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Department of Philosophy of the University of Sydney
The Russellian SocietyArchives: Previous retreats and events2006 Dr Uraiah Kriegel (Usyd) -- "Conceptual analysis and the logos of reality" (Tuesday 12 September) [Blurb to come] Dr Andy Egan (ANU) -- "Moral Uncertainties" (Wednesday 30 August) [Blurb to come] Professor Michael Devitt (CUNY) -- "Intuitions" (Thursday 17 August) [Blurb to come] Professor Susan James (London) -- "The politics of emotion: liberalism and cognitivism" (Wednesday 19 July) [Blurb to come] Dr Arif Ahmed (Cambridge University) -- "Functionalism in Berkeley's First Dialogue" (Tuesday 30 May 2006) Dr Arif Ahmed explained to us Berkeley�s argument for the absence of certain perceptual properties in matter. So, why is it that we believe that there is heat in the kettle, although the way we perceive heat is through immediate contact that then manifests itself as a sensation located in our own bodies and not the object which we have contact with? For example, a stinging nettle causes us pain when we touch it, but why would we never say that there is pain in the nettle, yet in the very similar case of heat we say that there is heat in the kettle? Berkeley concludes by reference to these two cases that these perceptual properties are not the subject of matter, that is to say that they are not in the matter, they are in our minds when we come into contact with the matter. This is, however, only one way to approach the problem -- why didn�t Berkeley even entertain the possibility that maybe pain was actually in the nettle, for instance? Ahmed argues that this is because what, for Berkeley, is necessary (although not necessarily sufficient) for pain is volition, and act of will something akin to pain avoidance. Berkeley was a functionalist. Dr Stephen Ross (City University of New York) -- "When worlds collide: mental state naturalism and normative attribution" (Tuesday 16 May 2006) Dr. Steven Ross's talk provided a very convincing argument for why ethics could not be reduced to natural facts. For problem ethical cases, for example, we are not able to decide the ethical fact of the matter just by knowing more natural facts about the case - just by showing that you were in a certain brain-state, for instance, at the time that you beat someone up does not tell us more about the ethical facts of the assault, for to ascribe a certain normative status to certain brain states would only be an arbitrary procedure. So what is left? Ethics, but ethics that demand their own realm of understanding and arbitration because they do not supervene on the natural facts of the world (even if we have *all* the facts from The Beginning of Time!). Professor Thomas Pogge (Columbia) -- "Why inequality matters: an instrumental argument" (Tuesday 9 May 2006) Professor Thomas Pogge looked at the claim that is made in ethics that, while poverty is certainly a bad thing, inequality in itself is not bad (you could, for instance, have a world where everyone was really well off, yet still have some inequality in sheer quantities of wealth, and there is no reason it say, as such, that this would be immoral). He then attacked this, in an instrumental way, by showing that, in modern society, it is the acceptance of inequality that is directly related to the perpetuation, and even increasing levels, of extreme poverty. While rich countries and, especially, rich corporations have something self-interested to gain from maintaining extreme inequality particularly in the poorest nations, they also maintain a structure which is almost akin to institutionalised poverty and continues to deny people the resources which they would need improve their situations. This talk was originally given as the Milliner Lecture last year at the London School of Economics, and should be published late this year. Thanks to everyone who came along, we had a very good turn-out for what proved to be a very engaging talk. Dr Greg Scherkoske (Dalhousie University) -- "Trust and respect" (Friday 28 April 2006) A very engaging talk on the way that an intrinsic link between trust and respect could be used as grounds for developing a positive moral analysis of the importance of trust. This was followed by a lively debate where both questions of the value of trust and of respect were raised. Thanks to everyone who came along, and to the speaker who gave a very successful talk. And, of course, thank you to the philosophy department for granting us the use of the Philosophy Common Room without which this event would not have been possible. Dr Nick Zangwill (Oxford) -- "Music and mysticism" (Tuesday 4 April 2006) The event went very well, despite the small room. It was an interesting lecture followed by lively discussion, and afterwards a few of us went for a meal. Assistant Professor Adam Elga (Princeton) -- "Should your beliefs survive scrutiny of their origins?" (Tuesday 7 March 2006) Hypoxia is a condition that one can get when they are at too high an altitude which affects their ability to make certain decisions (such as mathematical calculations). If you are a pilot and you get this condition, you have to be very careful when making calculations that could determine important things about the safety of your flight -- you are likely to make calculational errors, and so you must constantly question your own judgement. However, with mild hypoxia, you are unlikely to feel any symptoms. In fact, you are unlikely to be able to recognise that you have it at all, as, not only will you feel just as confident about your decision making and calculating abilities, but your very ability to calculate whether you have hypoxia will be affected. This means that when pilots fly above a certain altitude they must doubt all their calculations and be very careful to have them backed up by reliable sources even if they don�t feel in any way that they are suffering from hypoxia (and even if the statistical likelihood of them suffering from hypoxia is very low) -- because they have no way of telling if they do get it. What this tells us, argues Adam Elga, is that there may well be situations where we should doubt the origins of our beliefs in everyday life, and yet we would not be able to tell if these situations arose. So, like the pilot flying over a certain altitude, we should be very careful about scrutinising all our beliefs, particularly our moral beliefs which, he argues, can be very much affected by hypoxia-like invisible agents such as our background, education, social affiliations etc. And we must be careful before we reject other people�s moral beliefs as we have no real way of telling which of us is most affected by the hypoxia of our own situation. 2006 AGM (Tuesday 7 March 2006) Congratulations to Cressida Gaukroger, Natalia Soeters, Constance Zhang, Amanda Hickling and Shailla van Raad for being elected
to committee positions for 2006!
