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International Social Philosophy Conference Examines Challenging Public Issues
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Rensselaer recently hosted the 22nd International Social Philosophy Conference on the theme of "Science, Technology, and Social Justice." A range of challenging public issues — including global democracy and the Internet; women, science, and modernity; gay marriage; the definition of life; just war theory; and definitions of torture — were discussed by noted scholars.
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| Keynote speaker Carol Gould is applauded by Professor Sharon Anderson-Gold and Provost Bud Peterson (first row). Photo by Don Moore. |
Carol Gould, professor of philosophy at Stevens Institute of Technology, delivered the first keynote address on "Global Democratic Transformation and the Internet." Gould specializes in ethical issues in international affairs and conceptions of citizenship and cultural identity in a global perspective. She has written books and articles on social, political, and legal philosophy, including Rethinking Democracy; The Information Web: Ethical and Social Implications of Computer Networking; Cultural Identity and the Nation-State; Group Rights and Social Ontology; and Cultural Justice and the Limits of Difference.
The second keynote address, "Women, Science, and Modernity," was delivered by Sandra Harding, professor of social sciences and comparative education and director of the UCLA Center for the Study of Women. Harding is the author of the groundbreaking works The Science Question in Feminism and Whose Science? Whose Knowledge?
"We are particularly proud to assist in hosting this important conference that examines an admirably broad range of topics in contemporary social philosophy and reflects many of the issues central to the scholarship of our science and technology studies faculty," said John Harrington, dean of humanities and social sciences at Rensselaer.
The ISSP awarded its Annual Book Award to Yale University's Dr. Seyla Benhabib for her book The Rights of Others: Aliens, Residents, and Citizens, also the subject of a lecture and panel discussion.
Among the other topics addressed in scholarly panels over two and a half days were: "Defining Concepts of Life and Technology," "The Definition of Torture," "Immigration Issues," Gay Marriage," "Eugenics," "Moral Theory," Just War Theory," and "Environmental Justice."
The event, July 28 to 30, was organized at Rensselaer by Sharon Anderson-Gold, professor and chair of science and technology studies, and by the North American Society for Social Philosophy. It was held in the Darrin Communications Center. |
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