PROVENANCE OF IDEAS
On the mystery of Knowledge and other ultimate mysteries.
https://philosophia937.wordpress.com/2020/01/28/provenance-of-ideas/
D. R. Khashaba
dkhashaba@yahoo.com
[Pathways] The PSR Fails to Prove The Existence of God - by Ferlin F. Pedro
*Abstract*:
I argue that the 'Principle of Sufficient Reason' (PSR) as a cosmological argument does not warrant the existence of God. In section one, I describe the nature of cosmological arguments, then examine two of its main variations: the 'First Cause' argument and the argument from contingency, and their weaknesses. In section two, I go on to assess Leibniz's PSR, showing that the PSR falls into contradictory terms of necessity and contingency. I conclude that the PSR does not offer adequate justification for God's existence as a necessary Being.
*URL*:
https://www.academia.edu/41741476/The_Principle_of_Sufficient_Reason_Fails_To_Prove_The_Existence_of_God
Ferlin F. Pedro
ffpedrojr@gmail.com
I argue that the 'Principle of Sufficient Reason' (PSR) as a cosmological argument does not warrant the existence of God. In section one, I describe the nature of cosmological arguments, then examine two of its main variations: the 'First Cause' argument and the argument from contingency, and their weaknesses. In section two, I go on to assess Leibniz's PSR, showing that the PSR falls into contradictory terms of necessity and contingency. I conclude that the PSR does not offer adequate justification for God's existence as a necessary Being.
*URL*:
https://www.academia.edu/41741476/The_Principle_of_Sufficient_Reason_Fails_To_Prove_The_Existence_of_God
Ferlin F. Pedro
ffpedrojr@gmail.com
[Pathways] The World Within: Essays by D.R. Khashaba
THE WORLD WITHIN: A METAPHYSICAL APPROACH
A collection of philosophical essays making the case that humanity needs a new infusion of spiritual values.
Download:
https://archive.org/details/@daoudkhashaba
D. R. Khashaba
dkhashaba@yahoo.com
A collection of philosophical essays making the case that humanity needs a new infusion of spiritual values.
Download:
https://archive.org/details/@daoudkhashaba
D. R. Khashaba
dkhashaba@yahoo.com
[Pathways] Symposium: Alone Together Again
This is the second call for papers for the *Alone Together Again* symposium in Szczecin, Poland.
*"We must meet; we must communicate with one another; we must, it would seem, be alone together"* (John Macmurray)
We welcome contributions to the second international pandisciplinary symposium on solitude in community: *Alone Together Again,* which will take place in Szczecin, Poland, between 16th and 18th April 2020. This is organised by the University of Szczecin (Poland) and York St John University (United Kingdom), under the auspices of the Rector of the University of Szczecin. All papers and discussions will be held in English.
We welcome papers on any issues related to solitude, silence and loneliness, from any discipline, and from researchers from all over the world. Our first symposium involved over 30 papers from nine countries, with participants from philosophy, linguistics, psychology, education, theology, business studies, psychology, counselling, gerontology, and more. It resulted in a contract for an academic handbook, and a journal special edition; we have another journal special edition associated with this second symposium. *The* *submission of abstracts will be welcome till the 15th January 2020*. (Later submissions will be considered if there is still room on the programme.)
Detailed information about abstracts, the symposium venue, and booking procedures is available on our website: https://ata.usz.edu.pl/ . The website also has details of the plenary papers already arranged.
If you are able, please pass on this information to networks with which you are involved.
And in the meantime, I hope you have an inspiring new year!
All the best,
Julian Stern and Małgorzata Wałejko
on behalf of the ATA Organizational Committee
____________________________________________
Julian Stern
Professor of Education and Religion
York St John University
Lord Mayor's Walk
York YO31 7EX
Tel 01904 876520
Email j.stern@yorksj.ac.uk <https://email.yorksj.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?C=c33e516e85564a4193dc3ca813500de0&URL=mailto%3aj.stern%40yorksj.ac.uk>
Web www.yorksj.ac.uk
General Secretary of *ISREV: the International Seminar on Religious Education and Values* (www.yorksj.ac.uk/isrev @ISREV1978 #ISREV https://twitter.com/ISREV1978).
Editor of the *British Journal of Religious Education*.
