UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

FALL 2006

ALUMNI FUND GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS The Philosophy Department is very pleased to announce two new fellowships for graduate students,each the result of very generous gifts from alumni. Sidney Robinson (BA,1961;MA,1962;LLB,1966) Michael J. Herman (MBA, 1992; MA, 2006) has endowed the Sidney P. H. Robinson Graduate has endowed the Michael J. Herman Graduate Scholarship in Ancient Philosophy, an award of Fellowship in Philosophy, an award of approximately approximately $12,000/year for graduate students $12,000/year for the benefit of graduate students working in Greek and Roman philosophy. The in the department. The Herman Fellowship will help Department has traditionally had a strong group of us attract the best students in any area of study researchers in this field, from Father Owens, John Rist, at a time when the competition with our peer and Tom Robinson (no relation to Sidney), to our cur- institutions in the US is fierce. rent complement of Canada Research Chair in Ancient Philosophy,Brad Inwood;Chancellor Jackman Professor,Jennifer Whiting; Michael studied at Michigan as an undergraduate and then received Canada Research Chair in Classical Philosophy, Rachel Barney; Lloyd his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1974. After a successful Gerson,and Doug Hutchinson.This fellowship will ensure that we are able career as a lawyer,including sessional teaching stints at three Ontario law to attract the very best graduate students from around the world to study schools, he took a position as President and CEO at Citicom Inc. with this excellent group of faculty. and Citipark Inc., while completing his MBA at the University of Toronto. He started a part-time master’s degree in the Department Sidney studied philosophy at Trinity College as an undergraduate and con- in 2001, finishing up this past summer.Throughout his studies, he has tinued on to do a master’s degree with the Department immediately there- been a significant booster of the Department’s mission, especially after.Though he enjoyed his philosophical study tremendously, especially by raising our profile in the Toronto legal and business communities. when teaching the subject, he decided to pursue a career in law. Michael is also extremely active in community affairs and has been A partner at the firm of Torys for many years, his recent retirement has the Chair of the Holocaust Committee of Toronto, a Director allowed him to return to study at the Department.He has audited a series of of the United Jewish Appeal/Federation, and the President of the seminars on ancient philosophy on such topics as Plato’s moral Oakdale Golf and Country Club. psychology,Aristotle’s conception of weakness of will and responses to it by the medieval commentators, and Seneca’s presentation of Stoicism. He is a regular and welcome presence at many departmental talks and conferences. Sidney and Michael both took advantage of the remarkable leveraging opportunity offered through the Graduate Student Endowment Fund established at the U of T by the Province of Ontario. Donations are effectively triple matched to provide substantial named fellowships in perpetuity for the benefit of our graduate students. If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, please contact Christie Darville of Arts and Science Advancement, 416-946-5192, [email protected]. MINERVA’S AVIARY – PHILOSOPHYAT TORONTO John Slater’s History of the Department is Launched John Slater’s long-awaited history of the Philosophy Department, Minerva’s Aviary (University of Toronto Press, 2005), is now available. The book was launched at a reception at the Fisher Rare Book Library last October. Many friends and alumni attended, includ- ing Father Edward Jackman (BA, 1962, Victoria College), who has been a long-time supporter of both the book and the Department. In his remarks at the book launch, he said: “We may not all be professional philoso- Above:Chairs of the Philosophy Department (former and current) phers but we never lose our love of thinking and above all attending the launch:L.Wayne Sumner,Cheryl Misak,John Slater, Rev.Edward Jackman our love for wisdom itself, i.e. philosophy.” ,Tom Robinson,Donald Ainslie.

We wish to thank the generous donors to the Department of Philosophy, without whom Philosophy News would not be possible. Please see the back page to see how you can support the Department in endeavours like this one. From the Chair Donald Ainslie At the University small or, if large, by having tutorials in of Toronto, we addition to lectures.” PHLUB – The UTSC pride ourselves Philosophy Club on our interna- We have been making great strides on this front. On the St. George campus, for It has been an active year for our tional reputation undergraduates in Philosophy at for excellence in example, we have restricted the size of almost all of our third-year courses to 38 UTSC. In particular, our Philosophy research, but we Club, better known as PHLUB, has also recognize or fewer students, and our fourth-year hosted a number of events, including that our reputa- seminars are capped at 24. several discussion nights on topics tion for teaching Simultaneously, we have increased the ranging from the incorrigibility of lags a bit behind. For this reason, the lead- number of tutorials in our large first- and mental states to God, free will and ers of the University, from the President second-year courses. Thus in 2002-3, we existentialism; general help and tutoring sessions for fall and winter and Provost to the various Deans and had 62 large half-courses (more than 40 students), only eight of which had tutori- exams; a movie night; and guest lec- Chairs, have made it our goal to improve tures, including one by Bill Seager on the student experience at U of T. als. But in 2006-7, we have halved the number of large courses to 30, of which consciousness and time, and one by What does this mean for Philosophy? In 17 have tutorials. We hope to have tutori- Martin Lin on abstract objects and causation. For next year, PHLUB is 2003-4, when we were developing our als in every large lecture course in the next planning a philosophy radio show on plan for the Department for the next few few years. the UTSC campus radio station, and a years, we started by thinking about class philosophy film project. It should be sizes. The best philosophical education One major step we’re taking in this direc- .We’ve interesting and a lot of fun. does not involve a teacher simply convey- tion this year is the Socrates Project received special funding from the Provost Phil Kremer, ing doctrine to a student. Instead we take and the Dean of Arts and Science that will Philosophy Discipline Socrates for a model, and try to inspire our allow us to hire our best fourth year stu- Representative,UTSC students to think for themselves about the dents to work as TAs for PHL 100Y, issues at hand. This task is easiest when the Introduction to Philosophy. The students class is relatively small, allowing professors UTM Philosophy Club in the class will benefit from having peers to lead the students in a joint philosophical as TAs, while the TAs will have the oppor- conversation. tunity for that special kind of Socratic Our top priority for the next insight that comes with teaching the sub- ject. Moreover, they will also participate few years was for “every class in a special research seminar that will to allow for dialogue among bring students up to date on the newest students” research on the topics covered in PHL 100. The UTM Philosophy Club Not all classes can be small, of course. We Our students in philosophy continue to teach approximately 14,000 students thrive academically. Among our graduat- The University of Toronto at (half-course enrollments) on the three ing specialists this past year, for example, Mississauga Philosophy Club, seen campuses, and sometimes a large lecture we had two Moss finalists, a Rhodes final- here, meets several times a year to course is not only necessary, but effective, discuss matters of abiding concern to ist, and a Commonwealth Scholar. especially in the early years of our pro- philosophically minded young Students are going on to graduate school at grams. For students’ thinking will be thinkers. Our meetings are loosely Princeton, Oxford, Harvard, and else- stronger and more creative when they take organized around some theme that where; to law school at Yale, New York into account what has been said on a sub- requires each participant to do a bit of University, as well of course as U of T and ject by the great , be they thinking in advance. We’ve had nights Osgoode. on which each of us brought in a piece historical or contemporary. A large lec- of music to play, a photograph to pass ture allows a professor to make a Many of us remember our university days, around, some art work, or a piece of philosophical position – its rationale, its however, primarily for what went on out- text. The discussion is always lively, strengths, its weaknesses – available to a side of the classroom – for the clubs, and usually turns out to connect with large number of students simultaneously. teams, lectures, debates, parties, and for course material, but in some novel Such lectures will be most effective when hanging out with friends. The philosophy way. For instance, our last meeting they are combined with small-group tuto- students on campus today continue to be revolved around the phenomenon of rials, where students have the chance to amazingly active in co-curricular activities. near-death experiences, and we con- talk through their ideas in a conversation On the facing page, you’ll find out a bit sidered whether there are experi- moderated by a graduate student. ences that have no adequate more about what our students are up to: expression in language. three philosophy clubs, two journals, a Accordingly, the Department decided that course union, and more. I’ve certainly Phil Clark, our top priority for the next few years was enjoyed getting to know them. They are Faculty Co-ordinator for “every class to allow for dialogue an impressive bunch! among students, either by being relatively

