Philosophy Club

The mission of the Portland State University Philosophy Club is to provide a place and outlet for networking, discussing, and engaging with other people interested in all things philosophical. We address these needs primarily by meeting three or four times a term to discuss and critically assess various philosophical articles. We aim to do so with maturity and attentiveness and hope that these values will assist others in their philosophical thinking as well.

 

Philosophy Club Special Event: Student Series

What: The New Essentialism
Who: Keri Bishop
When: TUESDAY, November 3rd, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: SMSU 298

You are invited to a Special Event hosted by the Philosophy Club! Keri Bishop will be presenting a paper called "The New Essentialism" from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 3rd in Smith 298. After her presentation, we will discuss the paper through a question and answer session. Please read the following abstract and definitions found below. Otherwise, ambitious Club members can read the entire essay here.

Abstract: "The New Essentialism"

This paper focuses on how to show the possibility of the existence of a human essence. An essence must be non-physical, a universal constant, and pertain to all human beings. The question of the existence of a human essence is important in regards to the effects it has on ethics. Essentialism has never proven to be an unpopular theory in philosophy, however Davidson’s work with conceptual schemes proves the necessity for the existence of a human essence. Davidson points out that language is the tool with which we construct a conceptual scheme, however it is a only a category in which we place symbols, words, and signs, and can therefore not be an essence. Since language can be translated that means that all humans share a common thread. Damian believes that the thread that is shared between all humans is not a common conceptual scheme, but rationality.

 

Vocabulary

  1. Essentialism- a belief in essences
  2. Essence- property of an object that defines it
  3. Accidental Property- property that can be removed from an object without changing the object
  4. Conceptual Scheme- set of concepts which humans use to organize their experience
  5. Language- system of signs and symbols used for communication between people of the same geographical area
  6. Rationality- collection of reasons used for an argument
  7. Empirical- something that can be verified by observation or experiment
  8. Nominalism-the doctrine that general or abstract words do not stand for objectively existing entities and that universals are no more than names assigned to them.

Past Meeting Agendas:

May 20, 2009
Topic: How Not To Do Things With Words: Arguments Against Performative Utterances

April 29, 2009
Topic: Heidegger's Nietzsche: Neo-Kantian, Phenomenological, or Metaphysical?

Feb. 25, 2009
Topic: Perceptual Plasticity And Theoretical Neutrality: A Reply to Jerry Fodor

Feb. 11, 2009
Topic: Existentialism, Quietism, and the Role of Philosophy

Jan. 28, 2009
Topic: Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience

Jan. 14, 2009
Topic: Towards a Cognitive Robotics

Nov. 19, 2008
Topic: Introspecting Brain-States

Nov. 5, 2008
Topic: Ethics of Belief

Oct. 22, 2008
Philosophy Club: Graduate School Advice

Oct. 8, 2008
Topic: Naturalism Helps Naturalism

The Philosophy Club at Portland State University is an officially recognized student group that is a departmentally endorsed forum for Philosophy majors and students to meet regularly for study groups, discussions, and socialization.

Events and meetings are currently scheduled on a date by date basis. For general information you may contact the club at PHLclub@pdx.edu, or, to be included on the Philosophy department email list, please contact Phil King at philk@pdx.edu.