Latest books **Mastering Primary Religious Education* *(with Maria James, https://tinyurl.com/y5vzjtay), **A Philosophy of Schooling: Care and Curiosity in Community** (http://amzn.to/2tiqKUl), **Teaching Religious Education: Researchers in the Classroom: Second Edition*** *(http://amzn.to/2C8fbOw), **Can I Tell You About Loneliness?** (http://amzn.to/2s9pTAg), **Virtuous Educational Research: Conversations on Ethical Practice **(http://amzn.to/2bc8X7s), and **Loneliness and Solitude in Education: How to Value Individuality and Create an Enstatic School** (amzn.to/1kOm3on).* *
*"We must meet; we must communicate with one another; we must, it would seem, be alone together"* (John Macmurray)
We welcome contributions to the second international pandisciplinary symposium on solitude in community: *Alone Together Again,* which will take place in Szczecin, Poland, between 16th and 18th April 2020. This is organised by the University of Szczecin (Poland) and York St John University (United Kingdom), under the auspices of the Rector of the University of Szczecin. All papers and discussions will be held in English.
We welcome papers on any issues related to solitude, silence and loneliness, from any discipline, and from researchers from all over the world. Our first symposium involved over 30 papers from nine countries, with participants from philosophy, linguistics, psychology, education, theology, business studies, psychology, counselling, gerontology, and more. It resulted in a contract for an academic handbook, and a journal special edition; we have another journal special edition associated with this second symposium. *The* *submission of abstracts will be welcome till the 15th January 2020*. (Later submissions will be considered if there is still room on the programme.)
Detailed information about abstracts, the symposium venue, and booking procedures is available on our website: https://ata.usz.edu.pl/ . The website also has details of the plenary papers already arranged.
If you are able, please pass on this information to networks with which you are involved.
And in the meantime, I hope you have an inspiring new year!
All the best,
Julian Stern and Małgorzata Wałejko
on behalf of the ATA Organizational Committee
____________________________________________
Julian Stern
Professor of Education and Religion
York St John University
Lord Mayor's Walk
York YO31 7EX
Tel 01904 876520
Email j.stern@yorksj.ac.uk <https://email.yorksj.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?C=c33e516e85564a4193dc3ca813500de0&URL=mailto%3aj.stern%40yorksj.ac.uk>
Web www.yorksj.ac.uk
General Secretary of *ISREV: the International Seminar on Religious Education and Values* (www.yorksj.ac.uk/isrev @ISREV1978 #ISREV https://twitter.com/ISREV1978).
Editor of the *British Journal of Religious Education*.
Latest books **Mastering Primary Religious Education* *(with Maria James, https://tinyurl.com/y5vzjtay), **A Philosophy of Schooling: Care and Curiosity in Community** (http://amzn.to/2tiqKUl), **Teaching Religious Education: Researchers in the Classroom: Second Edition*** *(http://amzn.to/2C8fbOw), **Can I Tell You About Loneliness?** (http://amzn.to/2s9pTAg), **Virtuous Educational Research: Conversations on Ethical Practice **(http://amzn.to/2bc8X7s), and **Loneliness and Solitude in Education: How to Value Individuality and Create an Enstatic School** (amzn.to/1kOm3on).* *
[Pathways] Climate Change and the Long-Term Future – Winter School
Date: February 24-25, 2020
Location: Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, Oude Boteringestraat 52, 9712GL Groningen, Netherlands
More information on website:
After six successful installments, the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Groningen will host its seventh yearly Winter School, aimed primarily at advanced undergraduate students and early-stage graduate students. The theme of the Winter School this year is Climate Change and the Long-Term Future. It will consist of 6 lecture tutorials where topics related to the theme will be discussed from different disciplinary viewpoints: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).
Theme
Climate change is among the biggest challenges humanity faces today. How should individuals, societies, and humanity at large respond to climate change and other long-term challenges? Far from being a question for the natural sciences alone, a good answer also requires a 'PPE perspective', that is, a perspective that combines philosophy, politics, and economics. In this winter school, different researchers will take a PPE perspective in exploring climate change and our ethical and political obligations towards future people. The challenge is typically seen as a collective action problem. From this perspective, it calls for an institutional solution that facilitates widespread cooperation among individuals and countries. And it brings up empirical questions, such as what explains people's attitudes and actions towards the environment and future generations and how can those be improved? But it also has an important epistemic dimension. For example, what is a rational response to scientific disagreement and to the risk and uncertainty involved in climate predictions? Finally, the winter school also tackles fundamental normative questions, such as: What are our moral obligations to future people? Do they extend to all future people and, if so, does this imply that our longtermist moral duties trump any short-term concerns?