2 University of Toronto UNDERGRADUATE PHILOSOPHY ACTIVITIES

Trinity College’s Brett Philosophy Club nars, as well as increasingly pop- The Brett Philosophy Club is a long-standing tradition at Trinity ular reading groups. This year College, and this year’s group continued its legacy of organizing we also helped organize a career informal philosophical discussions and reading groups. Meeting night (see story on page 9).The once a month in one of Trinity’s beautiful common rooms with PCU works to maintain positive requisite refreshments, the group of philosophy enthusiasts from relations among the students, a variety of colleges, faculties, and programs discussed articles faculty, and all the other philos- ophy groups on campus. This which ranged from contemporary questions of philosophy of PCU Reading Group #2: mind (Dennet’s “Where am I?”) to ancient puzzles of political phi- year the PCU has hosted some of losophy (Plato’s Crito). Brett also collaborated with the The PCU Reading Group its most successful events ever ‘Confessions’(Augustine and Rousseau) and we hope to continue that International Relations Society and the Ethics, Society and Law met weekly over the summer.Pictured: Student Association to organize a lecture by Dr.Stuart Murray on positive momentum into next Darren Cross, Jordan Apostoli,Ashley year with the second annual the topic of suicide bombing. Next year Brett will continue its tra- Atkins (Confessions host and PCU dition of promoting philosophy and fellowship. World Philosophy Day celebra- Events Coordinator),Adam Golding,all tion. The PCU is generously Joanna Langille with Jelena Madunic striking Rodin’s The Thinker pose. Missing from the photo: Jason supported by the Department of Khule,Marco Paoli. Philosophy and the Arts and Mindful Science Student Union. Ellan Tsekhman Mindful is the University of Toronto’s new journal of ethics No¯esis for undergraduate students. No¯esis is the Undergraduate Philosophy The revival of Trinity College’s Journal of the University of Toronto. Its main Brett Philosophy Club made me function is to provide a forum for excellent aware of the thriving philo- work produced by U of T undergraduates at sophical community at this uni- Mindful Board of Editors: the University of Toronto, and to give stu- versity. Students from across dents an opportunity to acquire the skills the campuses are actively Erin Court, Joanna Langille, Shahreen associated with running an academic publica- engaged in philosophical dia- Reza, Jelena Madunic, and Jeremy Willard. Absent: Gabriel Rauterburg. tion.An undergraduate journal is doubly ben- logue, especially about ethics. eficial, as it provides opportunities for I decided to capture some of this intellectual energy in the form of professional development to both those who a publication. The journal will focus on issues in practical philoso- are published, and those who edit and pro- Jamie Smith phy,including applied and metaethics, political theory and philos- duce the journal. No¯esis would not be possible without the gen- ophy, international justice, and bioethics. The Philosophy erous financial support of the Philosophy Department.You can Department and the new Centre for Ethics at the University of pick up a copy of our 2005 issue at the Department Office at 215 Toronto helped Mindful become an actuality. Huron, 9th floor, or look at this and other issues online at Launching a new journal has presented many challenges, but www.chass.utoronto.ca/pcu/noesis. along with the frustration that comes with any serious venture is This year we have been more active than ever. Along with the the excitement of bringing together a group of very talented usual business of recruiting undergraduate editors, soliciting minds and building the foundations for a new – and hopefully suc- submissions, blind reviewing and selecting articles, preparing cessful – publication. I was most privileged to have an incredibly them for publication, and the final production of the journal, we gifted Board of Editors involved in the crew of Mindful. are engaged in other activities.These include hosting socials, Ethical debate is vital for our communities, both at home and talks, and fundraising through the sale of philosophically- abroad,and this debate deserves to have a recognized forum at this themed lapel pins featuring such slogans as “I think therefore I university. We will be launching our first issue in the fall of 2006. am,”and “You are reading this.”Our most significant activity this year has been to hold a series of colloquia, each featuring a cur- Shareen Reza rent or former member of Toronto's community.We are proud Editor-in-Chief,Mindful,U of T Journal of Ethics, to have presented talks by U of T professors Mark Kingwell and Brett Philosophy Club,Trinity College Paul Franks, as well as a postdoctoral fellow,Dr. Stuart Murray, and University of Guelph professor and U of T alumnus, John PCU – Philosophy Course Union Russon. Each speaker is asked to choose a topic with the sole condition that it be of interest to a diverse undergraduate audi- The Philosophy Course Union ence.We have been fortunate to hear talks on happiness and cul- (PCU), is an undergraduate stu- ture, Analytic philosophy and German idealism, bioethics and dent group at the University of Plato,and a phenomenology of music.These talks have raised the Toronto St. George campus that presence of No¯esis on campus and follow the optimistic spirit of works to organize social and aca- inter- and intradisciplinary thinking and dialogue in Toronto's demic events for philosophy philosophical community. undergraduates as well as the Very best regards – and look out for our new issue in June! PCU Executive: university community at large. To that end we have held lec- Jamie M.A.Smith, Gabriel Rauterberg, Linda Wu, tures, symposia, pub and movie Editor-In-Chief Ellan Tsekhman,Simon Kassissia nights, graduate school semi- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 9)

