Philosophy News

News Categories

On a U of T blue background, headshots of Kira Jensen (left) and Patrina van Nieuwstadt (right), both young women with long, straight hair, Kira blone and Patrina dark brown. The images are accompanied by their names in powder blue.

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

Published: June 17, 2025

Posted In: , , , ,

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

Head shot of Victor Chung, a young East Asian man with glasses and short, black, curly hair standing under a bridge wearing a blue button-down and black vest. All this on a U of T blue background with his name and the words "Class of 2025."

Victor Chung: A Graduation in Two Movements

Published: June 16, 2025

Posted In: , , ,

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

Head shot of Peter Khan, a young Korean man with short, black hair standing inside a simple wooden cabin wearing a black sweater, smiling mildly. All this on a U of T blue background with his name and the words "Class of 2025."

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

Published: June 10, 2025

Posted In: , , ,

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

A drawing of Professor Emeritus Peter H. Hess, a white-haired white man with a short beard and wearing a suit, on a sand-colored background and the words, "In memoriam Peter H. Hess, 1934-2025"

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

Published: June 9, 2025

Posted In: ,

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

On a U of T blue background, portrait shots of (l to r) Cameron Yetman, Joshua Brecka, and Alexander Drusda. All are young white man with short hair and glasses. Brecka has a full short beard. Their names accompany the images in light blue.

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

Published: June 3, 2025

Posted In: , ,

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

Upper-body shot of Salem Kakish, a smiling young man with short brown hair wearing a checkered shirt underneath a beige trench coat standing against a backdrop of the roofs of Paris. All this on a U of T blue background with his name in orange and the words "Class of 2025" in beige.

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

Published: June 2, 2025

Posted In: , , , ,

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

On a U of T blue background, a black-and-white headshot of Mark Kingwell, a serious-looking white man with short hair in his late fifties.

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

Published: May 28, 2025

Posted In: , , , , ,

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

Head shot of Alex Koo, an East Asian man with short black hair, glasses, and wearing a light blue button-down, smiling into the camera

Alex Koo Wins Outstanding Teaching Award–Early Career

Published: May 24, 2025

Posted In: , , , ,

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

Head shot of Samuella Ojo, a young black woman with natural hair, alongside the official logo of The Agora podcast, and on a U of T blue background the words, "Samuella Ojo & The Agora"

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

Published: May 14, 2025

Posted In: , , , , ,

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

On a U of T blue background, from left to right, headshots of: Soouyoung Moon, Joshua Brecka,Alexander Drusda and Faisal Bhabha (top row); Jules Sheldon, Yi-Chen Lin, and Zoe Leslie (bottom row), all alongside their names in light blue

2025 Graduate Student Service Awards

Published: May 7, 2025

Posted In: , ,

At the Department of Philosophy’s annual Spring Party, Faisal Bhabha, Josh Brecka, Alex Drusda, Zoe Leslie, Yi-Cheng Lin, Sooyoung Moon, and Jules Sheldon each received a Graduate Student Service Award. The annual prize celebrates initiatives undertaken by graduate students to support and improve the community. “The functioning and climate of our … Read More

A young East Asian woman wearing glasses and a black-and-white checkered blouse smiles broadly into the camera standing in front of a bookshelf.

Jovy Chan Successfully Defends Dissertation

Published: May 6, 2025

Posted In: ,

Congratulations to Jovy Chan, who recently defended her doctoral dissertation with success, making her the department’s latest PhD. Chan wrote “Managing the Human Herd in the Digital World” under the supervision of Joe Heath. She now looks forward to beginning a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. We look forward to your … Read More

David Dyzenhaus, an older white man with glasses, smiling dressed in the honorary regalia of the University of the Witwatersrand.

Honorary Doctorate from Witwatersrand for David Dyzenhaus

Published: April 4, 2025

Posted In: , ,

David Dyzenhaus, a University Professor in the Department of Philosophy and in the Faculty of Law, has received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, his alma mater. Wits awards honorary doctorates recognizing individuals who have made lasting contributions to their respective fields, advancing knowledge, research and … Read More