Voicing Ideas

A Conference highlighting the work of the Philosophy Majors of California State University, Fresno

Session I

Date: Friday April 1, 2011
Time: 2:00 – 5:00pm
Place: Kremen Education Building, Room 170

2:00 PM: Patricia G. De Guzman
“Moral Relativism Defined and Defended”

2:30 PM: Nicolas Muñoz
“Harman’s Failed Defense of Moral Relativism”

3:00 PM Break

Session II

3:15 PM: Patricia Webber
“And Then it Was Now: An Investigation into the Metaphysics of A-Series Time”

3:45 PM: Joshua Stein
“Grasping at Other Minds: Optimism and Obstacles in the Search for Consciousness Outside Ourselves”

4:15 PM: Sarah Crawford
“Islamic Feminist Discourse and the Effects of the Eastern/Western Cultural Dialectic”

4:45 PM Dessert

For more information contact: Dr. Mariana Anagnostopoulos at marianaa@csufresno.edu or the Philosophy Department at 559 278-2621.

“Regarding the Moral Community”

Philosophy Department Colloquium “Regarding the Moral Community”

Alexa Forrester Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

Date: Monday, March 21,2011
Time: 2:00-3:30pm
Place: Fresno State
Professional & Human Services Bldg. (PHS) room 154

For more information contact Dr. Terry Winant, 559 278-2621

“Neuroscience and the problem of other animal minds: Why it may not matter so much for bioethics”

Philosophy Department Colloquium

“Neuroscience and the problem of other animal minds: Why it may not matter so much for bioethics”

Andrew Fenton, Department of Novel Tech Ethics, Dalhousie University

Date: Thursday, March 17,2011
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Place: California State University, Fresno
Speech Arts Bldg. room 154

A recent argument in the neuroethics literature has suggested that (i) the discovery of brain-mental-state identities could settle epistemological uncertainties about animal minds and (ii) dismantle the deadlock over their moral status. I will argue that (i) does not so much help us resolve the problem of other animal minds as mark its resolution. (ii) is grounded in a naive view of how our views of animals as subjects impact our moral relations with them. Focusing on animal research, I will argue that what is required is a sea change in the perceived grounds for human moral obligations to nonhumans.

For more information contact Dr. Terry Winant, 559 278-2621

Philosophy Department Centennial Celebration Distinguished Alumni Panel

Philosophy Department Centennial Celebration Distinguished Alumni Panel

Date: Friday October 15, 2010 Time: 2-3:30 PM Place: Henry Madden Library Auditorium Room 2206 (South Wing)

• What is philosophy good for today?
• How have philosophy and the university changed?
• What is the history of the philosophy department at Fresno State?

A panel of alumni and emeritus faculty discuss these topics as part of the College of Arts and Humanities Centennial Celebration.

• William Feightner, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, EFILM (BA Philosophy 1971)
• Ben Starr, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Modesto Junior College (BA Philosophy 1966)
• Wally Upton, Partner, Kimble, MacMichael and Upton Law Firm (BA Philosophy 1962)
• Dr. Jack Pitt, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Fresno State
• Dr. James Slinger, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Fresno State
• Dr. James Smith, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Fresno State

To be followed by a reception in the Dean’s Courtyard (Music Building) at 4 PM

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact: Andrew Fiala, Chair, Department of Philosophy
afiala@csufresno.edu