Research & Reading Groups

Each semester, the Metaphysics and Epistemology Reading Group picks a different topic in M&E (broadly construed to include mind, language, etc.). Meetings consist of informal discussions of readings on that topic. Occasionally, participants present and discuss their works in progress.

Membership is open (and open to undergraduates by invitation), and the group meets Tuesdays 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Heller 830  (schedule is determined each semester).

This is a brown bag lunch workshop. A schedule of paper presentations is arranged each semester with a designated discussant for the paper. Attendees are requested to read the papers before the workshop. Papers are distributed one week before each session.
Membership is open.

The Department of Philosophy weekly meetings convene on Mondays  from 11:15-12:45 p.m. in 731 Heller Hall .

Graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars present their work in progress following a schedule assembled at the beginning of the academic year. Pizza and beverages are provided.

The Wittgenstein Group decides upon a reading and moves through Wittgenstein texts very slowly and methodically, discussing Wittgenstein's language and ideas.
The group meets sporadically when interest is expressed by faculty and graduate students; dates, times, and location determined each semeste

The Women Philosophers Group provides a forum and space for department of philosophy graduate students, faculty, and undergraduate students to meet. Meets sporadically when interest expressed to discuss research and topics of interest and hosts social and cultural events.
Meeting dates, times, and locations are determined each semester.

The Biology Interest Group (BIG) reads and discusses works of mutual interest in the history and philosophy of biology. Readings are selected for a variety of reasons: to keep up on the most exciting developments in the field, to help participants scrutinize literature relevant to their research projects (faculty or graduate student research), to provide feedback on works in progress being written by BIG participants (grad students, faculty, and MCPS visitors), to revisit classic articles in the literature, and to have fun discussing a topic in biology.
Information about the readings and meeting time for BIG.

The Center Discussion Group reads and discusses works of mutual interest in the philosophy of science, broadly construed. The group has a tradition of reading works of important authors and then having them visit to discuss their work with the group. Recent visitors include William Wimsatt, John Dupre, Jim Woodward, Nancy Cartwright, and Bas van Frassen.
Information about the readings and meeting time for Center Discussion Group.

The Early Modern Interest Group reads and discusses primary and secondary literature focused on natural philosophy from the early modern period, especially key philosophers such as Descartes, Leibniz, and Kant. Our basis for selected readings is to study works that are ignored in the philosophy curriculum. Natural philosophical discoveries and debates are often pertinent to understanding why these philosophers adopted particular positions or rejected others, and our goal is to become familiar with a wide range of those neglected works.
Information about the readings and meeting time for Early Modern Interest Group

The Foundations Interest Group (FIG) reads and discusses works of mutual interest in the philosophy and foundations of mathematics, and in the philosophy of logic. The group selects readings to keep up on the most exciting developments in the field, to help participants scrutinize literature relevant to research, to provide feedback on works in progress being written by FIG participants, to revisit classic literature, and to have fun discussing topics the foundations of mathematics and the philosophy of logic.
Information about the readings and meeting time for FIG.

The Physics Interest Group (PIG) reads and discusses works of mutual interest in the history and philosophy of physics. The group selects readings for a variety of reasons: to keep up on exciting new developments in the field, to help participants scrutinize literature relevant to their research projects (faculty and grad students), to provide feedback on works in progress being written by participants (grad students, faculty, MCPS visitors), to revisit classic articles in the literature, and to have fun discussing topics in physics.
Information about the readings and meeting time for PIG

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Interest Group (SoBIG) reads and discusses works of mutual interest in the philosophy of social sciences, and in moral and prudential psychology in philosophy or the social sciences. The group selects readings for a variety of reasons: to keep up on exciting new developments in the field, to help participants scrutinize literature relevant to their research projects, to provide feedback on works in progress being written by SoBIG participants, to revisit classic articles in the literature, and to have fun discussion a topic related to the social sciences.
Information about the readings and meeting time for SoBIG.