Philosophy Commons^™

Urban Political Ecology And Informal City: Using The Capabilities Approach In Co-Designing With Slum Communities, Patrick Vance S. Nogoy

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

Slum communities which compose an informal city offer a serious challenge to urban metabolism approaches that promise to be inclusive in confronting environmental injustice. In particular, urban political ecology (UPE) frameworks critically examine power structures and relational dynamics in the environment where objectionable injustices are identified and corrected. However, Holifield (2009) finds UPE limiting as it excludes marginalized communities and other important factors. The main reason Holifield highlights is the dominance of Marxist UPE frameworks that interpret environmental injustices narrowly as results of uneven social power relations and dynamics driven primarily by neo-liberal capitalist behaviors, institutions, and activities. Alternatively, he …

Immigrant Selection And Global Subordination: A Critical Response To Sahar Akhtar, Alex Sager

Philosophy Faculty Publications and Presentations

In 1908, the Canadian government passed a law to prevent immigration from British India, making the right to immigrate conditional on completing a continuous journey from the country of origin. Hundreds of thousands of European immigrants easily met this stipulation; doing so was nearly impossible for British Indians. In April 1914, Canadian authorities in Vancouver, British Columbia detained 376 British Sikh, Muslim and Hindu subjects travelling on the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru from the Punjab. The Komagata Maru incident, as it has come to be known, reminds us of the toxic role of immigration policy in promulgating anti-Asian racism in …

Underrecognized Classics In Philosophy: Expanding The Depauw Philosophy Curriculum, Ian Smith, Jeremy Anderson, Rich Cameron, Erik Wielenberg, Jen Everett

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The Philosophy Department spent the summer developing a reading list for a future Phil. 200 course that would focus on classics not currently represented in the curriculum. One way we framed our goal was through the question, “what works should students have read by the time they reach their 300 and 400 level philosophy courses?” To this end, a work’s potential to broaden the scope of how I—as a current undergraduate philosophy major—understand my discipline, provided the department with an evaluative perspective to complement that of the faculty.

The Reality Of Reason: Fiction, Method, And Modernity In The Metaphysics Of Francisco Suárez, William Martin Nee Cox

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

In the Metaphysical Disputations (1597), Francisco Suárez asserts that the human intellect, because it is imperfect, must make use of determinate mental fictions in order to know “real being” (ens reale). In this dissertation, I reconstruct why and how this should be the case. I show that the supreme imperfection of our intellect implies our embodiment, which in turn implies our inability to know any being entirely as it is in itself. To compensate for this inability, we humans must make use of both “beings of reason” (entia rationis) and “nonbeings of reason” (non entia rationis). In the process of …

William Herschel's Defense Of Speculative Inquiry, Frank Cabrera

Faculty Scholarship

Although William Herschel (1738–1822) is most well-known as an astronomer and instrument-maker, he also had interests in speculative philosophy (e.g., metaphysics), as several papers he read at the Bath Philosophical Society reveal. These papers, arguably, are the context in which Herschel engaged most directly in philosophical argumentation and are thus worthy of greater scholarly attention. In this article, I focus on Herschel's paper entitled “On the Utility of Speculative Inquiries,” in which he debates the legitimacy of speculation with an unnamed interlocutor, referred to as the “Gentleman.” In section 1, I briefly discuss Herschel's intellectual background. In section 2, I …

V.1 Fall 2025, Center For Arts & Language, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

v.1 is a publishing platform for the ongoing work, ideas, discussions, debates, and aspirations of students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Fall 2025 issue contains articles on the intersection of the natural world and human experience, technology, identity, immigration, activism, divestment, institutional history, political resistance, decolonization, and the digital vs. physical realms. The issue contains experimental poetry, visual essays, and reflections on the "nature of publication".

