News

Sara Bernstein

Prof. Sara Bernstein leads ND Women

Professor Sara Bernstein was selected as one of seven women across the University for Women Lead 2020.  In celebration of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, meet seven outstanding faculty members who are shifting paradigms in their fields as they work to build a better tomorrow.…

Jc Beall

Jc Beall to join Notre Dame’s faculty in fall 2020

The Department of Philosophy is excited to announce that Jc Beall will join the department as the O’Neill Family Chair of Philosophy in the fall of 2020. Beall is one of the leading philosophical logicians in the world, and will add to the department’s strengths in that area. He is especially well-known for his work in non-classical logic and for his defense of logical pluralism in the philosophy of logic....

Kenneth Taylor (Photo by Steve Castillo)

In memoriam: Kenneth Taylor

Kenneth Taylor, the Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University, died this week. Professor Taylor did his undergraduate work at Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1977 with a major in the Program of Liberal Studies. Professor Taylor specialized in the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, and was the author of numerous influential books and papers. He was also well-known as the co-founder and co-host of...

Prof. Sterba

Prof. Jim Sterba to debate Dinesh D'Souza

On December 20th Jim Sterba will be debating Dinesh D’Souza on the question: "Capitalism or Socialism?" at the Turning Point Conference in Palm Beach, Florida. U.S. Senators, members of the U.S. Congress and conservative media stars will be there. None are expected to be pleased with Sterba's views.  …

Detlefsen 2017

In memoriam: Mic Detlefsen

It is with great sadness that we announce that our friend and colleague Mic Detlefsen passed away on October 21.  Mic had been on the faculty of the Notre Dame Philosophy Department since 1983, and since 1990 had held the McMahon-Hank Chair of Philosophy. Mic also had appointments in recent years at the University of Paris and the University of Nancy, and earlier visiting appointments at the College de France, Konstanz, ...

Patricia Blanchette and David O Connor

Professors Patricia Blanchette and David O'Connor Receive Undergraduate Teaching Award

Professor Patricia Blanchette and Professor David O'Connor have been awarded The Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by the Office of the Provost. The award honors up to 20 faculty members who have had a profound influence on the undergraduate learning experience, elevated students’ intellectual engagement, and fostered students’ ability to express themselves effectively within a disciplinary context. For more information on the award, visit the Office of the...

Month spent living at Japanese temple with Zen monk inspires English and philosophy major’s senior thesis

Colin Rahill’s time at Notre Dame has been defined by learning from some of the world’s great thinkers — whether it be on paper or in a temple on the other side of the globe. An English and philosophy major whose senior thesis focuses on the works of Percy Shelley and Soren Kierkegaard, Rahill spent six weeks last summer in Japan, including a month living at the Shoganji Temple with...

Elder

HPS Philosophy Track Student Jamee Elder awarded Heinrich Hertz Fellowship

HPS Philosophy-track student Jamee Elder has been awarded a Heinrich Hertz Fellowship in History and Philosophy of Physics. This competitive Fellowship is awarded by the University of Bonn, where she will reside for the next academic year, as a research fellow in the Insititute of Philosophy.  Originally published by Goulding, Robert…

The Good Class: How an innovative Notre Dame philosophy course gets undergrads excited about contemplating — and constructively debating — life’s big questions

An innovative Notre Dame course, God and the Good Life, is not only transforming the way students are introduced to philosophy — it is changing their perspectives, trajectories, and lives. Nearly 1,200 students have enrolled in the course since philosophy professor Meghan Sullivan launched it two years ago, and for many, it has become a defining experience in their undergraduate education. It's also drawn an array of prominent guest speakers —...

Philosophy Natasha Edit 5

Video: The philosophy major at Notre Dame

What is the philosophy major like at Notre Dame? “I really feel like we're engaging seriously with philosophy. It actually can become very personal, reflecting on human nature and what is an ethical life, and what is justice,” said philosophy major Natasha Reifenberg. Philosophy majors pursue their passions while developing skills such as critical thinking, data analysis, evidence-based arguments, and information synthesis.

Gutting

In memoriam: Gary Gutting

Author: Paul Weithman   Gary Gutting was best known for his work on French philosophy, for co-founding and co-editing Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews and for his many thoughtful contributions to The Stone.  But he was a philosopher of remarkable range, an accomplished teacher at all levels, and a departmental administrator of force and vision.  …

Franks Water

Image and reality

Associate Professor Curtis Franks caught the attention of Notre Dame magazine this issue. Find out why he, and other philosophy professors, chose their out-of-the-box faculty photos for our website.   …

Study Abroad in Ethiopia!

Professor Jech launches Study Abroad Program in Ethiopia

This summer, Notre Dame is organizing a Study Abroad program in Ethiopia, led by Professor Alexander Jech. The program is centered on the course PHIL 24550 / PHIL 44468 Bridging Theory and Practice: Philosophical and Pragmatic Perspectives on Development. We interviewed him about the program and how it came into being:…

Dan Peate No Lt

Video: Tech entrepreneur Dan Peate ’00 on majoring in philosophy and how the liberal arts prepare students for robot-proof jobs

“A lot of people ask me, ‘Philosophy — do you even use that in business?’ And I actually do all the time, especially in the world of Silicon Valley,” said Dan Peate ’00. Peate is the founder of the technology companies DRIAV and Hixme, and is the managing director of Peate Ventures LLC, a venture capital fund. He credits his success in business to the skills he gained in asking foundational...

Fred Rush 2

Prof. Fred Rush to give 2019 Monroe Beardsley Lecture

Professor Fred Rush will give the 2019 Monroe Beardsley Lecture at the meeting of the American Society for Aesthetics in Philadelphia. The lecture will take place at the Barnes Foundation and will be on the subject: ‘Time and Film’. It will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, Center City, Philadelphia, PA from April 4-6, 2019. For more information, visit their website…