Programme (speakers confirmed so far)
Prof Leah Henderson, 'The philosophy of climate science'
Prof Lisa Herzog, 'Climate Science and Democracy – Considerations from Political Epistemology'
Dr Simon Friederich, 'Climate change as a collective action problem and the importance of very cheap energy'
Prof Frank Hindriks, 'Sustainable institutions and a duty to join forces'
Dr. Andreas T. Schmidt, 'Longtermism and our duty towards far-future people'
The winter school is aimed at advanced undergraduate students and early-stage graduate students. It also offers students interested in studying the PPE Master in Groningen an insight into the kinds of teaching and research done at the PPE Centre.
Scholarship
The Faculty offers up to three scholarships of up to EUR 200 for promising students enrolling in the winter school who express interest in later applying for a Master's programme in Groningen. Moreover, participants who later enrol in a Master's programme at the Faculty of Philosophy for the year 2020/2021 will have their registration fee for the winter school reimbursed.
To apply for the scholarships, send a short CV (max 2 pages) and a letter (max 1 page) stating your interest in the winter school to winterschoolphilosophy@rug.nl with 'Application for winter school scholarship' as subject. Deadline to apply for the scholarships: January 7, 2020. Preference will be given to members of underrepresented groups.
Registration
To register, send an email with your name, affiliation and status (undergraduate, graduate) to winterschoolphilosophy 'at' rug.nl with 'Registration for winter school' as subject, no later than January 15th 2020. As the number of spots is limited, you are encouraged to register early. Preference will be given to advanced undergraduate students.
As the number of spots is limited, you are encouraged to register early. Preference will be given to advanced undergraduate students.
General Information
- Dates: February 24-25, 2020
- Scholarship application deadline: January 7, 2020
- Registration deadline: January 15, 2020
- Registration fee: EUR 40, to be paid online
Further inquiries can be directed to winterschoolphilosophy@rug.nl
--
Hana Barkowitz
Marketing/Research Officer
Faculty of Philosophy
University of Groningen
[Pathways] The Blue Pill Dilemma: Is Knowledge a Blessing or a Curse?
Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy: www.jsfphil.org
Call for Papers: Vol. 3 (second round of reviews)
The Blue Pill Dilemma: Is Knowledge a Blessing or a Curse?
The question about choosing knowledge or willful ignorance is at least as old as Plato's Cave; older perhaps, down to the Tree of Good and Evil. Science Fiction writers can be as illuminating as they can be ambiguous. In the original The Matrix Neo took the Red Pill, choosing Truth – and got himself into a world of trouble. Wouldn't the Blue Pill (of "Ignorance is Bliss") have served him better?
In dystopian tales, deep questioning is proscribed to safeguard the (questionable) happiness of the general population. In pre- and post-apocalyptic scenarios scientific knowledge can be savior and culprit, both revered and feared. Brain-in-a-vat stories make the choice between harsh reality and simulated bliss vivid and poignant, while cyberpunk stories emphasize the double-edged dangers of making all our personal information conveniently available. The tension thus created in these stories merits examination. Which is preferable? Which is better? Can a truth cause more harm than a lie? Is there a danger of knowing too much? Is knowledge just a neutral tool, or is there, as Plato would have it, something inherently good about seeking knowledge?
The deadline for the second round of reviews is February 29, 2020.
Contact the Editor, Alfredo Mac Laughlin, at editor.jsfphil@gmail.com with any questions, or visit www.jsfphil.org for more information.
*General Articles, Response Essays, Book Reviews, accepted year-round. See www.jsfphil.org for details*
[Pathways] 'Quest of Reality' by D. R. Khashaba
QUEST OF REALITY
The book traces the human quest for Reality from the first gropings of primitive humans through the speculations of modern philosophers to my own confessedly personal vision.
Download:
D. R. Khashaba
[Pathways] Mixed Martial Arts and Philosophy
Squaring the Octagon: Philosophers Grapple with Mixed Martial Arts
Edited by Jason Holt and Marc Ramsay
Call for Abstracts
Deadline: 15 January 2020
Apologies for x-postingEdited by Jason Holt and Marc Ramsay
Call for Abstracts
Deadline: 15 January 2020
In mere decades, mixed martial arts (MMA) has exploded as a worldwide phenomenon, a sport as controversial as it is compelling, one that demands serious philosophical attention. Abstracts are sought for a prospective anthology on the philosophical significance of MMA.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Is MMA a true martial art?
• MMA vs. traditional martial arts and combat sports
• MMA epistemology: the nature of know-how
• Tournament of techniques: strikers vs. grapplers, cage vs. street
• MMA as illustrating philosophical theories
• Philosophically useful case studies: GSP, Ronda Rousey, BJ Penn, etc.
• Is it immoral to participate in or watch MMA and other violent sports?
• Ethical/legal dimensions of MMA (consent, legal moralism, paternalism, etc.)