Phi 172 Contemporary Moral Issues, Naomi Zack Phd

Open Educational Resources

An ethical situation or an ethical aspect to something involves human harm or well-being or life or death. Human well-being and life are universally considered important and valuable. This course will present classical ethics writings in Philosophy, contemporary moral/ethical topics, and tools for reading, thinking, speaking, and writing about ethics. In order to apply ethics to current issues, we need to know what Philosophy has contributed to ethical/moral thinking. This course develops that knowledge. Included are: philosophical moral systems of virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism and existentialism. Contemporary issues include animal rights, the life of the mind in college, upward social …

The Power A Generation Holds: A Study On Students Generating Change In American Social Movements, Caroline E. Koziol

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Social activism ebbs and flows throughout American history. In the contemporary period, high visual coverage of activism has contributed to frustrations over the apparent decrease in change despite perceptions of increased participation. Young activists in the classroom ask questions to learn from their predecessors. This paper focuses on answering, “How can students create sustained change through social activism?” The present work recenters activism in the role of students and higher education institutions, noting their potential for creating change through a formula for future activists to engage with. The proposed formula targets methods and theories to bolster success towards the cause …

Improving Universities Through The Use Of Ai & Transformative Technology: A Case Study Analysis At The University Of South Carolina, Cameron A. Caulk

Senior Theses

This thesis aims to give university leaders a practical guide to implementing AI, using lessons learned from the University of South Carolina’s experience as a case study. The project started with a review of literature and industry practices for the Finance & Administration division, which led to key deliverables like AI usage guidelines, DoIT’s position paper on AI systems, and the ParkUSC parking app. One ongoing project, Project Shuttlecock, even sets the stage for future AI initiatives at the university.

AI holds immense promise, but universities often hesitate due to concerns about ethics, costs, and the learning curve for staff …

Cephalopod Consciousness: Asking The Right Questions, Gordon Burghardt

Animal Sentience

Jennifer Mather has provided a comprehensive and fascinating overview of the various cognitive accomplishments of cephalopods and their sensory, behavioral, and neurophysiological attributes. The advances in our understanding of a clade that has been separated from vertebrate evolution by well over half a billion years is a testament to advances in both methodology and the questions we now feel free to address. Mather embeds her review in the issue of consciousness, which is certainly a perennial issue in mental evolution, going back to Romanes and earlier. I argue that the term “consciousness” has such a checkered history and is used …

Review Of Victor Fan, “Cinema Illuminating Reality: Media Philosophy Through Buddhism”, Teng-Kuan Ng

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This is a book review of Victor Fan, Cinema Illuminating Reality: Media Philosophy through Buddhism (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2022)

Reworlding The Human: A Review Of Symbiotic Posthumanist Ecologies In Western Literature, Philosophy And Art, Asunción López-Varela Azcárate

Mabini Review

In recent decades, the interdisciplinary encounter between posthumanism and the environmental humanities has engendered rich intellectual terrain for rethinking the status of the human, the function of narrative, and the ethical imperatives of multispecies coexistence. The edited volume Symbiotic Posthumanist Ecologies in Western Literature, Philosophy and Art: Towards Theory and Practice (Peter Lang, 2023), curated by Peggy Karpouzou and Nikoleta Zampaki, contributes significantly to this dialogue. Organized in three thematic sections— “Framing the Symbiotic Posthumanist Ecologies,” “Symbiotic Posthumanist Ecologies in Literature and Art” and “Symbiotic Posthumanist Ecologies in Continental Philosophy”—the book weaves a cohesive tapestry that connects speculative fiction, ecological …

A Way Through Pandemic: Daoist Insights During The Covid-19 Crisis, Marck Zaldy Camba

Mabini Review

The COVID-19 crisis has made most Filipinos reconsider, rethink, and reprioritize various aspects of their lives. While they are well-known for their resiliency, they are not immune to experiencing fear, anxiety, uncertainties, and other disruptions, as these are inevitable experiences during crises, particularly pandemics. While the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a public health crisis, there is a fear that it also provoked an existential one. This paper explores the philosophical insights of Daoism and its practicality and relevance to navigating such crises. In what ways can Daoist insights guide us regarding the right way(s) to manage ourselves during the crisis? How …

The Fantasies Of Filipino Identities: The Ironies Of Racial Discourse In The 19th Century Philippines, Michael Roland Hernandez

