Philosophy Dialogue Series tackles environmental justice, human rights

By T.C. Sprencel
University News Service
October 18, 2010

The Philosophy Dialogue Series at Texas State University-San Marcos will explore environmental justice and human rights as its discussion topic for the week of Oct. 25-29. All events are held in Psychology 132, unless otherwise noted. Presentations and discussions for the week will cover the following issues:

Monday, Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m.
Feeding the People of the World: Who’s Responsible?
Marco Grimaldo (Bread for the World)

Monday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Panel: Environmental Justice and Human Rights
Brock Brown (Geography), Marco Grimaldo (Bread for the World), Catherine Hawkins (Social Work), Vincent Lopes (Aquatic Biology), Vincent Luizzi (Philosophy) and Chad Smith (Sociology)

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.
Natural Disasters and the Rhetoric of Divine Punishment
Rebecca Raphael (Philosophy)

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 12:30 p.m.
Universal Human Rights: Environmental Implications
Sophists and Sages (Philosophy Dialogue class members)
Guest Speaker: Catherine Hawkins (Social Work)

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m.
The Future & Human Rights: Science Fiction & the Loss of Autonomy
Kandace Lytle (Philosophy graduate student)

Thursday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design – LEED
Vivek Sharma (Engineering Technology)

Thursday, Oct. 28, 12:30 p.m.
The Tragedy of the Commons in the New Millennium
Sophists and Sages

Friday, Oct. 29, 12:30 p.m.
Talk of the Times
Open Forum
Phi Sigma Tau, the Philosophy Honor Society

Co-sponsors of the Philosophy Dialogue Series include: American Democracy Project, College of Liberal Arts, Common Experience, Gina Weatherhead Dialogue Fund, the New York Times, National Endowment for the Humanities, Phi Sigma Tau, University Seminar, University Honors Program, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Student Affairs.

For additional information please contact Beverly Pairett in the Department of Philosophy at (512) 245-2285, or via email: bp06@txstate.edu. A complete schedule of discussion topics and presentations can be found at www.txstate.edu/philosophy/dialogue-series/Dialogue-Schedule.html.