Graduate Student Groups
Graduate Philosophical Association (GPA)
The Graduate Philosophy Association (GPA) is an organization representing the graduate students of the department in the University community. It receives an annual budget from the Graduate Student Association (GSA) which is used to promote scholarship and collegiality among students, historically funding various events such as graduate colloquia and conferences (both within the department and in conjunction with other departments), and representing graduate students' interests within the department and the GSA. GPA officers are elected from among the department graduate students annually, including a GSA Senator. Monthly meetings, open to all current graduate philosophy students, are held in 141 Park Hall every second Thursday of the month, 12:30-1:30pm.
For more information, contact Amanda Hicks, GPA President, or Alisa Wandzilak , GPA Secretary.
Phenomenology Reading Group
Originally the Heidegger Reading Group, the group is focused on reading important figures and texts in the history of phenomenology. Emphasis is on the production of coherent understandings of the important issues within and relating to the phenomenological tradition. Such understanding requires that the group attempt to get beyond the use of extraneous and obfuscating jargon - too prevalent in certain circles that purport to be engaged in genuine philosophical activity.
In Spring 2007, the group will be reading selections from Edmund Husserl's Logical Investigations (1900/01, 1913). "Logical Investigations" is a seminal text in the history of philosophy, and marks the expressed beginning of phenomenology itself. Some discussion of the shifts between the first and second editions, and the ensuing turn to idealism, will be made where pertinent. As will be apparent, Husserl's work is as relevant ever today as it was at its time of publication; probably more so in analytic philosophy than the later Continental traditions which claim Husserl as one of their own. Meeting times to be announced. All interested parties are welcome. For more information or to join, contact Eric Chelstrom.
Buffalo Ontology Group (BOG)
BOG meets weekly to discuss classic and contemporary work in analytic metaphysics. Selection of the topics and works discussed is based on member interests. We currently meet on Thursday evenings and are working through the manuscript of Amie Thomasson's forthcoming book, Ordinary Objects, to be published by Oxford University Press in the summer of 2007.
Following Thomasson, we plan to spend a couple of weeks workshopping papers written by BOG members. BOG will continue to meet over the summer, and will focus on the philosophy of mind. Titles may include John Heil or E.J. Lowe's general introduction to the field, followed by David Chalmers' The Conscious Mind. Currently, the plan is to follow Chalmers with Frank Jackson's From Metaphysics to Ethics. Our summer readings are designed to provide members with background for the philosophy of mind seminar being offered in Fall 2007. Summer days, times, and locations are to be announced.
For more information concerning BOG, please e-mail Steven Halady.
Socio-Political-Economic Reading Group (SPERG)
SPERG is a student-formed reading group in the Philosophy Department dedicated to the philosophical study of social, political, and economic issues. Although no particular political orientation is explicitly put forward by the group, SPERG is oriented around leftist/radical/socialist issues. However, we encourage a wide range of viewpoints so as to initiate serious discussion. Lastly, SPERG contains no central leadership, and is thoroughly democratic. Therefore, we encourage any suggestions as to reading material for each semester. The group meets every other week in 142 Park Hall, the philosophy department library. Graduate and undergraduate students are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Paul Ott.
University at Buffalo Society of Catholic Philosophers
The UB Society of Catholic Philosophers is a group dedicated to discussion of philosophy within the context of the Roman Catholic faith. People of all faiths are welcome to attend meetings. Topics of discussion may include, but are not limited to, the role of the Catholic philosopher, church teachings that relate to current philosophical issues, and various papal encyclicals on philosophical issues. For apring 2004, the group will meets weekly in 142 Park Hall (the department library) to continue reading John Paul II's Theology of the Body. This work contains deep reflections from a phenomenologist (the Pope was trained as a phenomenologist under Roman Ingarden, one of the most prominent students of Edmund Husserl) on the nature of sexuality. For information about this text or the reading group, please refer to the website.