Mabini Review

This paper argues that the genealogical deconstruction of the 19th century idea of “Filipino identity” within the works of notable historical figures such as Luis Rodriguez Varela, Jose Burgos and the Filipino ilustrados, led by Jose Rizal, reveals its ground on the racial discourse of Eurocentric Hispanophilia. Contrary to the assumption that they were fighting for the emancipation of a colonized people against an unjust Spanish colonial regime, their works are more properly contextualized as political attempts to secure their own parochial privileges. “Filipinoness” and its attendant concept of the nation were, ultimately, not aimed at the destruction of Empire, …

Simpology: Panimulang Sipat Sa Retorika Ng Mga Piling Bidyo Ni Bro. Mike Velarde Gamit Ang Prinsipyong Aristotelyano, Joven Makiling

Mabini Review

The study focuses on the rhetoric of Bro. Mariano “Mike” Z.Velarde, the founder of the El Shaddai Movement in August 1984 in the Philippines. Using Aristotle’s lens, five recordings of his Healing Message from January 7 to February 2, 2023, were analyzed. The research aimed to (1) assess his rhetorical approach and its hierarchy in his speeches, (2) identify the rhetorical tenets and the consistency of their hierarchy in his discourses, and (3) outline his rhetorical approach and tenets, as well as his effectiveness as a lay preacher. Through content analysis, it was confirmed that the principles outlined by Aristotle …

Traslación: From Mythos To Kairos, Johanne Randolf Andrada, Dominic Bautista Gonzales

Mabini Review

The pre-colonial Philippines was a vibrant archipelago filled with diverse faiths, ethnicities, and cultures, reflecting a rich blend of indigenous beliefs and practices. When Spanish colonization arrived, it dramatically transformed the religious landscape, introducing Christianity. Yet, remnants of pre-colonial spiritual traditions persisted, often merging with Catholic practices to create a distinct form of faith. This paper aims to explore the Traslación through various scholars. The focal point of this exploration is the Traslación, an annual event held every January 9 at Quiapo Church, which highlights the deep devotion many Filipinos have for the Black Nazarene. By drawing on both Western …

Placing The Good Life: Towards A Phenomenology Of Place, Chloe Nicole Piamonte

Mabini Review

This paper stresses the place of a phenomenology of place in philosophical discussions on the constituents of what various philosophers designate as the good life. A phenomenological approach to place aids in addressing the taken-for-grantedness of our lifeworld and its implications—including but not limited to—questions on embodiment, freedom, and intersubjectivity. Phenomenology reveals the layers of meaning behind the varying dimensions of human experience that constitute their lived emplacement. In turn, a phenomenology of place examines the onset of a conscious and subjective interpretation of places, and things and concepts surrounding them. Making sense of the importance of place and locality …

Property Rights In The Face Of Historic Injustice, Bas Van Der Vossen, Fabian Wendt

Philosophy Faculty Articles and Research

It seems natural to adopt a historical approach when it comes to property titles: When property titles have a clean history, they are to be respected as a matter of justice; when they do not have a clean history, for example, in cases of prior theft, they must be returned to the original owners or their descendants. But the historical approach has serious drawbacks. This paper presents an alternative. Starting from the idea that property rights must be stable, we offer an account of why historic injustices sometimes do, but sometimes do not, undermine current titles. This account offers a …

Digital Color And Aesthetics: A Numerical Performance That Speaks To Presentness, Valeria Federici

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

This article is concerned with digital color’s presentness and ubiquity and the implications of these aspects as reflected in contemporary artistic practices and aesthetics. Taking into consideration the history of color theory, the article explores premises and findings relevant to digital color and its differences with natural color as derived by optical vision. Further, it investigates the relationship between computer and artists, between appearance and experience in the digital realm, and highlights how digital color lies in the very nature of the medium: a numerical language hiding behind a mimetic two-dimensional surface or interface. These aspects are discussed through the …

Public Safety Injuries: Treatment And Organizational Support Variations Experienced By Injured Employees, Patrick S. Daugherty Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Public safety employees work in an environment characterized by a greater risk of injury than the workplaces of employees engaged in other professions. The deterioration of trust in public safety workers has increased both the violence against them and their risk of injury, negatively affecting their retention and recruitment efforts. The effect is exhausted and overworked employees who answer an increasing call volume with less resources, resulting in greater stress and frustration. Frustration can be expressed with negativity and isolation toward accommodated employees while they attempt to recover from their injuries. This phenomenon raises the question of “What treatment variations …