A week from today we’ll have another “Philosophy on Tap” discussion at 8 p.m. at the Bull’s Head Grill (west of the football stadium, in the “Blue Square” complex). This time we’ll discuss chapter 1 from Jean-Luc Marion’s God Without Being, and Millie Tullis will lead discussion. Again, feel free to attend even if you don’t get the chance to read the selection!
SUU undergraduate philosophy conference
2016 Southern Utah University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference
Call for Papers
Please address any questions to Dr. Kristopher Phillips (kristopherphillips@suu.edu)
The Southern Utah University Philosophy Program is pleased to announce our 2016 Undergraduate Philosophy Conference!
The conference will be held on Saturday, February 6th.
Dr. Brian Collins (California Lutheran) will provide the keynote address (title TBA). We invite high quality papers from undergraduate students in all areas of analytic philosophy (broadly construed). Papers should be between 2000-3000 words, should include an abstract of about 200 words, and should be prepared for blind review (please include full contact and affiliation information in your submission email only).
Please submit your papers as a word or .pdf file to
SUUPhilosophy@gmail.com by December 20th 2015.
Neuroscience and mental illness
We know how the heart works, and what to do when something goes wrong. Why can’t we do the same thing with the brain when mental illness strikes? Good article here, which is a more applied version of the mind-body problem:
Even so, suppose that we knew at each instant what each neuron was doing – what chemical it was releasing and where. Suppose further that we could relate this to something the brain was doing at that moment (say, making you hungry, or seeing someone you knew) – a circumstance way beyond contemporary neuroscience. Would we really ‘understand’ what we were observing? Would we ‘know’ why this pattern represented a thought, a perception, a motivational or emotional state? Could we then predict what a different state of mind (say, thirst, or recognising a banknote) might require? There is no theory of neural function that would allow us to do this, beyond a vague generalisation that the particular activity of a neuronal assembly or network was responsible (and even this might vary in different parts of the brain). We don’t actually know what to look for.
Scholarship opportunities
For more information about the following, please visit the CHASS Dean’s office (Main 340):
The Mountain West Center for Regional Studies facilitates the awarding of two scholarships for Spring Semester, 2016.
The Garth and Marie Jones Scholarship is for a USU junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student with high academic achievement and community service majoring in Humanities or Social Sciences, including Economics. One scholarship will be awarded for $2,500 towards Spring Semester 2016. As per endowment specifications, applicants from the rural parts of Utah, southeastern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming will be given preference in the selection process, but residency in these areas is not a requirement of the scholarship.
The Reed and Cleone Frischknecht Scholarship is for a USU senior undergraduate student or graduate student with high academic achievement, community service and an interest in a career in public service majoring in Humanities or Social Sciences, including Economics. One scholarship will be awarded for $600 towards Spring Semester 2016. As per the endowment specifications, residents from the state of Utah will be given preference in the selection process, but residency is not a requirement of the scholarship.
Upcoming Lecture: “Faith-based Diplomacy as a counter to Violent Extremism”
Of possible interest:
Former Nuclear Sub Commander to Share How Faith-Based Diplomacy Counteracts Religious Extremism in World “Hot Spots”
Dr. Douglas Johnston, founder and president of the Washington D.C.-based Center for Religion and Diplomacy will speak on Tuesday, October 13th at the USU Taggart Student Center Auditorium about how his organization helped end a 21 year old civil war as well as how they brokered the release of 14 Taliban-held hostages. As they have worked to prevent violence and diffuse religious conflict in some of the most dangerous regions of the world, Johnston and his team use diplomatic “back-channels” and “faith-based diplomacy” to effect positive change where traditional diplomatic missions have failed. Johnston’s address is entitled “Faith-based Diplomacy as a Counter to Violent Extremism.” It begins at 4:30 pm.
USUPhilosophy 