RoME Registration and Schedule are Online

Visit the RoME webpage for more information on the first annual Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress. August 8-10. Interested parties must register to attend.

Jason Megill to Join CU Philosophy as Visiting Instructor

Jason Megill, who is finishing his PhD in philosophy at the University of Virginia, will join our department this fall as a visiting instructor. Mr. Megill is completing a dissertation directed by Harold Langsam on the mind-body problem.  [6/25/08]

Summer Institute in American Philosophy

The 11th Annual Summer Institute in American Philosophy will meet July 7-12, 2008, at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Leading scholars in various aspects of American philosophy will present seminars on their recent or current work. Registration is free for Boulder faculty and students.  [6/24/08]

Congratulations to Our Recent Graduates for Their Success on the Job Market

• Peter Higgins will be starting a one-year position at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
• Audra King will be starting a tenure-track position at Central Connecticut State University.
• Jonathan Peeters will be starting a two-year position at Ithaca College.
• Tait Szabo will be starting a tenure-track position at the University of Wisconsin Colleges at Washington County.

Congratulations Peter, Audra, Jonathan, and Tait! [6/4/08]

Uri Leibowitz to Join CU Philosophy as Visiting Instructor

Uri Leibowitz, who is completing his PhD in philosophy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, will join our department this fall as a 1-year visiting instructor. Mr. Leibowitz is writing a dissertation directed by Gareth Matthews on moral particularism.  [6/3/08]

John Maier to Join CU Philosophy as Visiting Instructor

John Maier, who is completing his PhD in philosophy at Princeton University, will join our department this fall as a 3-year visiting instructor. Mr. Maier is writing a dissertation directed by Gideon Rosen on the metaphysics and epistemology of free will.  [5/1/08]

Barrett Emerick and Jason Hanna Win 2007-2008 Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Awards

Congratulations to philosophy PhD students Barrett Emerick and Jason Hanna, each of whom has won a Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award. The distinction includes a prize of $500 and a reception in honor of graduate student award recipients.  [4/18/08]

Alison Jaggar Named College Professor of Distinction

Philosophy professor Alison Jaggar has been named College Professor of Distinction, a title reserved for scholars and artists of national and international distinction who are also recognized by their College peers as teachers and colleagues of exceptional talent. Congratulations, Professor Jaggar!  [4/14/08]

Hazel Barnes Memorial

A memorial service for the University of Colorado's renowned philosophy professor emerita Hazel Barnes will be at 10 a.m. April 12 in the Old Main Chapel. The service will be followed by a reception in the CU Heritage Center on the third floor of Old Main.

Barnes, an expert in French existentialism who taught at CU from 1953 to 1986, died March 18 at her home in Boulder. She was 92.  more ...  [4/7/08]

Rocky Mountain Philosophy Conference: April 4-5

The 10th annual Rocky Mountain Philosophy Conference takes place April 4-5. RMPC is an open-submission graduate student conference in which 12 students from across the country present papers and explore philosophical issues. This year's keynote speaker is Prof. Philip Pettit of Princeton University. His talk is titled "Freedom and Probability." All events are free and open to the public. For more information, including the schedule of events, please see the RMPC website: www.colorado.edu/philosophy/rmpc.  [3/31/08]

In Memoriam: Hazel Barnes (1915-2008)

Renowned philosophy Professor Emerita Hazel Barnes, an expert in French existentialism who taught at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1953 to 1986, died March 18 at her home in Boulder. She was 92.

Obituaries have appeared in the CU News, the Daily Camera, and the Denver Post.  [3/21/08]

CU Philosophy is Hiring

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER, CO. The Department of Philosophy invites applications for a one-year instructor position, renewable for up to two further years, six courses/year, some departmental service, beginning Fall 2008. The position is open to all AOS. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute actively to the intellectual life of a young and vibrant department. Mail applications to

     Instructor Search
     Department of Philosophy
     University of Colorado
     232 UCB
     Boulder CO 80309-0232.

Dossier should include CV, writing sample, and at least three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should address the candidate's teaching abilities and experience. Review will begin 4/1/2008, although applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The University of Colorado at Boulder is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment. Other policies governing the search are described at www.colorado.edu/ArtsSciences/Jobs/.  [3/12/08]

An Audio Recording of Professor Wes Morriston's Recent THINK! Lecture Can Be Found Here.

And Professor Morriston's slides can be found here. Click here for more information about our THINK! lecture series.  [3/3/08]

A Few Photos from Our Recent Undergraduate Retreat Can Be Found Here.  [2/11/08]

Bradley Monton Named Dean's Senior Honors Fellow

The Honors Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder is pleased to announce the appointment of Associate Professor Bradley Monton from the Department of Philosophy as the Dean's Senior Honors Fellow for academic year 2008/2009. Professor Monton was selected for his outstanding teaching and research, and breadth of interests, which include philosophy of science, philosophy of religion and probabilistic epistemology. Professor Monton will teach four courses next year for the Honors Program and the Kittredge Honors Program.

