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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

Head shot of Alexandra Gustafson, a white woman with medium-length blonde hair, standing in front of a bookshelf wearing a beige turtleneck. She is surrounded by the words "Alexandra Gustafson, Winner, 2022 Martha Lile Love Teaching Award" in pink and white.

Alexandra Gustafson Honoured with 2022 Martha Lile Love Teaching Award

Published: December 2, 2022

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The department is delighted to announce the recipient of the 2022 Martha Lile Love Teaching Award: Alexandra Gustafson received the honour for her outstanding work teaching PHL388 – Literature and Philosophy. The committee was impressed with her course’s design, timely theme, approach to accessibility, and innovative lecture format. Alexandra joins a long list of award winners since … Read More

Portraits of, from left to right, John Bunke (a white, bearded man wearing a blue-checkered shirt and glasses), Seyed Yarandi, an Iranian man with glasses wearing a yellow T-shirt in front of a relief wall), Jack Beaulieu (a white bearded man wearing a blue button-down and scarf caught in conversation)

Our Latest PhDs

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Congratulations to the three latest PhDs to emerge from our program: John Bunke already successfully defended his dissertation in late September. Written under the supervision of Gurpreet Rattan, it was titled “Metaphysics in Context.” More recently, Jack Beaulieu passed his thesis defense with flying colours on November 29, 2022. He … Read More

From left to right, Elysa Din, Mathieu Duguay, Thomas Kaufman-Nash, and Rachel Barney in front of the 2022 World Philosophy Day lecture slides of Agnes Callard

St. George Undergraduate Awards 2022

Published: November 22, 2022

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November 17, 2022, marked not only the day of our much-applauded UNESCO World Philosophy Day Lecture with Agnes Callard (Chicago) but also the moment at which we announced the St. George undergraduate award winners for 2022. Congratulations to all successful candidates! Justin Gharibo, Scotia Capital Markets Bursary in Philosophy Aman … Read More