Philosophy News - St. George

Petrina van Nieuwstadt & Kira Jensen Awarded JHI Undergraduate Fellowships for 2025-2026

Published: June 17, 2025

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Two Philosophy undergraduate students, Petrina von Nieuwstadt and Kira Jensen, each received a 2025-2026 Undergraduate Fellowship at the Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI), allowing them to advance work on projects under the JHI’s Dystopia & Trust theme for the coming year. The JHI offers six such fellowships per year. Petrina von … Read More

Victor Chung: A Graduation in Two Movements

Published: June 16, 2025

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Victor Chung graduates this year from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music, but the occasion marks more than the completion of a degree. It is a moment of quiet culmination—of years spent navigating two disciplines, two modes of thought, and a deepening commitment to questions that resist … Read More

Peter Khan: A Graduating Student’s Life in Search of Meaning

Published: June 10, 2025

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Peter Khan’s journey to the University of Toronto was anything but conventional. Born in South Korea, Peter has lived many lives—military cadet, international liaison officer, marketing writer, fashion trader, monastic aspirant, and now, a graduating philosophy student and financial advisor. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a relentless … Read More

In memoriam: Peter H. Hess (1934-2025)

Published: June 9, 2025

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It is with sadness that the department announces the passing of our late colleague, Professor Emeritus Peter H. Hess. Born in Germany on September 22, 1934, Hess moved to Canada in 1957 and obtained an undergraduate degree from what was then the University of Western Ontario. He enrolled in the … Read More

2025 CPA Prize Winners: Cameron Yetman, Alexander Drusda, Joshua Brecka

Published: June 3, 2025

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At the Canadian Philosophical Association (CPA) Annual Congress on June 2, 2025, three of our graduate students—Cameron Yetman, Alex Drusda, and Josh Brecka—were formally recognized as winners of CPA 2025 academic prizes, recognizing excellence in philosophical scholarship across multiple categories. Yetman and Drusda both received a CPA Student Essay Prize, … Read More

Salem Kakish: Philosophy, Purpose, and the Power of Community—A Graduand Profile

Published: June 2, 2025

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When Salem Kakish reflects on his undergraduate journey at the University of Toronto, he doesn’t just see a degree in philosophy—he sees a transformation. A graduating fourth-year philosophy specialist and soon-to-be Oxford law student, Salem’s story is one of intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a deep commitment to community.  Born in … Read More

Examining a Crisis of Trust: Mark Kingwell’s Latest Book

Published: May 28, 2025

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Mark Kingwell’s latest book, Question Authority: A Polemic about Trust in Five Meditations (Biblioasis 2025), examines what he perceives as an immense crisis of trust in institutions of democratic authority and knowledge production. Kingwell asks readers to reassess how they think for themselves, also offering suggestions for restoring a healthy … Read More

Alex Koo Wins Outstanding Teaching Award–Early Career

Published: May 24, 2025

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Alex Koo, an assistant professor in the Teaching Stream, has won the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Outstanding Teaching Award–Early Career. The award recognizes excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, with a focus on classroom instruction, course design, and curriculum development. “The quality of our undergraduate and graduate teaching is … Read More

The Agora: UTSC’s New Student-Led Philosophy Podcast

Published: May 14, 2025

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A new podcast at the University of Toronto Scarborough is inviting students to slow down and think more carefully. The Agora, launched by the Association of Philosophy Students (APS), is a student-led initiative that brings philosophical discussion into a format that’s accessible, engaging, and timely. Rather than offering answers, it … Read More