Last fall Professor Monton taught an honors senior seminar HONR 4000 – Physics and God in a collaboration between the Honors Program and the Center for the Humanities and the Arts. Students in the course commented that “Brad is brilliant and insightful. His enthusiasm is infectious,” “[He] helped me to believe in myself and my abilities,” and “Physics and God is one of the classes I will remember forever.”  [2/1/08]

Public Symposium on the Use of Prisoners and Vulnerable Populations for Medical Research

On February 14-15, the Center for Values and Social Policy, in coordination with the University of Colorado Law School and the Bioethics Center at the University of Colorado, Denver, will be hosting a public symposium on the use of prisoners and vulnerable populations for medical research. This symposium is intended to address concerns raised in the recently released report by the Institute of Medicine that proposes that prisoners once again be considered an acceptable research population. Click here for more details.  [1/28/08]

Call for Papers: Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress

The first annual Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress – an international conference geared to offer the highest quality, highest altitude discussion of ethics, broadly conceived – will take place August 8-10, 2008 at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Click here for details.  [1/4/08]

Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy

The Philosophy Department is now accepting applications for the 2008 Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy. Click here for more information.  [1/4/08]

Fall 2007 Newsletter Out Now

Click here to see the Philosophy Department's Fall 2007 newsletter (.pdf file).  [10/10/07]

Mitzi Lee's Epistemology after Protagoras Receives APA Book Prize Honorable Mention

Congratulations to Professor Mi-Kyoung (Mitzi) Lee, whose book Epistemology after Protagoras (Oxford University Press, 2005) has been recognized with an Honorable Mention in the American Philosophical Association's national book prize competition. Epistemology after Protagoras argues that, even before the advent of Hellenistic skepticism, philosophers in the classical period, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Democritus, were aware of and argued against the skeptical threat contained in relativist arguments like Protagoras'. The APA Book Prize is widely considered to be the most prestigious book award for philosophers age 40 and under at the time of publication.  [8/22/07]

David Boonin and Robert Rupert Win Provost Faculty Achievement Awards

Congratulations to philosophy professors David Boonin and Robert Rupert. Each has been awarded a Provost Faculty Achievement Award for distinguished research. Professor Boonin's award is in recognition of his book A Defense of Abortion (Cambridge University Press, 2002), which argues that the moral case against abortion can be shown to be unsuccessful on terms that critics of abortion can and do accept. Professor Rupert is being recognized for his article "Challenges to the Hypothesis of Extended Cognition," (The Journal of Philosophy, 2004), which attempts to expose some of the problems the hypothesis of extended cognition must overcome if it is to stand among leading views of the nature of human cognition. The award carries a $1000 research grant and a plaque recognizing the achievement. Professor

Boonin and Professor Rupert will receive their awards at CU's Fall Convocation on Friday, October 19th, 2007.  [8/21/07]

Ajume Wingo to Join CU Philosophy

It is out great pleasure to announce that Ajume Wingo, currently of the University of Massachusetts Boston, will be joining the Department next fall as Associate Professor of Philosophy. Professor Wingo specializes in social and political philosophy, African philosophy, and aesthetics, and has particular interests in liberal democratic philosophy and politics, especially institution building. He is the author of Veil Politics in Liberal Democratic States (Cambridge University Press, 2003) along with many articles. In collaboration with Michael Kruse, Professor Wingo is currently working on a book entitled The Citizen, about how Africans can begin to make their own future.  [8/7/07]

Benjamin Hale to Join CU Environmental Studies Program, maintain a cross-appointment in the Philosophy Department

We are pleased to announce that Benjamin Hale, currently Director of the Center for Values and Social Policy, will be staying with us in the Philosophy Department and joining the Environmental Studies Program as Assistant Professor. Professor Hale works primarily in ethics and applied ethics and has published articles in Metaphilosophy, The Journal of Medical Ethics, The Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, The American Journal of Bioethics, among others. With his appointment in both departments, he will be able to work with students in both areas of specialization, further cementing the Department's interdisciplinary and applied ethics offerings. He will continue directing the Center throughout the fall semester. [5/15/07]

Kathrin Koslicki to Join CU Philosophy

We are delighted to announce that Kathrin Koslicki, currently of Tufts University, will be joining the Department this fall as Associate Professor of Philosophy. Professor Koslicki works in metaphysics, philosophy of language, and Ancient Greek philosophy, particularly Aristotle. Her articles have appeared in the Journal of Philosophy, Noûs, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Philosophical Studies, and other leading journals. She is currently completing a book manuscript, tentatively entitled The Structure of Objects, in which she defends a structure-based theory of parts and wholes.   [5/9/07]

