Past Philosophy News & Events
Fall 2008-Spring 2009
Dr. Jeff Lockwood was a guest speaker for "The Entomological Society of Washington" at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., where he gave two talks; one being "Green Imps of Satan: The Story of the Rocky Mountain Locust" and the second being on Entomological Warfare, titled: "Six-Legged Soldiers: Insects as Weapons of War, Terror and Torture." Abstract for the "Green Imps of Satan..." lecture:
If it is difficult to imagine three trillion insects passing overhead in 1875, it is even more challenging to grasp that less than 30 years after the "perfect swarm" passed over the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountain locust disappeared. What might we learn about conversation, science, and ourselves from the life and death of such a remarkable creature?
Dr. Marc Moffett presented the paper, "Purposive Knowledge," at the 37th annual meeting for the Society for Exact Philosophy in Edmonton, Alberta. Abstract:
I will begin with a question (hereafter, the Reference Problem): Why is knowledge more of a "reference magnet" than mere justified, true belief (Merrill 1980; Lewis 1983, 1984)? Presumably there is something about knowledge which accounts for the fact that we have latched onto it and not one of the myriad other epistemic relations in the vicinity. Arguably, the best way of approaching this problem is to think broadly about what sort of "work" the concept of knowledge is supposed to be doing in our overall conceptual scheme; that is, any analysis of the concept should illuminate why the concept is apt for that sort of work.
Dr. Jeff Lockwood creeps in with an article in the New York Times on 4/18/09 titled "The Scary Caterpillar." in response to the CIA's contemplated use of these insects.
Dr. Ed Sherline presents with Dr. Don Roth and Dr. Carol Frost, "Ethical Decision Making & Responsible Conduct of Research" on Wed., March 11, 2009 from 1:00-4:00 pm in the Wyoming Union, West Ballroom.
Dr. Carlos Mellizo's recent works include:
A third, revised edition of Carlos Mellizo’s Spanish translation of
Mill’s essay The Utility of Religion (La utilidad de la
Religión, ISBN: 978-84-206-4966-5) has just been published
in Madrid, Spain, by Alianza Editorial. Mellizo is the author of the
new prologue.
Hobbes’ Leviathan (ISBN: 978-84-206-8280-8) also translated, annotated and introduced by Mellizo, has now reached its 11th edition. Mellizo’s translation has become the standard Spanish version of Hobbes’ book for college students of Philosophy and Political Science in Spain and Latin America.
Dr. Marc Moffett has been busy publishing materials which include; "Against a Posteriori Functionalsim" in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy, co-authored "The Folk on Knowing How" in Philosophical Studies, "Reasonable Disagreement and Rational Group Inquiry" in Episteme, and "Know How" for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He co-edited a book, "Know How: Essays on Knowledge, Mind, & Action."
Dr. Franz-Peter Griesmaier receives PIE award. The award, "Promoting Intellectual Engagement in the First Year" is sponsored by the Learning Resource Networks (LeaRN) and the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning to faculty who have intellectually inspired students in their first year courses.
Dr. Jeff Lockwood will read from his newly published book, "Six Legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War" on Sat., October 18, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at Second Story Books.
Dr. Marc Moffett presented "Epistemic Conservatism" at a symposium on Metaepistemology, at the University of Texas; "Comments on Fallis, 'What is Lying?'" at the 2008 American Philosophical Association Meeting; and "Comments on Przyjemski, 'The Semanitc Features of Bound Pronouns'" at the 2008 Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference.
Fall 2007-Spring 2008
Two people were
recognized at this year's commencement activities:
1) Dr. Susanna Goodin received recognition as one of the "Top
Ten Teachers" in the College of Arts & Sciences. This award is received
by graduating student votes for outstanding teachers.
2) Student, Nicholas T. Haderlie, received recognition as one
of the twenty "Outstanding Graduates," nominated by faculty. He is a
Philosophy major from Laramie, Wyoming.
Just a little shout out to the UW master's students whose hard work has paid off in some nice graduate school placements.
Major congratulations, fellas!! Enjoy the ride.
Taken from the publication "Close Range"
http://rationalhunter.typepad.com/close_range/2008/04/shout-out.html
Philosophy tops in results for
Student Evaluations. The February 2008 A&S You Like It publication states
the "Departments of Modern & Classical Languages and Philosophy offer
courses that our students judge to be the most intellectually challenging,
.." both rating on the table at 4.66 out of 5.0 Philosophy also scored
within the top ten departments on "Overall assessment of instruction"with a
score of 4.46.
