Philosophy and Bioethics Postgraduate Seminar Series 2008
The Monash Philosophy Postgraduate Association (MPPA) is hosting the following exciting work-in-progress seminars this year and everyone is welcome to attend. They are usually held in the Library (Room W916) on the 9th floor west of the Menzies Building (Building 11), Clayton campus, and are on Mondays between 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm unless otherwise noted.
Monday, March 10:
Robert Simpson
"Problems for Moral Antitheodicy"
Abstract: Proponents of moral antitheodicy claim that there is an inherent moral impropriety in propounding theodical claims, and thus they contend that theists should dispense with theodicy. Three arguments in support of this view are explained and evaluated: the argument from 'insensitivity', the argument from 'detachment', and the argument from theodicy's harmful consequences. In addition to noting various difficulties that arise for each of these arguments individually, I attempt to show how all moral antitheodical arguments must presuppose what they are intended to establish, namely, the untenability of theodical speculation.
Monday, March 17:
"Callicles: the man and his measure"
Abstract: Some recent scholarship on the figure of Callicles--the apparent defender par excellence of natural justice, in Plato's "Gorgias"--would have us believe that Callicles secretly admires conventional justice, but is afraid to admit it. Arguing against this claim, I contend that Callicles simply does not understand that his strongly-held views on manly virtue require that he reject the unqualified hedonism he attempts to defend against Socrates' criticisms. Reading the "Gorgias" alongside the "Republic", I argue that Callicles' views on superiority, confused and ill-expressed as they are, reveal that Callicles is not tyrannical by nature. Instead, it turns out that Callicles is a man of strong nature--an aristocrat gone sour--who has been perverted, though not absolutely, by his inappropriate upbringing.
Monday, April 14:
Luke Thompson
"Some thoughts on Quine's case in Two Dogmas of Empiricism"
Monday, April 21:
No seminar.
Monday, April 28:
Josh Luczak
"It's not the size that matters it's how you use it: infinite division and measure theory"
Monday, May 5:
"Varieties of ancient immoralism"
Monday, May 12:
David Rowe
"Truthmaker theory; not a theory of truth" (Provisional title.)
Monday, May 19:
Robert Simpson
"Assumed consent and victims of the system" (Provisional title.)
Monday, May 26:
Shannon Weekes
(Title TBA)
For further information about the seminars, please email Raphael Fiorese.
For information about parking at Monash, please contact Sharon Webb on (03) 9905 3209.
For details of previous presentations, see our archives for 2007 and 2006.