Shelly Kagan to Give Morris Colloquium Lectures

Shelly Kagan, Clark Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, will be giving our Morris Colloquium Lectures this year. Professor Kagan will be speaking on "The Ethics of Cloning" on Tuesday, May 1 at 7:00 pm in HUMN 1B50 and on "Well-Being As Enjoying the Good" on Wednesday, May 2 at 3:15 pm in EDUC 220.  [4/30/07]

David Boonin Wins Eaton Faculty Award

Congratulations to philosophy professor David Boonin, who has been awarded an Eaton Faculty Award for distinguished research and creative achievement in recognition of his A Defense of Abortion (Cambridge University Press, 2002).  [4/10/07]

Alastair Norcross to Join CU Philosophy

It is our great pleasure to announce that Alastair Norcross, currently of Rice University, will be joining the Department this fall as Associate Professor of Philosophy. Professor Norcross works in moral and political philosophy and has published extensively in these areas. His articles have appeared in the Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Review, Philosophy and Public Affairs, and many other leading journals.  [3/1/07]

Dominic Bailey to Join CU Philosophy

We are delighted to announce that Dominic Bailey, who received his Ph.D. from Cambridge University and is presently completing a teaching fellowship at Oxford, is joining the Philosophy Department this fall. Dr. Bailey specializes in ancient Greek philosophy, especially Plato. He has already published several articles in leading journals, and is working on a book on Plato's Charmides.  [3/1/07]

Philosophy Department Photos

Thanks to Dan Demetriou for opening up a Yahoo photo account to enable us to share and archive photos of our philosophers and our philosophy-related activities: photos.yahoo.com/cuphilpics.

Eric Chwang Arrives After Completing NIH Fellowship

We are delighted to announce that Eric Chwang is now in residence at Boulder and will begin teaching and doing research full-time in the philosophy department. After receiving a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University and an M.D. from Baylor, Professor Chwang was hired by CU Philosophy in 2005. Before taking residence in Boulder, Professor Chwang completed a fellowship in the Department of Clinical Bioethics at the National Institute of Health.

Professor Chwang works in ethics and political philosophy, and has a special interest in medical ethics.  [1/10/06]

New Newsletter Out

Click here to see the Philosophy Department's Fall 2006 newsletter (PDF file).  [11/6/06]

Robert Pasnau Wins Provost Faculty Achievement Award

Congratulations to philosophy professor Robert Pasnau, who has been awarded a Provost Faculty Achievement Award in recognition of his APA Book Prize-winning Thomas Aquinas on Human Nature (Cambridge University Press, 2002). The award carries a $1000 research grant and a plaque recognizing the achievement. Professor Pasnau will receive his award at CU's Fall Convocation on Friday, October 13th, 2006.  [10/12/06]


The Center for Values and Social Policy's new website is online.


Michael Tooley named College Professor of Distinction

Michael Tooley has been named a College Professor of Distinction, one of only four professors in Arts and Sciences to win this honorary title in its first year of existence. [5/16/06]

Congratulations to Our Graduate Students for All Their Many Accomplishments!

Click here to be very impressed by scholarly accomplishments of our graduate students for the academic year 2005-2006. Congratulations everyone! We are all very proud. [5/01/06]

Karen Sites Wins Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award

Congratulations to Karen Sites, Graduate Secretary of the Philosophy Department. Karen has just been named Outstanding Staff Graduate Advisor by the Graduate School. Thank you, Karen, for your exceptional dedication and talent. [5/01/06]

New Hires at CU Boulder

Michael Zimmerman, currently of Tulane University, has been named the Eaton Chair of Humanities. He will be rostered in Philosophy, and director of the University's Center for Humanities and Arts. Professor Zimmerman's interests range from Heidegger and Nietzsche to environmental philosophy and Buddhism.

Henry Pickford has accepted a tenure-track offer in the German Department. Although Dr. Pickford will not be rostered in Philosophy, he has extensive interests in contemporary analytic philosophy, and also in recent German-language philosophy (Wittgenstein, Adorno, etc.). He is in the process of completing a PhD in the Philosophy Department at the University of Pittsburgh. [3/24/06]

Bradley Monton to Join CU Philosophy

We are delighted to announce that Bradley Monton, currently of the University of Kentucky, is joining the philosophy department this fall. Professor Monton specializes in philosophy of physics and formal epistemology. He has published many articles in leading journals and is currently finishing a book on theistic arguments and physics. [2/27/06]

2006 Undergraduate Summer Seminar

The Philosophy Department is now accepting applications for our Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy. Click here for more information. [2/7/06]

Morris Colloquium, March 3-4

The 2006 Morris Colloquium will be held March 3-4 at the University of Colorado at Boulder. For details see the Colloquium page at http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/morris/morris.html. [2/1/06]

Graeme Forbes To Join Faculty at CU Boulder

Graeme Forbes of Tulane University has accepted a senior offer from CU Boulder and will be joining the Department in Fall '06. Professor Forbes is a leading scholar in the areas of metaphysics, language, and logic. [1/30/06]