Neuroscience Gets Philosophical

Old minds and new brains...working together.



At the University of Washington, researchers are pioneering a field of neuroscience called "neuroengineering," which will one day involve doing things like regulating people's moods with brain implants. In this fascinating video, they explain how their work spilled over into philosophy.

The issues that these neuroengineers are tackling are going to become increasingly important in many scientific fields that touch on the human mind. Entering the Brain Age also means that lab research will be trying to answer the same questions that people in the humanities have contemplated for thousands of years. Who are we? Do we have freewill? If somebody is controlling our minds with chemicals and medical devices, how is that different from controlling us with ideology or economic incentives?

The much-vaunted "war" between science and culture seems destined to end in a synthesis, at least in cases like these.

[For a direct link to the new story, click HERE.]

NEW SHOW: 8-Bit Philosophy (playlist)

Philosophy for the masses!  Enjoy the videos, and share your comments.

A Nice Resource

The following link is a cool little resource for philosophical reflection.  If you have some time and want to explore some philosophical ideas, check it out!

Big Questions Online

Alumni highlights: Jonathan Spelman

The Philosophy Department is proud to highlight a short scholarly piece written by Jonathan Spelman!  Spelman is an AU Philosophy grad (2008) and current Ph.D candidate in Philosophy at the University of Colorado-Boulder.  His essay on Moral Luck can be found on the website, "1000-Word Philosophy".  The links are below.

Moral Luck

1000-Word Philosophy

New Chair in Philosophy

The Philosophy Department at Ashland University is pleased to announce that Dr. Louis Mancha has been nominated to be the new Chair of Philosophy.  He has taken the helm as of May 2014.  Dr. Mancha will be replacing Dr. William Vaughan, Chair since 2001.


Dr. Mancha has been a growing influence on campus since coming to Ashland in 2003.  His Ph.D is from Purdue University, and his scholarly work has been in Medieval philosophy and analytic Philosophy of Religion.  He has taught multiple courses in the department curriculum, has significant university committee experience, has steered the undergraduate Philosophy Club for many years, and has anchored the department's growing web presence.  Dr. Mancha was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012, and will have returned from a semester long study-leave.

"I look forward to the challenge of maintaining our department's prominence and stature as one of the primary intellectual forces on the campus," said Dr. Mancha.

Dr. Vaughan leaves behind a rich legacy, despite difficult times in academia.  During his 13 years as chair, the department has witnessed increased faculty, increases in student acceptance rates to major graduate schools, significant curriculum changes, acquisition of the facilities of Bixler Hall, a rise of scholarly production by faculty, and has seen each member of the Philosophy department promoted, tenured, and awarded significant research grants and study leaves.

"Dr. Mancha will bring fresh perspectives and leadership energy for the subject matter of philosophy to face the future. He has the confidence of the faculty and is well-regarded across the university," said Dr. Vaughan.

A change at this time will allow Dr. Vaughan to concentrate greater attention to his administrative role as University Core Director, as well as return to the faculty and his research emphasis in European philosophy.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Lee McBride - Feb. 4th

Philosophy Lecture

February 4th, 2014

Lee McBride, PhD - Associate Professor
Department Chair, The College of Wooster

Topic:  "Thoreau's Insurrectionist Ethics"

What character traits and forms of provocation mark the insurrectionist?

Place:  Ronk Lecture Hall, Schar College of Ed.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. William Vaughan

William Vaughan, Professor of Philosophy and University Core Director, gave a talk before the College of Wooster Philosophy Roundtable, on Thursday September 26^th, 2013, on Nazi Appropriations of Urteilskraft: Aesthetic Ideology and Classical German Philosophy.  The remarks focused on the uses to which the theories of aesthetics from Kant and Hegel have been put in 20^th century political contexts.

Philosophy in the news?!?  Geez.

An argument over the theories of 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant ended in a man being shot in a grocery store in southern Russia.  I wonder what it was they were discussing?  Possibly whether or not Kant was really a deontologist...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/16/us-russia-kant-shooting-idUSBRE98F0DI20130916

Why Future Business Leaders Need Philosophy

Studies show that in order to be successful in business you need critical thinking skills. These skills allow you to assess and challenge the basic assumptions of business models and practices.  Because of this, philosophy majors advance more rapidly than their colleagues who possess only business degrees: "by mid-career, the salaries of philosophy graduates surpasses those of marketing, communications, accounting and business management. Taking this into consideration, it appears that having the right business degree from a prestigious business school does not guarantee a successful career in business."

http://grasp.dk/why-future-business-leaders-need-philosophy/

View Jeffrey Brower's Philosophy Lecture

As human beings, we possess both minds and bodies. But what is their nature and how are we related to them?  Are we essentially material objects, immaterial persons, or partly material and partly immaterial beings?  According to Dr. Brower, we can learn a great deal from the broadly Aristotelian approach that Thomas Aquinas, the great Medieval Aristotelian, takes to answering these questions.  His approach not only provides us with an attractive alternative to the standard forms of materialism and dualism in philosophy of mind, but also offers us an intriguing set of options for what happens to us after death.

View Jeffrey Brower's Lecture: Aquinas on Human Personhood and Death