Philosophy@Western

Philosophy Graduate Student Association Colloquium Series - Fall 2010

  

Downlaod Schedule (PDF)

Extended CFP: Diotima Graduate Conference

*Please note that the submissions deadline has been extended to June 30.*

Diotima: A Graduate Conference for Feminist Philosophers

Feminism, Technology and the World: Ecological Perspectives

University of Western Ontario

September 25-26, 2010

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

This conference aims to bring together graduate students who share an interest in feminism, post-coloniality, queer theory, critical race theory, philosophy of disability and anti-oppression theory in general, regardless of their primary area of research. 

Keynote Speaker: We are pleased to announce Lorraine Code, Distinguished Research Professor Emerita at York University and recipient of the Distinguished Woman Philosopher Award (2009), as our keynote speaker. Prof. Code’s work explores “ecological thinking as a conceptual apparatus and regulative principle for a theory of knowledge – an epistemology – capable of addressing feminist, multicultural, and other postcolonial issues.”

We are also pleased to announce Gillian Barker as our faculty keynote speaker.  Prof. Barker specializes in philosophy of science and of biology.  She is interested in ecological conceptions of organism-environment interaction and their implications for our thinking about agency, normativity and knowledge, and in ecological psychology as a tool for transformative learning and action.

We invite submissions in any area of philosophy or feminist theory, that have been influenced by your feminist commitments broadly construed, including but not limited to:

·      Feminist analysis of information sharing systems and new technologies;

·      Social consequences of genetic or biomedical research and treatment;

·      Explorations of a human/non-human divide, or personhood generally;

·      A discussion of a recent work or emerging political concern;

·      Developing interactions between theorists from different cultures;

·      Wilderness, the built environment, poverty and politics;

·      Environmental disaster and response;

·      Intergenerational justice

Presenters will have 30-35 minutes to speak, followed by a 10-minute commentary and a 25-30 minute discussion period.  Papers should be approximately 4000 words.  Please include an abstract with your submission of no more then 200 words. 

**EXTENDED** SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: June 30

Please send your submissions electronically to [email protected].   All papers will be evaluated by blind review; identifying information should appear in a cover letter only.

UWO’s philosophy department has an established strength in feminist philosophy, philosophy of science, and is home to the newly formed Rotman Institute for Science and Values.

PGSA Talk: Reproductive 'Choice' and Egg Freezing

The first talk of this year's PGSA Colloquium Series will take place this Wednesday, September 23rd. The talk will be in Talbot College, Room 310, at 5:30.

Angel Petropanagos

 
Abstract:  As oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation techniques continue to improve, there is a growing need to address the moral permissibility of what has been called ‘social’ egg freezing. Ordinarily used to preserve the fertility of cancer patients, egg freezing has recently gained popularity amongst women wishing to guard themselves against age-related infertility.   Despite recent advancements in egg freezing, a number of regulatory bodies and individuals continue to voice concern over the safety and success of this reproductive technology when used for ‘social’ reasons and although some of these concerns about the risks associated with egg freezing may be legitimate, it is not clear whether a strict ban on ‘social’ egg freezing is morally justified, given that medical egg freezing is permitted.  In this paper I examine whether there are any moral differences between medical and social egg freezing. I argue that objectors to social egg freezing who think the differences in the timing and/or cause of the infertility are relevant are ultimately relying on a mistaken understanding of women’s reproductive ‘choices’.  Using a feminist analysis of the notion of ‘choice’, I show that the differences between medical and social egg freezing continue to bear little moral relevance. I argue that if egg freezing is permitted for medical reasons, then it ought to be permitted for social reasons, within a patriarchal society.

 
Note to faculty members: We hope you will join us, particularly when the student's research lies in your area of specialty. The PGSA series aims to develop the presenter's oratory confidence, a part of which consists in the defense of his or her research before both specialists and non-specialists.

Note to PGSA members: There's still a bit of space left on the schedule for the fall semester.  So if you'd like to present a talk, then reply to this email or talk to one of the coordinators