• Respect, gamesmanship, and cheating in MMA
• Performance-enhancing drugs in MMA
• MMA and gender
• Beauty and ugliness in MMA
• Is MMA an art form?
An editor at Routledge has expressed interest in receiving a full proposal, to be submitted once abstracts have been finalized.
Initial submission should include an abstract (150-250 words) and CV, sent to both Jason Holt (jason.holt@acadiau.ca) and Marc Ramsay (marc.ramsay@acadiau.ca) by 15 January 2020.
Timeline:
Deadline for abstract/CV: 15 January 2020
Notification of abstract status: 30 January 2020
First draft: 1 June 2020
Final draft: 1 September 2020
(NB: Abstract acceptance does not by itself guarantee acceptance of the full paper.)
Prof. Jason Holt
School of Kinesiology
Acadia University
550 Main St.
Wolfville, NS
B4P 2R6
Canada
Website: https://kinesiology.acadiau.ca/faculty-staff/jason-holt.html
[Pathways] 'In Defence of Plato' by D. R. Khashaba
IN DEFENCE OF PLATO
Countering the misunderstanding and distortion introduced by Aristotle and embraced in learned circle as unquestionable truth.
https://philosophia937.wordpress.com/2019/11/14/in-defence-of-plato/
D. R. Khashaba
dkhashaba@yahoo.com
Countering the misunderstanding and distortion introduced by Aristotle and embraced in learned circle as unquestionable truth.
https://philosophia937.wordpress.com/2019/11/14/in-defence-of-plato/
D. R. Khashaba
dkhashaba@yahoo.com
[Pathways] Thinking About Nothing: Philosophy, Negation and the Mystical
THINKING ABOUT NOTHING: PHILOSOPHY, NEGATION AND THE MYSTICAL
Liverpool Hope University, 3-5 July 2020
Call for Proposals: Deadline 30th November 2019
How and why is 'nothing' such a central concern for the mystical? What meaning, if any, derives from negation, un-knowing, un-saying; or from evoking the Absolute in terms of absence, silence, darkness, void, abyss, desert, and no-thing-ness? Why do mystics across different religious traditions return continually to images and ideas of negativity? And how might these interfaces between 'nothingness' and 'the mystical' illuminate our contemporary concerns with these two elusive notions?
This interdisciplinary conference brings together theologians, philosophers, historians, literary scholars, linguists, psychologists, artists, art historians, poets, musicians, and contemplative practitioners to examine interfaces between themes of 'nothingness', 'negativity', and the mystical . We also welcome proposals for creative responses from visual arts, performance, music and sound, poetry and literature.
Keynote speakers include Professor George Pattison, Professor Melissa Raphael, Dr. Rik Van Nieuwenhove, & Dr. Kate Kirkpatrick.
All proposals should include:
1. Full name; 2. E-mail; 3. Current institution and/or academic affiliation 4. Title of the paper or project; 6. Any technical needs; 7. Proposal (up to 350 words).
* Paper proposal: An abstract proposal for a short (20 minute) original paper
* Project proposal: for a presentation, event, exhibition, performance or screening.
Please send proposals and enquiries to: Dr Simon Podmore (podmors@hope.ac.uk), Dr Duane Williams (williad3@hope.ac.uk), or Dr Deborah Casewell (casewed@hope.ac.uk)
Further information on the Mystical Theology Network website
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rege0676/Conference8.html
--
Dr. Deborah Casewell, MA (Hons), MSt, PhD
Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion
Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool Hope University, 3-5 July 2020
Call for Proposals: Deadline 30th November 2019
How and why is 'nothing' such a central concern for the mystical? What meaning, if any, derives from negation, un-knowing, un-saying; or from evoking the Absolute in terms of absence, silence, darkness, void, abyss, desert, and no-thing-ness? Why do mystics across different religious traditions return continually to images and ideas of negativity? And how might these interfaces between 'nothingness' and 'the mystical' illuminate our contemporary concerns with these two elusive notions?
This interdisciplinary conference brings together theologians, philosophers, historians, literary scholars, linguists, psychologists, artists, art historians, poets, musicians, and contemplative practitioners to examine interfaces between themes of 'nothingness', 'negativity', and the mystical . We also welcome proposals for creative responses from visual arts, performance, music and sound, poetry and literature.
Keynote speakers include Professor George Pattison, Professor Melissa Raphael, Dr. Rik Van Nieuwenhove, & Dr. Kate Kirkpatrick.
All proposals should include:
1. Full name; 2. E-mail; 3. Current institution and/or academic affiliation 4. Title of the paper or project; 6. Any technical needs; 7. Proposal (up to 350 words).
