Fall 2022
September 22 – Amie Thomasson – Daniel P. Stone Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Dartmouth College
“What Can Philosophy Do?”
Philosophy has traditionally been presented as aiming to discover deep facts about what exists, or about what the world is really like. But today, those seem like projects better pursued by the natural sciences. So what (if anything) is left for philosophy to do? I will argue that we can do better by thinking of philosophy as addressing questions about what we should do, including how we should think or talk. On this way of reconceiving philosophy, the work of philosophy remains deep, interesting, and important–and capable of reshaping how we think and how we live.
October 6 – Alejandro Hortal -visiting assistant professor of philosophy, Wake Forest University
“Virtue Nudges: Using Choice Architecture to Form Virtuous Citizens”
Nudges are policy interventions intended to change people’s behaviors and habits by organizing the choice environment. Nudges are used to boost vaccinations, increase contributions to retirement accounts, or improve healthy habits in citizens without limiting their choices (freedom). Due to their low cost and efficiency, many governments are implementing them. I argue that nudges also have the potential to form virtuous citizens in an Aristotelian sense. They do so by inculcating habits in people, respecting their freedom to choose while guaranteeing deliberation. Considering their affordability, potential effectiveness, and libertarian approach, governmental agencies and institutions should seek ways to use them in conjunction with educational interventions.
October 27 – Mark Murphy – Robert L. McDevitt, K.S.G., K.C.H.S. and Catherine H. McDevitt L.C.H.S. – Georgetown University
Guy T. and Clara Carswell Philosophy Lecture
“Why Does God Do What God Does?”
Many important arguments for or against theism assume that we can explain and predict God’s action – that we can know why God does what God does. How is this possible? A couple of popular answers appeal to God’s being morally perfect and God’s being maximally loving. I will reject these answers, offering instead a view of divine action based on God’s holiness.
November 10 – Cynthia Tessien – professor of practice, Dept. of Accountancy, Wake Forest University Undergraduate Program
Supported by the Braswell Philosophy Society
“Accounting, Business, and YOU”
What makes a business successful? Cash? Culture? Employees? Though these are good answers, none of these matter unless a business aligns with underlying moral values. Because of this, executives of a business need to make the right decisions and uphold the organizational and ethical values as well as theirs when it comes to hiring, firing, applying accounting treatments, etc. Only in this manner, can all customers, investors, vendors, employees be satisfied with the operation of a business.
November 17 (Talk at 5:15) – Amanda Corris – assistant professor of philosophy, Wake Forest University
“Perceiving Wildness”
Experiencing the wildness of nature can be exhilarating, awe-inspiring, or even terrifying. But how might we characterize our perceptual experiences of wildness? How do the ways in which we perceive wildness shape our cognitive, psychological, and emotional states, and in virtue of what do we perceive wildness in these ways? In this talk, I argue that a key aspect of these experiences is perceiving wildness as being self-sustaining, conveying a sense of autonomy, relationality, and perhaps even selfhood.