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Black-and-white head shot of a bearded, middle-aged Taras Lyutyi in a circle in the middle of a U of T blue banner bearing his name in white.

Welcoming Taras Lyutyi, Visiting Professor

Published: March 16, 2023

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The department extends a warm welcome to visiting professor Taras Lyutyi from Ukraine. An expert in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, he hails from the Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA). His academic interests further extend to philosophical anthropology and the philosophy … Read More

A black-and-white head shot of John G. Slater in the middle of a gray background, with the words (in blue and white), "In memoriam John G. Slater, June 1, 1930-November 19, 2022"

In Memoriam John G. Slater (1930-2022)

Published: February 27, 2023

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The Department of Philosophy mourns the death of Professor Emeritus John Greer Slater, a formidable scholar of Bertrand Russell, former chair of the department, esteemed teacher, and cherished colleague. Slater passed away from complications of COVID-19 on November 19, 2022. Born in the United States on June 1, 1930, Slater … Read More

On a U of T blue background, headshots in circles of Manish Oza, Caitlin Hamblin-Yule, and Logan Ginther (left to right)

2022 Prize-Winning CPA Essays

Published: February 13, 2023

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We are delighted to see included in the latest issue of Dialogue (61.3), a special issue on the Prizes of the Canadian Philosophical Association, three names associated with our program. Caitlin Hamblin-Yule, one of our current PhD students, won a prestigious Congress Graduate Merit Award (CGMA) for her essay “The Gallows … Read More

Dark blue-and-cream-colored illustration of a robot-human sitting in a courtroom, a hat on the desk in front of them, alongside a black-and-white headshot of Mark Kingwell

Singular Creatures: Mark Kingwell Discusses His Latest Book

Published: February 8, 2023

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Anxiety about non-human intelligent machines has been a longstanding theme of cultural production and consumption (think anything from Frankenstein to Black Mirror and beyond). It is rooted in the possibility that non-conscious entities may turn out superior to biological life forms, ultimately surpassing and possibly subjugating biological forms of intelligent … Read More

From left to right: Mary Frances Ellison, Margaret-Opoku-Pare, and Joanne Hurley smiling in the offices of the Department of Philosophy

Margaret Opoku-Pare Retires

Published: February 2, 2023

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January 31, 2023, marked a day of mixed feelings at the Department of Philosophy: After almost two decades of exemplary service and unwavering dedication, our  graduate administrator Margaret Opoku-Pare for the last time closed her door in the Department of Philosophy to begin her well-deserved retirement. Margaret had joined the … Read More

Head shot of a bearded and bespectacled Fred Wilson in the middle of a U of T blue banner and the words, "In memoriam Fred F. Wilson, December 27, 1937 - January 10, 2023"

In Memoriam Fred F. Wilson (1937-2023)

Published: January 13, 2023

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The Department of Philosophy is deeply saddened by the death of our colleague, Professor Emeritus FRSC Fred F. Wilson, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Wilson—an indefatigable scholar and dedicated teacher who also found time for a series of active service roles—worked in, and helped shape, … Read More

Black-and-white head shot of a smiling Arthur Ripstein in the middle of a U of T blue banner including his name, in white all caps.

Arthur Ripstein Honoured with Journal of the History of Philosophy Prize

Published: January 4, 2023

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Arthur Ripstein, a University Professor in Department of Philosophy and the Faculty of Law and, has been awarded the 2022 Journal of the History of Philosophy Prize, which celebrates philosophical and scholarly achievement. The prize is awarded to a book published in the previous year (according to the copyright date) that deserves special recognition … Read More

From left to right: Marleen Rozemond, Martin Pickavé, Michaela Manson, and Donald Ainslie smiling broadly and holding champagne glasses in a restaurant

Two New Philosophy PhDs

Published: January 3, 2023

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We are delighted to announce that two more of our PhD students, Lisa Doerksen and Michaela Manson, have successfully defended their dissertations and thereby concluded their graduate studies. Lisa wrote her thesis, titled “Finding Oneself in the World,” under the supervision of Gurpreet Rattan. Michaela, writing under the guidance of … Read More

Head shot of Avia Pasternak wearing glasses in a circular frame on a U of T blue background

Welcome, Avia Pasternak

Published: December 19, 2022

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We are thrilled to announce that on January 1, 2023, Avia Pasternak will join us as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at UTSC and in the Graduate Department of Philosophy on the St. George campus. Professor Pasternak is a political philosopher whose work has centred on … Read More

Head shot of Alexandra Gustafson on a gray-green background, with the words, "Curiosity, Creativity, Collaboration: In conversation with Alexandra Gustafson"

Curiosity, Creativity, Collaboration: In Conversation with Alexandra Gustafson

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In 2022, the Martha Lile Love Teaching Award went to Alexandra Gustafson for her outstanding work teaching PHL388 – Literature and Philosophy. The committee singled out for praise her course’s design, timely theme, approach to accessibility, and innovative lecture format. Besides being a committed teacher, Gustafson, a published scholar of the philosophy of … Read More

Head shot of Spender Albert, a bearded white man smiling, with the words 2022 Winner Martha Lile Love Essay Award

Spencer Albert Wins the 2022 Martha Lile Love Essay Award

Published: December 15, 2022

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It is our pleasure to announce Spencer Albert as the winner of this year’s Martha Lile Love Essay Award. The prize committee described his essay, “How Commodity Fetishism Undermines Desert-Based Arguments against Redistribution and Reparations,” in the following manner: “Spencer argues that a significant barrier to shifting public opinion on … Read More

Wishing you the joys of the season, on U of T blue background with a red berry and blue leaf wreath

Happy Holidays 2022

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The Department of Philosophy wishes everyone a joyful and restorative holiday season, and a peaceful, healthy. and happy beginning to 2023. The department will be closed between 12 PM, December 20, 2022, and January 2, 2023. Between January 3 and 6, the administrative offices on the St. George campus will … Read More