Philosophy

Love of life subject of philosopher's talk

While science and theology may remain at odds over what happens when we die, philosophers like Jeff Noonan are focused on getting the most out of life while they’re still here on earth.

“Socrates said that philosophy is preparation for death,” said Dr. Noonan, who will deliver a public lecture on the subject next week. “He didn’t mean that in a morbid way. He meant that through the process of reflection we hopefully live better.”

Philosophy Day lecture to introduce urban activist

Philosophy professor Gail Presbey of the University of Detroit Mercy will deliver a free public lecture Thursday in downtown Windsor to celebrate World Philosophy Day.

Her lecture, entitled “Revolution and/or Evolution? Grace Lee Bogg’s sustainable activism for Detroit,” begins at 7 p.m. at the Phog lounge.

Jeff Noonan, head of the UWindsor philosophy department, will follow with a commentary. He says Philosophy Day provides an opportunity to remind everyone of the universal scope and public importance of work in the discipline.

Student artwork to provide context for discussion of economic issues

An exhibition of installation and video work by MFA candidate Michael Dirisio will provide context for a discussion of financial precarity and alternative economies, Thursday, November 2, in the main gallery of Mackenzie Hall.

“The event will address the role that political art can play in engaging with the city and with each other, and how it can prompt a reconsideration of social norms and conventions,” says Dirisio.

Lecture to explore the origin of impulse and argumentation

Impulse is the catalyst of an argument and initiates the decisions that follow, says philosophy professor Christopher Tindale.

“Impulses do not arise from nowhere; they are related to past states,” he says. “I am interested in how the impulse for anything begins, and how our resulting arguments are directly affected by how we make choices.”

He will explore the origin of impulse as a stimulus for argumentation in a free public lecture entitled “Inventing Arguments” on Friday, October 26, at 2 p.m. in room 207, Essex Hall.

Argumentative theory of reasoning subject of Friday symposium

The argumentative theory of reasoning challenges the traditional view that the function of reasoning is to help us get better beliefs and improve our decision-making, says philosophy professor Christopher Tindale.

“Instead, the theory presents reasoning as a purely social phenomenon that has developed in order to help us convince others and monitor the ways other people try to convince us,” he says. “One interesting consequence is that apparent flawed reasoning is itself a useful adaptation that aids in persuasion.”

Week of events to explore issues in humanities

The Humanities Research Group will present thought-provoking discussion during Humanities Week, September 10 to 14 on the University of Windsor campus.

Physics professor Gordon Drake, principal of Canterbury College, will analyze current thinking on the topic of free will in his free public lecture “Free Won’t,” at 4 p.m. Monday, September 10, in Alumni Hall’s McPherson Lounge. Dr. Drake will examine some of the underlying assumptions that may not necessarily be correct within the context of science, religion, and artificial intelligence.