Department of Philosophy News 3 Undergrad Awards Student Paper Awards Winner Uof T Excellence Award Emilio Reyes Le Blanc, a 2006 philoso- in Social Sciences and phy specialist alumnus, won awards for two Humanities papers – the President’s Award, at the 11th Annual SUNY Oneonta Undergraduate Two of our undergraduates won U of T Philosophy Conference (April 2006), for Excellence Awards in the Humanities, “Dismantling Dretske: A Sellarsian Theory highly competitive scholarships allowing of Change Blindness” – and the Student them to undertake independent research Essay Prize, Bertrand Russell Society 33rd Chamberlain projects during this past summer. Colin Reyes Le Blanc Annual Meeting, University of Iowa, May Chamberlain, who graduated with a spe- 2006, for “Russell on Acquaintance and cialist degree this spring, has now gone on De Re Belief.” to doctoral work in philosophy at Harvard. He spent the summer working with Ronnie Emilio attended the Summer School in Logic and Formal de Sousa on issues relating to philosophy of Epistemology at Carnegie Mellon in June and July, and in mind and language. Ryan Sosna, who is August he was 1 of 15 undergrads picked to study at the in the final year of a specialist degree, Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy at Rutgers worked with Wayne Sumner, exploring the University. He presently plans to be a bike messenger in ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding Vancouver for a year before pursuing a PhD in philosophy. euthanasia and assisted death. Sosna

Cressy Award Moss Scholarship Finalists Joanna Langille won a Gordon Cressy and UTAA Scholars Student Leadership Award, which recognizes Two philosophy students were named final- students for their outstanding extra-curricu- ists for the 2006 John H. Moss Scholarship lar contributions to their college, faculty, and were designated UTAA (U of T Alumni school or department, or to the university as Assoc.) Scholars. Erin Court (Trinity a whole. She has served as both the vice- College, bioethics major) and Joanna president and president of the Global Langille (University College, joint philos- ). Langille Court Knowledge Foundation (see GKF on page 9 ophy and political science specialist) She says “using your skills to help others is important; it’s a received this honour for their outstanding academic and extra- morally good thing. I’m really interested in education and the curricular leadership. transformative power of ideas to assist others.” Notes from the St. George Undergraduate Department Deborah Black,St.George Niko Scharer,who took over as TA Coordinator this year,has made Undergraduate Coordinator a tremendous contribution to the success of our undergraduate program.Thanks are due to all the administrative staff at 215 As I write this, my term as Undergraduate Huron St. who help in the delivery of the program. Special men- Coordinator is drawing to a close. When I tion must be made of the Undergraduate Counsellor,Alisa Rim, began the double cohort had just arrived at the who brings a warm and caring spirit to all her dealings with stu- University of Toronto and the Philosophy dents and staff in the Department. I have been most fortunate to Department was formulating its response to have such a remarkable person to assist me in this office. Special the University’s Stepping Up plan. During this thanks are due to our Chair,Donald Ainslie, who has been unsur- time the Department has faced many exciting passed in his dedication to enriching the Undergraduate challenges, and while it has often been hectic, it has also been Philosophy experience on the St.George Campus. immensely rewarding. On July 1, 2006, I will turn over the position of Undergraduate I would like to extend my thanks to all the undergraduate students Coordinator to the capable hands of Professor Joseph Heath. whom we have the privilege of teaching at U of T,and also to all the I hope that his term in this office will be as fruitful and congenial as faculty, instructors, and Teaching Assistants who make it possible mine has been! for us to offer a rich philosophy curriculum to our students.

4 University of Toronto THE SCHOOL OF TORONTO In the fall of 2005, Aric Guité, a photography student at Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, approached the Department with an intriguing idea. He wanted to create a modern-dress photo-recreation of Raphael’s famous fresco, The School of Athens. You can see the results here.