2005 Dr Caroline West -- "Illusions and delusions of happiness" (Wednesday 12 October 2005) [Summary missing] Dr John Grumley -- "Agnes Heller and the question of humanism" (Tuesday 6 September 2005) Dr Grumley gave us a great insight into Heller and a lovely time was had by all... except those who had to miss it because they were sick! Dr Michael Robertson -- "Psychiatry and Human Rights -- Past, Present and Future" (Thursday 11 August 2005) Dr Robertson examined the abuses of psychiatry in the time of the Third Reich, the USSR and present day China. He attempted to identify common themes in these three instances as a base for discussing the relationship between psychiatry and society in post-industrial Australia. Dr Ned Markosian -- "Rossian Minimalism" (Wednesday 4 May 2005) Prof Markosian delivered a rather convincing argument for Rossian Minimalism, providing us with his answer to the question "What is the most promising ethical theory that can be formulated making use of WD Ross�s notion of a prima facie duty?". Then told us it is more ethical not to lock ourselves in a box!!! Phew... Dr Timothy Rayner -- "Who is Antonio Negri?" (Thursday 14 April 2005) Dr Rayner provided a clear and enlightening discussion of Antonio Negri, bringing our attention to Negri's current work and status as a leading theorist of globalisation and reinforceing our not-so-friendly thoughts towards certain outlets of the media... Dr Luke Russell -- "Does Human Nature Play a Role in Ethics?" (Wednesday 23 March 2005) "A fantastic talk and a great start to the year! Special thanks to all those who helped on the night (I'm sorry if I don't mention you all
but you know I appreciate you anyway!!), Tracey, Neville and especially Lipin (who was promised a break from the hassles of Russoc)..." -- Guida
2004 2004 AGM (Friday 8 October 2004) Congratulations and condolences Guida for being elected president for 2005! Dr Moira Gatens -- "Human rights are women's rights: so what's the problem?" (Friday 8 October 2004) Dr Gatens argued that the tension between women's rights and the right to freedom of religion can be a "productive paradox". Dr Daniel Whiting -- "Gerrymandering Brandom: Meaning and the Prospects of Reductionism" (Wednesday 22 September 2004) Gerrymandering. Brandom. Orange juice. A great night had by all! Dr Kati Farkas -- "Of the nature of the human mind and that it is more easily known than the body" (Monday 30 August 2004) [Summary missing] Dr Tim Crane -- "Could science tell us everything about consciousness" (Friday 27 August 2004) [Summary missing] Dr John Bacon -- "Family values and naughty acts" (Wednesday 4 August 2004) Virginity, incest, and racoon-shootin'. Dr Bacon's argument was that universal values are the only moral values: he doesn't recognise traditional "family values". Dr David Braddon-Mitchell -- "After the Matrix" (Tuesday 6 April 2004) [Summary missing] Blue Mountains retreat -- 2004 The 2004 retreat was a fantastic event for all involved and included: Professor Paul Redding on "... and what's wrong, exactly, with philosophical idealism?"; Dr Tim Rayner on "Global Democracy: Representative, Extensive, Absolute"; and Dr Luke Russell on "Is Tony Soprano Courageous?". Plus a number of excellent student speakers and a dramatic reading of Plato�s Laches, starring Dr Rick Benitez as Socrates! The retreat was a great opportunity for academics, students and lovers of philosophy to huddle together (hiding from the fog and rain) enjoy good philosophy, conversation, wine and food, enjoy luxurious accommodation and battle it out for the prestigious title of Retreat Trivia Champions! -- Guida
2003 Dr David Macarthur -- "Philosophy after Naturalism: Exploring Some Quinean Themes" (Thursday 23rd October 2003) [Summary missing] Simon Lumsden -- "Authenticity and Self-disclosure: Heidegger's Transformation of Subjectivity" (Thursday 11th September 2003) [Summary missing] Michelle Brewer -- "Why there is no abortion in Ireland" (Thursday 14th August 2003) Feminist theory, with a heady brew of religion, liberal theory and historical analysis mixed in -- a special evening talk for Women in Education week. Dr Stephen Mumford -- "Why Does Metaphysics Matter?" (Friday 6th June 2003) Does metaphysics really come before logic? Do all beliefs involve commitment to some ontology? These and many more questions were raised... Dr Luke Russell -- "What is Evil?" (Thursday 22nd May 2003) A great success, with even more punters than the inaugural event. We promise many more chairs next time round -- so be sure to turn up to the next event... Dr Tim Bayne -- "Creating Amy: How to Think About Coming into Existence" (Thursday 8th May 2003) Another excellent talk and an engaging question time. Tim Bayne's talk is available at his website here for all those who still want to know if they should regret having been born. Election of new executive members (Thursday 10th April 2003) Congratulations to all on their hard-won (ahem) victories for executive positions. Visit the contacts page to find out who the new President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are. Inaugural 2003 Event: Dr Caroline West -- "Individual Rights, Group Rights and Autonomy" (Thursday 10th April 2003) An excellent turn out for the first event of the year, coupled with an intriguing take on personal
identity. My "personality-slice" was impressed at the time, but I don't have anything to do with it now.
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