News and Events

Philosophy @ Calvin—lectures, news and events

Spring 2013

2013 Jellema Lectures
April 17-18, 2013

The Human Place in the World

Dr. Norman Wirzba (Duke Divinity School)

• Idolizing Nature: The Way of Destruction
  Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 3:30 p.m.
  Calvin Seminary Auditorium
• Seeing Creation: The Way of Love
  Thursday, April 18, 2012, 3:30 p.m.
  Calvin Seminary Auditorium

See here for more information.

Undergraduate Philosophy Conference

• "Religion, Atheism and Agnosticism"
  Keynote Dr. Gary Gutting (University of Notre Dame)
  Friday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
  Calvin Seminary Auditorium
  
  
• Student Papers
  Saturday, April 13, 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
  Calvin Seminary Auditorium

Dr. Robin Collins (Messiah College)
"A Universe Fine-tuned for Scientific Technology and Discovery"
Friday, March 1
3:30 PM
SB 010
In cooperation with the Christian Perspectives in Science Seminar Series at Calvin College

Abstract: In this talk, Professor Robin Collins will first present some of his recent research on the many ways in which the structure of the universe is precisely set, to an incredible degree of accuracy, so that we can develop technology and discover its structure. Then he will show how this fine-tuning for technology and discoverablity undercuts the multiverse explanation, the leading non-theistic explanation for the much discussed fine-tuning of the universe for life. Finally, he will discuss how it provides important insight into God's purposes for humans along with its theological implications.

Dr, Eric Chwang (University of Colorado-Boulder)
"Freedom from Autonomy"
Thursday, February 7
3:30 PM
Meeter Center Lecture Hall

Abstract: One very popular explanation for the wrongness of some actions appeals to respect for autonomy. Indeed, autonomy has been a workhorse of late, with contemporary theorists wielding it in an attempt to justify many particular rights central to orthodox liberalism, such as rights for voting, informed consent, state neutrality, and free speech. This explanation is deontological, in that it is supposed to appeal to values other than just good outcomes, as a merely consequentialist explanation would. In this paper I argue that autonomy cannot play this foundational deontological role. More precisely, I argue that freedom is better suited to play this role than autonomy is. In other words, to the extent that autonomy can explain--in a non-consequentialist way--why an action is wrong in many central cases, the related but distinct concept of freedom provides a better non-consequentialist explanation. After sketching the important conceptual difference between freedom and autonomy and clarifying my thesis, I subdivide the argument into cases and argue that respect for freedom coupled with consequentialist sympathies better explain our moral intuitions in every case than respect for a non-consequentialist autonomy does.

[See the News and Events archive for past Philosophy lectures.]

Recent News

• Watch Prof. DeYoung talk about the Seven Deadly Sins on Inner Compass.
• Read Prof. Hardy's invitation to philosophy and the humanities from the new book, Practically Human: College Professors Speak from the Heart of Humanities Education(available from Calvin College Press).
• Philosophy hits the streets:Learn about Prof. Hardy's research on urban cycling in Amsterdam and Denmark.
• Read about 2012 philosophy graduate, Emily Pope, winner of a Fulbright to Turkey.
• Read about Prof. Corcoran, recently profiled as one of the best professors in higher education in The Best 300 Professors, a book released by the Princeton Review.

[Check the News and Events archive.]

Undergraduate Philosophy Conference

The 5th Undergraduate Philosophy Conference and FIRST ANNUAL JOINT UNDERGRADUATE CONFERENCE WITH GVSU will happen April 12-13, 2013. See here for a call for papers.

The 4th Annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference took place May 4-5, 2012. The two day conference was open to any student at any institution, free of charge. Pleanary speakers were Drs. Jill North and Ted Sider of Cornell University.

The 5th Annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference will take place in April or May 2013. Details to come.

See photos from the 2011 Undergraduate Conference here.

 

Undergraduate Philosophy Symposium

Symposium, the Philosophy Club, meets on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in Hiemenga Hall 336 and provides students with the opportunity to present and discuss their own papers in philosophy and closely related disciplines.

Check the postings outside the Jellema Room for weekly events.