* Paper proposal: An abstract proposal for a short (20 minute) original paper
* Project proposal: for a presentation, event, exhibition, performance or screening.
Please send proposals and enquiries to: Dr Simon Podmore (podmors@hope.ac.uk), Dr Duane Williams (williad3@hope.ac.uk), or Dr Deborah Casewell (casewed@hope.ac.uk)
Further information on the Mystical Theology Network website
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rege0676/Conference8.html
--
Dr. Deborah Casewell, MA (Hons), MSt, PhD
Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion
Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Liverpool Hope University
[Pathways] 'The Philosophy of Football' by Steffen Borge
Professor Steffen Borge's new book, The Philosophy of Football, is now available.
https://www.academia.edu/40808520/Borge_The_Philosophy_of_Football_excerpts_
https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Football/Borge/p/book/9780367180928
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philosophy-Football-Ethics-Sport/dp/0367180928/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0367180928
Human beings are the only creatures known to engage in sport. We are sporting animals, and our favourite pastime of football is the biggest sport spectacle on earth. The Philosophy of Football presents the first sustained, in-depth philosophical investigation of the phenomenon of football.
In explaining the complex nature of football, the book draws on literature in sociology, history, psychology and beyond, offering real-life examples of footballing actions alongside illuminating thought experiments. The book is organized around four main themes considering the character, nature, analysis and aesthetics of football. It discusses football as an extra-ordinary, unnecessary, rule-based, competitive, skill-based physical activity, articulated as a social (as opposed to natural) kind that is fictional in character, and where fairness or fair play -- contrary to much sport ethical discussion -- is not centre stage. Football, it is argued, is a constructive-destructive contact sport and, in comparison to other sports, is lower scoring and more affected by chance. The latter presents to its spectators a more unpredictable game and a darker, more complex and denser drama to enjoy.
The Philosophy of Football deepens our understanding of the familiar features of the game, offering novel interpretations on what football is, how and why we play it, and what the game offers its followers that makes us so eagerly await match day. This is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the world's most popular game or in the philosophical or social study of sport.
Review
"There are striking, fundamental similarities between sports and the arts and equally striking and fundamental differences. Some of them are surprising; few have been explored as thoroughly and perceptively as Borge does. The Philosophy of Football will certainly fascinate lovers of "the beautiful game," but reflective aficionados of theatre or baseball, fiction or footraces, ritual, wrestling, chimpanzees, chess, dance, Duchamp, hockey and cockfights will find much of interest here as well." -- Prof Kendall L Walton, University of Michigan, USA
About the Author
Steffen Borge is Professor of Philosophy at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso.
https://www.academia.edu/40808520/Borge_The_Philosophy_of_Football_excerpts_
https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Football/Borge/p/book/9780367180928
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philosophy-Football-Ethics-Sport/dp/0367180928/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0367180928
Human beings are the only creatures known to engage in sport. We are sporting animals, and our favourite pastime of football is the biggest sport spectacle on earth. The Philosophy of Football presents the first sustained, in-depth philosophical investigation of the phenomenon of football.
In explaining the complex nature of football, the book draws on literature in sociology, history, psychology and beyond, offering real-life examples of footballing actions alongside illuminating thought experiments. The book is organized around four main themes considering the character, nature, analysis and aesthetics of football. It discusses football as an extra-ordinary, unnecessary, rule-based, competitive, skill-based physical activity, articulated as a social (as opposed to natural) kind that is fictional in character, and where fairness or fair play -- contrary to much sport ethical discussion -- is not centre stage. Football, it is argued, is a constructive-destructive contact sport and, in comparison to other sports, is lower scoring and more affected by chance. The latter presents to its spectators a more unpredictable game and a darker, more complex and denser drama to enjoy.
The Philosophy of Football deepens our understanding of the familiar features of the game, offering novel interpretations on what football is, how and why we play it, and what the game offers its followers that makes us so eagerly await match day. This is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the world's most popular game or in the philosophical or social study of sport.
Review
"There are striking, fundamental similarities between sports and the arts and equally striking and fundamental differences. Some of them are surprising; few have been explored as thoroughly and perceptively as Borge does. The Philosophy of Football will certainly fascinate lovers of "the beautiful game," but reflective aficionados of theatre or baseball, fiction or footraces, ritual, wrestling, chimpanzees, chess, dance, Duchamp, hockey and cockfights will find much of interest here as well." -- Prof Kendall L Walton, University of Michigan, USA
About the Author
Steffen Borge is Professor of Philosophy at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso.
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