Stellenbosch University Department of Philosophy

Join us for an exciting seminar tomorrow, presented by our very own Professor Louise du Toit, followed by snacks!

Join us for an exciting seminar tomorrow!

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-09-11-assassination-of-bouwer-van-niekerk-ultimate-expression-of-the-most-arrogant-form-of-hubris/

Bouwer van Niekerk killing ultimate expression of arrogant hubris His killing, and the assault on his father Anton 14 years earlier, underline that standing for one’s convictions in the public sphere can carry grave risks.

It is with great sadness that the Department of Philosophy expresses its sincere condolences to Emeritus Professor Anton van Niekerk, his wife Amy, and their family, upon the death of his son Bouwer, who was murdered on Friday at his place of work. Anton, who retired in 2023 as Distinguished Professor, was the founding director of the Centre for Applied Ethics, served as the head of our department for many years, and remains a much loved colleague and friend. Please see below a statement from Anton and Amy on Bouwer's passing:

“We are deeply shocked and mourn the loss of our beloved son at a young age and in such a violent and horrific manner. We asked Bouwer several times over the past six and a half years whether the risk to his life was worth pursuing these high-profile cases. His answer was always an emphatic yes. He argued and believed that if all attorneys who were scared and intimidated were to back down, how will the corruption in society ever be brought under control? He believed in the justice system and was determined to play his role to make South Africa a better place and less crime-ridden country. Yes, we are shocked and heartbroken, but we are also very proud of our incorruptible son who tried to make this country a better place for all.”

Seminar today:

Prof Lucy Allais will talk on "An Antinomy of Agency." The seminar will take place on Thursday, 14 August from 12:30pm in Room 628 (6th-floor, Arts and Social Sciences Building, corner of Merriman and Ryneveld roads). Please see below for the abstract and speaker’s bio.

Abstract: My aim in this lecture is to present the first part of a three part account of human free agency that I’m currently working on. The idea of the book project is to sketch a picture of human free agency that brings together its metaphysical, rational/moral, and political aspects. This talk concerns the first part of the picture: the metaphysics of agency. I approach this through considering an antinomy which I take to apply to both human agency and the agency of other animals. I argue that agency cannot be understood as compatible with metaphysical determinism, but could be compatible with deterministic laws. I argue that the causality of agency requires that an agent can do something or not do it, and that whether they do it is not a determined function of previous states of the universe. Through situating human agency in relation to the agency of other animals, I present the denial of metaphysical determinism as part of a (relatively) naturalistic understanding of the world.

Bio: Lucy Allais is jointly appointed as Professor of Philosophy at Wits University and as William H. Miller Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. She is an elected member of both the Academy of Sciences of South Africa and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has published widely on issues to do with moral responsibility, including on moral emotions like forgiveness and blame, as well as on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. She is currently working on human free agency.

Our own Prof Louise du Toit will be giving her Inaugural Lecture this evening at 17:30. For details, and to join online, please see https://blogs.sun.ac.za/inaugural-lectures/event/prof-louise-du-toit/.

Prof Louise du Toit | Inaugural Lectures « All Events Prof Louise du Toit Inaugural lecture: 14 August 2025 @ 17:3019:30 « Prof James Warwick Prof Neill Goosen » Of flesh and ore and the death of birth Having in the past been critical of property models as a way to understand the harms of sexual violence, Louise du Toit returns to this ...

Congratulations to one of our own!

From Philosophy to Fine Art – and TWO PhDs! 🎓🖌️

Prof Minka Woermann just earned a second PhD – this time in Visual Arts – with no prior training!

It all started during Covid isolation, when drawing became her escape. That passion led to a deep dive into creative flow, exploring how art connects us to the world.

Now, she’s blending philosophy and art in ways she never imagined! Proof that it’s never too late to chase what excites you!

Read more here: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11197

Enrol now for one of our popular MPhil Applied Ethics programme streams!

https://www0.sun.ac.za/philosophy/centre-for-applied-ethics/