Top row, left to right: Jacob Weinrib,Tom Hurka, Jessica Wilson,Jim Brown, Niko Scharer, Jennifer Nagel,Amy Mullin, Martin Pickavé, Peter King, Diana Raffman, Phil Clark, Gurpreet Rattan. On the stairs: Benj Hellie,Donald Ainslie,two photographer’s assistants (Robin Raworth and Meghan Janushewski). Front row: Deborah Black,Wayne Sumner,Jennifer Hawkins, Bob Gibbs,Anjan Chakravartty, Lana Kuhle, Ronnie de Sousa,Aric Guité (the photographer),Alasdair Urquhart, and Pablo Stafforini. UTM PHILOSOPHY NEWS UTSC PHILOSOPHY NEWS Amy Mullin Phil Kremer Chair, Department of Philosophy Philosophy Discipline Representative, University of Toronto at Mississauga University of Toronto at Scarborough UTM Philosophy is delighted to welcome three It's been a good year for Philosophy at UTSC. new faculty: Mohan Matthen, Byeong Yi, and We welcomed two new members, Benj Hellie, Jonathan Weisberg (see ‘New Faculty’ on in the Philosophy of Mind, and Jessica Wilson, page 9).We welcome Paul Franks back from in Metaphysics and the Philosophy of Science. Benj and Jessica sabbatical leave, and wish Diana Raffman a productive and immediately became a substantial presence, pressing ahead enjoyable sabbatical leave. We appreciate the work of our phi- with initiatives in both teaching and research.We also wel- losophy student advisory committee in assisting us with our comed back Lynda Lange, in , who was hiring of new faculty (which will continue in 2006-7).This away for a year. Our junior faculty have been making a name committee met with each job candidate for an assistant profes- for themselves in the wider UTSC Department of sor position in order to give us feedback about each candidate's Humanities:among junior faculty in the Humanities at UTSC, research and teaching.They also helped us impress those candi- all and only the philosophers won the Connaught New Staff dates with the calibre of our students! We always appreciate Matching Grants. In addition, Martin Lin won a SSHRC hearing from our alumni. Standard Research Grant, and Benj and Jessica have accepted News about some of our recent alumni is posted at invitations to the Centre for Consciousness at the Australian http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/2852.0.html and we National University. Our plans for next year include increas- would be delighted to update this page with more ing our offerings in value theory, and adding tutorials to our information. most popular B-level course, Biomedical Ethics. If these tuto- rials are a success, we hope to add tutorials to more B-level courses in coming years.

Department of Philosophy News 5 Notes from the Graduate Department James Robert Brown, Graduate Coordinator This fall we took in a slightly larger number of Our graduating doctoral students have secured jobs this year PhD students than in the recent past, nine- at such universities as the University of Illinois, Urbana- teen in all, and seven MA students. Next year Champaign; Sarah Lawrence College, Sungkyunkwan we will be taking in fewer PhDs and a larger University (S. Korea), Marymount University, and Bradley number of MAs, approximately a dozen of University. In addition, several students received prestigious each. On the scholarship front, once again we have done post-doctoral fellowships through such institutions as the very well in the various competitions; the large number of European University Institute, SSHRC, and the National external awards reflects the brilliance of our students. Institutes of Health. In the past year we have had fourteen completed PhDs, The big change in the Graduate Office is a new Graduate another very significant year. (In about six years we will run Coordinator, who will count himself lucky to know all the out of space for storing dissertations.) rules by the time he departs. Margaret Opoku-Pare is now in her second year and catches most of the mistakes made by the new kid. IN MEMORIAM

Lynd Wilks Forguson died of cancer on 1975. His principal interest in later years was the plight 13 December 2005 at his retirement home of the Palestinian people and he did write and speak wide- in North Vancouver. Lynd was born in ly and passionately on that topic. He retired in 2002. Paducah, Kentucky in 1938 and received all of his education in the United States. Joseph Owens died of old age on 30 After earning a doctorate at Northwestern October 2005 in Toronto. Joe was born in University, he was hired by the University 1908 at Saint John, New Brunswick, and of Buffalo and served there for three years. In 1968 he his first degree was earned at St. Mary’s joined this department and taught until his retirement in College, Brockville, Ontario.After gradu- 2004. He undertook several administrative positions in ating he studied at seminaries at Montreal University College, which he joined in 1971 as registrar. and Woodstock, Ontario. He was Later he served for three years as vice-principal and for ordained a priest in the Congregation of the Most Holy seven years as principal of the college. His philosophical Redeemer, commonly called the Redemptorists, in 1933. interests and work, which were honed by the two years he After serving as parish priest for a number of years, he spent at Oxford before joining the University of Toronto, enrolled as a graduate student in the Pontifical Institute of lay in analytical philosophy. The very title of his book, Mediaeval Studies. He was awarded its licentiate in 1946 Common Sense (1989), brings to mind one of his heroes, and its doctorate summa cum laude in 1951, one of only G.E. Moore. Lynd also had strong interdisciplinary inter- eleven successful candidates for that degree. His first ests which led him to establish programs in cognitive book, The Doctrine of Being in the Aristotelian science and artificial intelligence at University College. Metaphysics:A Study in the Greek Background of Mediaeval And it was mostly due to his efforts that an acclaimed art Thought (1951), a reworking of his doctoral thesis, gallery was instituted in the college. brought him to the favourable notice of both classical and medieval scholars. Gilson contributed a preface in which James Allen Graff died of cancer on 23 he described Owens as an exemplar of the sort of student October 2005 in Toronto. Jim was born in he and his colleagues had hoped to attract when they 1937 in East Orange, New Jersey, and founded the Institute. He praised Owens both as an histo- earned a doctorate at Brown University. rian and a . The book, which was revised John Irving, then head of the Department twice, has never been out of print. Joe joined the faculty of Ethics at Victoria College, hired him as of the Institute, and through it, the Graduate Department a lecturer in 1963. When Francis of Philosophy in 1954, and quickly became one of Sparshott stepped down as chairman of that department Toronto’s star attractions. He retired in 1973 but contin- in 1970, Jim was appointed to succeed him. He held the ued to offer graduate courses for the next twenty years. post until the Department of Ethics was abolished and its Over the years he published another ten books on topics members absorbed into the Department of Philosophy in in Aristotle and medieval philosophy.

