UWT hosts Philosophy Roundtables
Philosophy Roundtables is a research colloquium that UW Tacoma Professor Amos Nascimento started on campus in 2007 to involve faculty, staff, students and community members in presenting research and discussing issues.
These meetings last approximately two hours, and take place twice a month. Each meeting has a preplanned topic of discussion that is kicked off with a presentation of a participant’s research.
“We start by introducing all the participants, highlighting the resume of the presenter, then having a presentation for around 40 minutes (sometimes longer), and allowing for another hour of discussions,” Nascimento said. “We then invite participants for a get together at one of the local restaurants.”
Many of those who participate and present at the Philosophy Roundtables are working on publications that they would like to have feedback on. In cases where this is true, the work is distributed to members prior to the Roundtable to allow attendees to come prepared with questions and critiques.
“Most of the presentations are on important contemporary issues,” Nascimento said. “Therefore, the discussion continues afterwards as the group gets together — mostly at The Harmon or The Swiss.”
There are three more Roundtables planned for the month of May that anyone who’s interested can attend. May 15 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in TPS 110, Margaret Griesse will discuss feminist business ethics. May 23 from 6:30 to 8:35 p.m. in GWP 101, Donald Chinn and Monika Sobolewska will present on computer ethics and society. To round up the month, Mike Kalton will present on ethics and the anthropocene May 29 from 5:20 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. — the location is yet to be defined.
“Each year, I call an initial meeting during the fall quarter in which participants discuss and decide the topics to be discussed,” Nascimento said. “We also discuss the agenda of invited guests and plan their activities around these events.”
Interested in an upcoming Philosophy Roundtable discussion? Contact Amos
Nascimento at anascim@uw.edu
