joe's (7 pm) and will be discussing Dr. Christina Van Dyke's entry in the The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy on mysticism in preparation for her two talks on Friday and Saturday.
Adding Fuel to the Fire? Orthorexia and Gendered Eating
Friday, November 11th
3:30-5:15pm
Location- Multipurpose Building Room 106
Open to the Public and Campus Community
God in Us: Emotion, Embodiment, and Medieval Mysticism
Saturday, November 12th
10:30-12:15pm
Location- Interactive Learning Center 303
Open to Students of Philosophy and Faculty
May you have a thoughtful day!
We are a small but vibrant department where students have the chance to really work with and know their professors. If you ask one of our majors why he or she has chosen to pursue a degree in philosophy, you’ll likely hear, “Because I love it!”
Our faculty share this passion for inquiry into the most fundamental questions concerning the nature of reality and the place of human beings within it. We have a strong sense of community and students enjoy extensive interaction with faculty members and others.
This site contains a good deal of information about our program, our faculty, and opportunities for students. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, give us a call or drop us an email.
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Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
Friday | 9am - 5pm |
The BSU Student Ambassadors Buddy Program provides an opportunity for current students enrolled at Boise State Univeristy to meet and assist incoming exchange students as they transition into their new life in Boise.
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