6 University of Toronto Kudos, Awards & Honours

Tom Hurka, the Stuart Murray received Sorin Bangu received Chancellor Henry N. R. a SAC/APUS the Richard Hadden Jackman Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award for best paper by a Chair in Philosophical Award for teaching excel- graduate student at the Studies, has been awarded lence in the category of Canadian Society for a Guggenheim Fellowship, Arts and Science from the History and Philosophy of one of the most prestigious University of Toronto Students’ Science annual meeting in May 2006 academic honours in the Americas. He Administrative Council and the for his “An Old Problem in a New will use his fellowship to work on a Association of Part-time Setting: Maddy’s Mathematical project examining British moral philos- Undergraduate Students for his 3rd Naturalism and Wigner’s Puzzle about ophy from Sidgwick to Ross. year course Ethics and Medical Applicability.” In addition Sorin has Marleen Rozemond Research. Stuart was a SSHRC post- won a University of Toronto School of is the recipient of the doctoral fellow in the department in Graduate Studies Post-doctoral Chancellor Jackman 2004-2006. He will continue being a fellowship for 2006-2007. Research Fellowship in Senior McLuhan Fellow at the the Humanities for the McLuhan Program in Culture and Pablo Stafforini, 2006-2007 academic year. Technology for one more year, and he an MA student, won the has obtained a tenure-track position Department of Philosophy University Professor L. at Ryerson. Graduate Fellowship for Wayne Sumner has been 2005-2006. awarded the 2006 C.B. PhD student Lauren Macpherson Prize by the Bialystok received the PhD student Patrick Canadian Political Science 2005-2006 Teaching Turmel was awarded the Association, for his book Assistants’ Excellence 2006 Nathalie Des Rosiers Photo by Shelagh Howard Photography Howard Shelagh Photo by The Hateful and the Obscene: Studies in Award, given out by the Audacity of Imagination the Limits of Free Expression (U of T Teaching Assistants’ Award by the Law Press, 2004). Training Program. Commission of Canada This spring Catherine Manoukian, and the Canadian Federation of the Lambert Zuidervaart, Humanities and Social Sciences for his an Associate Member in a PhD student in our philosophy paper “Are Cities Illiberal? Pluralism the Graduate Faculty of and Constraints in Urban Centres.” the Department of program, had a CD Philosophy at the U of T released: Patrick presented the paper at the and Professor of Khachaturian and Canadian Law and Society Association Philosophy at the Institute Shostakovich: Violin meeting during the CFHSS Congress for Christian Studies, won the inaugural Concertos.The held at York University in May 2006. Symposium book award for his Artistic recording was made last summer with PhD studentTimothy Truth: Aesthetics, Discourse, and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Stock is the winner of the Imaginative Disclosure (Cambridge UP, This is Catherine’s fourth CD. Martha Lile Love Teaching 2004). The award is sponsored by the MA student Jacob Award for Graduate Canadian Society for Continental Weinrib won the Martha Instructors in Philosophy Philosophy; Lambert was the keynote Lile Love Essay contest for for his work in PHL388F, speaker for the Society at their May his essay “The Judicial Literature and Philosophy (St. George meeting at York University. This book Campus). The committee (Professors has also been selected as an Outstanding Significance of Kant’s ‘Supposed Right to Lie’.” Mark Kingwell and Gopal Sreenivasan) Academic Title for 2005 by Choice, the was impressed by his original course journal of the American Library Kirstin Borgerson, design, his thoughtful engagement with Association. a PhD student, received and supportive response to students, Calvin Normore, a U of T philosophy 3 awards: the Dr. Jay both in lectures and in written com- graduate (PhD, 1976) and former facul- Alan Smith / Ontario ment on their work, as well as the ty member, has been elected Vice Graduate Scholarship in enthusiastic student evaluations. the Dept. of Philosophy; President of the American Philosophical PhD student Owen Ware Association – Pacific Division, and a CIHR Strategic Training Doctoral Fellowship in Health Care,Technology won the Thomas A will automatically become President Goudge Memorial next year. and Place; and a Research Associateship with the Comparative Program on Fellowship in Philosophy Health and Society. for 2005-2006.