Robin Hill, Adjunct Professor and B.A in Philosophy '75 (with a full-time appointment on campus as Coordinator of Instructional Computing) has published a short feature in the June 2007 issue of SIGACT News, a quarterly for computer scientists interested in computability theory, entitled "How Close Did Kurt Godel Get to the University of Wyoming?" The answer is "Not very," but a handful of distant coincidences, manifested in wartime correspondence and later local connections, turned out to be intriguing. Dr. Hill thoroughly enjoyed the research, in the course of which she earned a New York Public Library card and access to the scholarly Manuscripts Reading Room.
Fall 2006-Spring 2007
Congratulations Jeff !!!
Click Here to view the UW News Release
Dr. Jeffrey Lockwood's article, "The Nature of Violence," was chosen to be included in this year's edition of Best American Nature and Science Writing; an anthology publication by Houghton Mifflin. (3/20/07)
Taylor Carman (BA in Philosophy 1987), an
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bernard College, while teaching a
seminar on Nietzsche and Heidegger this fall, found that Emeritus Professor
Richard Howey is now immortal. He has been quoted in Wolfgang
Müller-Latuer's big Nietzsche book, Volume III: Heidegger und Nietzsche
(2000). Chapter 2 (page 67) begins, "Wer sich eingehend mit Heidegers
Nietzsche-Interpretationen beschäftigt, wird jenen Eindruck von
'ambivalence' gewinnen, den R. L. Howey so bescreibt: 'There are aspects of
his interpretation that are highly stimulating and lead to new insights
regarding the nature of Nietzsche's metaphysical enterprise. However, all
too often, Nietzsche gets buried under Heidegger's attempt to demonstrate
his thesis.
Congratulations Richard! (Sept. 06)
Philosophy once again scores highly (4.62), second in line behind Modern & Classical Languages (4.68), of the Student Teaching Evaluations for if a "Course is Intellectually Challenging." Philosophy also scored within the top 10 for "Overall Assessment of Instruction" with a score of 4.44. (Detailed information is available in the Sept. 2006 issue of A&S You Like It.) (Sept. 06)
Fall 2005-Spring 2006
Papers are now being accepted for the 2006 James Orr Willits Ethics Essay Competition, topic: Is Abortion Wrong? First Prize Award: $1500.00. Second Prize Award: $1000.00. Contest Deadline: Monday, April 10, 2006. For further information refer to the A&S Dean's Office website: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/AS-second-page.asp.
Philosophy scored in the top three of the Student Teaching Evaluations averages regarding if a "Course is Intellectually Challenging" following Modern & Classical Languages at 4.69, Physics and Astronomy at 4.63 and Philosophy at 4.62. Philosophy also scored within the top 10 for "Overall Assessment of a Course" with a score of 4.41. (Detailed information is available in the January 2006 issue of A&S You Like It.) (Feb. 06)
Franz-Peter Griesmaier debates with Kent Hovind, founder of Creation Science Evangelism, on creationism vs. evolution. Read more in the Boomerang archives (Oct 12, 2005) and Dean Walter's comments to the event in the October issue of "A&S You Like It". (For a copy of the "A&S You Like It" article contact crivord@uwyo.edu) (Oct. 05)
Philosophy rates in the top ten from Spring 2005 Advising Evaluations in the October 2005 issue of "A&S You Like It." (For a copy of the "A&S You Like It" article contact crivord@uwyo.edu) (Oct. 05)
Dean Walter recognizes the department of Philosophy in the publications of the "A&S Report." Click here to read. (Sept. 05)
Spring 2005
Mike Farnsworth, graduate student, has honorable achievements for the Spring
2005 term:
1. Acceptance at the 4th International
Summerschool on "Philosophy, Probability, and Physics" held at the
University of Konstanz in Konstanz, Germany.
2. Recipient of Arts & Sciences Summer Independent Study Award
3. Paper presented "Probabilistic Knowledge of the Status Quo Under the
Veil" at the 32nd Annual Conference on Value Inquiry held at Lousisiana
State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana April 8 - 11
(May 05)
Dr. Susanna Goodin receives A&S Top Teacher Award by the graduating class of 2005. (April 4, 2005)
Former graduate student and current visiting lecturer John Bengson presented papers at four conferences this spring. The conferences included the CUNY and Rocky Mountain graduate student conferences, the 32nd meeting of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP), and the 79th meeting of the American Philosophical Association (APA) Pacific Division. The papers were titled “How to Perceive the Pat with Your Eyes Shut” and “On the Value of Mystical and Religious Experience”. Visit http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/News/2005/March/uwnews22.htm for a news article, published by the Branding Iron and UW News, on the latter paper. (Spring 2005)