Department of Philosophy News 7 RESEARCH NOTES A selection of some of the research currently being undertaken by philosophy faculty. Arthur Ripstein: JessicaWilson: I am writing a book about Kant’s legal and political philosophy.Instead My current research of treating political philosophy as an application of a more general moral focuses on the ontol- philosophy, Kant develops a set of distinctive moral principles govern- ogy and metaphysics ing the legitimate use of force.He frames these questions in terms of the of broadly scientific means that may be used by citizens or the states that act on their behalf, entities. I am particu- rather than the ends that they pursue. larly interested in Kant’s account is developed through his treatment of issues in the pri- understanding the vate law of property,contract, and what he calls status. His treatment of each of these relationships between entities in the forms of private interaction, and the coordinate but contrasting nature of public law, special sciences (such as chemistry, has profound implications for all of the central issues of political philosophy.He offers biology,and psychology) and those in accounts of the rule of law and its relation to democracy, the ability of institutions to the more fundamental sciences (notably, physics). Philosophers fre- create distinctive obligations, the relation between freedom and equality, the nature quently argue over the truth of physi- and significance of consent, and the normative basis of punishment. He also offers a calism, the thesis that all scientific powerful account of the relation between private property and distributive justice,and entities are “nothing over and above” the normative significance of national boundaries. physical entities. My aim is not to take Kant wrote two centuries ago,but the issues that concerned him remain vitally impor- sides in this debate (in my view, the tant today. If anything,they have acquired a new urgency as Western Democracies have status of physicalism is an open empir- confronted terrorism, and Kantian vocabulary has occupied a central place on the ical question) but rather to clarify the attempts by courts in Canada, Germany, and other countries to delimit the ways that debate by providing working accounts terrorism can be fought within the limits of law. of the relations of reducibility and emergence that might be at issue;sim- Marleen Rozemond: ilarly for the notion of “physical” that plays a role in the physicalist thesis. A My research focuses on the mind-body problem in the 17th- and 18th- related area of interest concerns the centuries, and I investigate how philosophers in this period argued for status, as necessary or contingent, of the idea that the soul or mind is immaterial and can exist even after the the laws of nature: are the laws gov- body dies. The issue bears on two fundamental questions:the possibili- erning scientific entities necessary or ty of an immortal soul, and the question whether science can explain essential to these entities, or could an everything about human mental activity. So far my work has mostly electron (for example) behave just as a been about Descartes, culminating in my book Descartes’s Dualism proton actually does? ( Press, 1998). Recently I have turned to a different approach to these issues that dates back to the third century philosopher Plotinus and that was These and related questions bear adopted by various philosophers during the 17th- and 18th- centuries. This approach upon traditional debates in philoso- argues that something about human mental activity requires that the human mind is an phy of science, metaphysics, and phi- absolutely simple entity. But, this argument goes, bodies are always composite, and so losophy of mind---including the status the mind cannot be material. of Democritan atomism and its mate- rialist descendents, the correct solu- In addition, I teach courses on feminism and have developed a strong interest in ques- tion to Descartes’ mind-body tions about multiculturalism and women’s rights. In recent years various feminist problem, and whether Hume was scholars have expressed the following concern: it is important to respect the values of right that causation is mere correla- different cultures, but sometimes this respect seems to be in tension with recent tion. I hope to shed new light on these progress on women’s rights, progress that goes against various cultural traditions as is questions and debates by making use illustrated by,for example, debates about headscarves, female genital cutting, and the of scientific notions (e.g., that of a recent debate in Ontario over the use of sharia law in arbitration. So how should we fundamental interaction, and that of a reconcile our respect for different cultures and religions with concern for the rights of “degree of freedom”) that are under- women? exploited in philosophical contexts. PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS Amy Mullin, chair Bob Gibbs has been appointed Director of U of T’s Humanities of Philosophy at Centre. The Centre is in the midst of a major restructuring, and UTM, and Paul it will be Bob’s job to bring together faculty and students from Franks have been departments and interdisciplinary units from all three campuses promoted to Full to enhance the profile and standing of the humanities. To add to Professor. his workload, Bob will also be Acting Director of the Jewish Studies Program from September – December, 2006.

8 University of Toronto UNDERGRADUATE PHILOSOPHY ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3) Career Night – drinks and hors d’oeuvres, with some World Philosophy Day. Professor David Wanted: Philosopher? taking advantage of generous offers to Lyons of Boston University’s law school keep in contact for follow-up questions gave a lecture on the ethical status of In today’s bottom-line oriented culture and/or meetings.All in all the night was reparations for slavery, followed by a it takes a brave soul to pursue a classic a great success – alumni were able to reception which celebrated the release liberal arts education. In a perfect world reconnect with the Department and the of No¯esis’ 2005-2006 edition. The GKF studying the works of Plato, Aristotle University, and undergrads were reas- will continue to promote philosophy and Kant would be recognized as inher- sured that becoming a “lover of wisdom” and a love of learning on UofT’s campus ently valuable, but all too often philoso- can lead to interesting and rewarding by working with the Philosophy phy students are beleaguered by one careers Department next year in both the question posed by well-meaning family Alisa Rim, Philosophy Café series and a celebration and friends: “What can you do with a of World Philosophy Day (November 17 degree in philosophy?” On February 9th, Undergraduate Counsellor, St.George Campus – see ‘Upcoming Events’ on page 11 2006 the Department and the PCU, with for details). assistance from the Advancement Office The Department extends its thanks to Beppi at the Faculty of Arts and Science, spon- Crosariol (BA, 1983; MA 1985), Susan J. Joanna Langille sored a Career Night to help undergrad- Han (BA, 1983; LLB, 1986), Catharine uates answer this question; judging by Heddle (BA, 1993), Michael Herman (MBA the heavy turnout, our upper-year stu- 1992; MA, 2006), Deepak Ramachandran NEW FACULTY dents were eager to learn how to defend (BA, 1991), and Ellen Roseman (MA 1969) Mohan Matthen their choice. for giving of their time and sharing their joins us as a Full It was standing-room only in Hart experiences with our undergrads. Professor and a House’s beautiful Music Room as U of T Canada Research Philosophy alumni recounted their Global Knowledge Foundation Chair in undergraduate years pondering the The Global Knowledge Foundation Philosophy, meaning of life and also wondering (GKF) is a University of Toronto stu- Perception and Communication at where a degree in philosophy would take dent group that was created in 1997 by a UTM. He is also an Affiliate with them. As it turns out, a philosophy group of Trinity College students who the Institute for the History and degree can lead to varied and highly wanted to hear Cambridge professor lucrative careers. Our panelists included Philosophy of Science and and physicist Stephen Hawking give a Technology on the St.George cam- columnists for The Globe and Mail and public address. Professor Hawking gave The Toronto Star, a VP of a large the group’s inaugural address, establish- pus. His specialties are philosophy investment firm, a communications ing a GKF tradition of promoting inter- of psychology,philosophy of biolo- professional, a CEO, and an disciplinary learning and fostering a gy,and ancient philosophy. He has independent consultant. love of knowledge. The University taught previously at UBC, where Though Professor Lecture Series, featuring top- he was Chair of the Philosophy their back- ranked UofT profs lecturing on their Department, and at the University grounds current research interests, was estab- of Alberta. were lished in 2002, and continues to further Jonathan the goals of the GKF. This past year, the diverse, Weisberg joins us alumni group established another series. With emphatical- the generous support of the Faculty of as an assistant pro- Ellan Tsekhman and ly endorsed Arts and Science, Hart House, the fessor at UTM. His Gabe Rauterberg helped their educa- Department of Philosophy and the areas of specializa- organize Career Night. tion,proud- Elderwood Foundation, we created the tion are formal ly stating Philosophy Café discussion series, in epistemology and decision theory. that studying philosophy helped develop which philosophy professors lead stu- He received his PhD from Rutgers. first-rate thinking skills and a healthy dents from all disciplines and back- Byeong-Uk Yi grounds in discussions on topics of skepticism which allows them to look at joins us as an associ- problems from various perspectives. In general philosophical interest. The addition to extolling the virtues of a series was a great success, featuring ate professor,also at philosophical education, panelists gave Professors Peter King,Wayne Sumner, UTM. His special- practical advice on skills, such as inter- Tom Hurka, and Gopal Sreenivasan ties are logic and viewing and networking, as they leading discussions on topics ranging the philosophy of described their own career paths. from artificial intelligence to global dis- language. His previous position Students then had a valuable opportunity tributive justice. The GKF and the was at the University of to chat informally with alumni over Philosophy Department also collaborat- Minnesota. ed to host a celebration of UNESCO’s

Department of Philosophy News 9 News New Centre for Ethics Update on the Aristotle High School Philosophy Essay Contest Moves into Own Home This past year was the first year of The Aristotle, a national high school philosophy essay contest, The University’s Centre for co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, Ethics, which was launched last Woodsworth College, the Faculty of Arts and September with an impressive list Science, the University of Toronto at Miss- of speakers for its 2005-06 series, issauga, University of Toronto Schools, and the moved into its new home this Ontario Philosophy Teachers Association. The summer in the Larkin Building at students had the chance to write an essay on one Trinity College, where it is wel- of several set topics that were available online. coming its first class of faculty and Aristotle Contest Winners: Aaron Kates-Rose, graduate fellows this fall. Its inau- The winners (pictured at right) were given Peter Wills, Rakael Deverell, Carolyn Poutiainen, and gural conference, on the topic “Is their prizes at the annual Ontario Philosophy UTS philosophy teacher and Aristotle coordinator There Progress in Ethics?” will be Teachers Association conference in May. Andrew Wilson. held October 13-14. Information on this year’s seminar series will We are hoping The Aristotle will help increase the amount and quality of philosophy teaching in our be posted on the Centre’s website, high schools, and we look forward to the contest again next year. If you know any high school stu- www.ethics.utoronto.ca. dents or teachers interested in philosophy, please direct them to the website (www.aristotle.utoronto.ca). Submissions must be postmarked by January 25. 2006 Philosophy Book Launch The department’s 19th Annual Book Launch, held on March 9th, 2006 featured: David Dyzenhaus and Mayo Moran, editors. David Novak. The Jewish Social Contract: An Essay Calling Power to Account: Law Reparations and the Chinese in Political Theology. Princeton University Press, 2005. Canadian Head Tax Case. University of Toronto Press, 2005. ~ David Novak. Talking with Christians: Musings of a Paul W. Franks. All or Nothing: Systematicity, Jewish Theologian. Eerdmans, 2005. Transcendental Arguments, and Skepticism in German Idealism. ~ Harvard University Press, 2005. Vincent Shen. The Idea of University and the Spirit of Strangification.Wunan, 2004. Paul W. Franks (with Dieter Schönecker, associate editors) (Karl P.Ameriks, Jurge Vincent Shen. Generosity to the Other: Chinese Culture, Stolzenberg, editors). German Idealism & Contemporary Christianity and Strangification. Hong Kong Chinese Analytic Philosophy: International Yearbook of German Idealism, University Press, 2004. Volume 3.Walter de Gruyter, 2005. Vincent Shen, editor. Introduction to Philosophy (new ~ edition in simplified Chinese). Guizhou, 2004. Lloyd Gerson. Aristotle and Other Platonists. Cornell University Press, 2005. Vincent Shen and Willard Oxtoby, editors. Wisdom in China and the West [in Memory of Julia Ching Lloyd Gerson (with John Dillon, translators & (1934-2001)]. Council for Research in Values and editors). Neoplatonic Philosophy. Introductory Readings. Philosophy, 2004. Hackett, 2004. ~ ~ Kwong-Loi Shun and David B.Wong, editors. Brad Inwood (with Dorothea Frede, editors). Confucian Ethics. A Comparative Study of Self,Autonomy, Language and Learning. Cambridge University Press, 2005. and Community. Cambridge University Press, 2004. Brad Inwood. Reading Seneca. Clarendon Press, 2005. ~ ~ John Slater. Minerva's Aviary: Philosophy at Toronto Mark Kingwell. Nothing for Granted: War, Philosophy, 1843-2003. University of Toronto Press, 2005. and Why the Right Was Mostly Wrong. Penguin, 2005. ~ ~ Jennifer Whiting (with Joyce Jenkins, and Amy Mullin. Reconceiving Pregnancy and Childcare: Christopher Williams, editors). Persons and Ethics, Experience and Reproductive Labor. Cambridge Passions. Essays in Honor of Annette Baier. University University Press, 2005. of Notre Dame Press, 2005. Alumni are invited to attend the 2007 Philosophy Book Launch which will be held on Thursday, March 1, 4-6 pm, in the 10th floor lounge of 215 Huron Street.

10 University of Toronto Upcoming Events Workshop on Multiculturalism Chancellor Jackman Program Colloquium Schedule and Human Rights for the Arts April 27,2007 Fri – Sat,May 4-5,2007 Thursday,October 12,2006 The theme of this one-day workshop The Future of Beauty Professor Gary Watson (UC- will be the tension between two liberal This conference at the Victoria campus Riverside),Standing in Judgment. values: commitment to a strong set of will feature Arthur Danto - Columbia, universal human rights and respect for Dave Hickey - U Nevada, Alexander Thursday,November 16,2006 the practices of local cultural minori- Nehamas - Princeton, Elaine Scarry - Professor Hannah Ginsborg (UC- ties. This tension manifests itself in situ- Harvard, and organizer, Sonia Sedivy - Berkeley), Primitive Normativity and ations in which these cultural practices UofT. Skepticism about Rules. appear to be inconsistent with basic human rights, frequently (though not History of Philosophy Conference Thursday,March 29,2007 necessarily) the rights of women. Wed –Fri,May 16-18,2007 Professor Dan Zahavi (Copenhagen), Specific instances include (but are not Unity of Consciousness and the Understanding Self and Others: limited to) the following:female genital Nature and Boundaries of Self from Similarities and Differences. cutting, honour killings, abortion for Plato to Kant. the purpose of sex selection, religious This conference will examine how vari- Friday,May 18,2007 arbitration invoking sharia,the wearing ous historical figures from Plato to Kant Professor Christine Korsgaard of conspicuous religious symbols in have viewed the relation between unity (Harvard),title TBA. public institutions,the legal recognition of consciousness and the nature and of polygamous marriages,and the toler- boundaries of the self or soul. More Each colloquium will take place at ance of same-sex relationships. specifically we will focus on how vari- 3:15 pm and will be followed by a The scheduled speakers are Martha ous philosophers have treated two fur- reception.Call the Department at Bailey (Law, Queen’s University),Will ther questions: First, must the subject 416-978-3311 or check our website, Kymlicka (Philosophy, Queen’s of consciousness be simple? And sec- www.philosophy.utoronto.ca University), Stephen Macedo (Politics, ond, can the boundaries and the nature for locations. Princeton University),Avishai Margalit of the self be contingent on various (Philosophy, Hebrew University), forms of mental or psychological World Philosophy Day Events Baukje Prins (Philosophy,University of appropriation? Groningen), and Marleen Rozemond Friday,November 17,2006 Grad Conference Professor Tommie Shelby (Harvard ). (Philosophy,University of Toronto). For more information on the work- Fri–Sun,May 18-20,2007 The University of Toronto will be cele- The keynote speaker at next year’s brating UNESCO’s World Philosophy shop, and to be placed on the distribu- tion list for the papers, please contact Graduate Philosophy Conference will Day with this talk at 3:15, to be fol- be Christine Korsgaard (Harvard). lowed by a reception celebrating our Prof. Wayne Sumner (sumner@ senior undergraduate students. chass.utoronto.ca). The papers will not For up-to-minute details on be presented at the workshop, but will Year of Language Lecture be circulated ahead of time. events, please see our website, Friday,December 1,2006 www.philosophy.utoronto.ca Professor Kit Fine (NYU), Reference, Relation and Meaning. The Faculty of Arts and Science has des- University of Toronto Colloquium in Mediæval Philosophy ignated the 2006-7 school year to be the Friday-Saturday, September 22-23, 2006 Year of Language – a celebration of the many ways language is taught and inves- Hester Gelber (Stanford), The Fate of Providence. Commentator: Neil tigated at U of T. The Philosophy Lewis (Georgetown), Chair: Stephen Dumont (Notre Dame) Department is marking this occasion Peter Adamson (King’s College London), The Baghdad Peripatetics on with a special lecture on the philosophy Knowledge of Universals. Commentator: Richard C.Taylor (Marquette), Chair: of language. The 3:15 lecture will be Robert Wisnovsky (McGill) followed by a reception. The location for this event will be posted on the Gareth Matthews (U Mass, Amherst), On the Very Idea of Infused Virtues. departmental website when available. Commentator: Eleonore Stump (St. Louis U), Chair: Jorge Gracia (SUNY Buffalo) Simon Lectures Tuesday - Thursday, March 6-8,2007 All sessions are free and open to the public, but if you plan to attend, please Professor Anil Gupta of the let us know. Email us at [email protected] will deliver the Jerome S.Simon Memorial Lectures on For further information please check: the theme of “Empirical Knowledge.” http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpamp/pages/utcmp.html

Department of Philosophy News 11 Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto Please support the Department of Philosophy with a gift to the Annual Fund. Name: ______Address: ______City: ______Province: ______Postal Code: ______Tel: ______Fax: ______E-mail: ______❏ Are you a grad? If so, what year: ______❏ I would prefer that my name not be included in listings of donors YES, I would like to support: ❏ The Philosophy Department Trust Fund (Project 0560001565) The Chair’s discretionary fund is directed to student financial support, visiting lecturers, conferences and other programming ❏ The Graduate Philosophy of Law Fund (Project 0560009427) The department is hoping to establish an Ontario Graduate Scholarship by raising $100,000. Upon securing this goal, all donations made to this fund will be matched on a 2:1 basis creating a $150,000 annual scholarship. ❏ Other ______Payment Options: please select one Option #1 ❏ Cheque enclosed (payable to University of Toronto) in the amount of $ ______Option #2 ❏ Credit Card payment in the amount of $ ______❏ VISA ❏ MasterCard ❏ AMEX Card #: ______/______/______/______Exp: ______/______

______Name on card Signature Please charge Monthly/Quarterly/Semi-Annually/Annually (please circle one) Installment(s) of $ ______for a total of $ ______Beginning in ______(month), 20 ____ Ending in ______(month), 20____ Solicitation code: 0570034513 • Charitable reg. BN 108162330-RR0001 ** A receipt for income tax purposes will be issued for all donations. Please return this form and your donation to: Annual Fund Office, 21 King’s College Circle, University of Toronto,Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3J3. If you have any questions about making a donation, please contact Christie Darville, Senior Development Officer, Faculty of Arts and Science at (416) 946-5192. Questions? Please contact Suzanne Puckering, Department of Philosophy (416) 978-3315. Visit our web site at: www.giving.utoronto.ca. Thank-you for your support! Department of Philosophy Philosophy News is the Department’s Newsletter for University of Toronto Alumni and Friends of Philosophy. 215 Huron Street Items for inclusion should be sent by fax to 416-978-8703 or Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A2 by e-mail to [email protected]. The University of Toronto respects your privacy.We do not rent,trade or sell our mailing lists. If you do not wish to receive future newsletters from the Department of Philosophy,please contact us at 416-978-2139 or [email protected]. 12 University of Toronto