2008 Woodie Awards
Philsophy conference hits Webster
By: Anthony Sodd and Kirk Watkins
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: News
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The second annual undergraduate philosophy conference got off to a start Friday, tackling questions ranging from the true meaning of existence to free will.
A crowd of around 30, including faculty members and guest speaker, Alan D. Shreft, were on hand to poke holes in papers submitted by Webster students, and students from other local campuses, presented in an open forum.
Presenters came to present their positions on a various philosopher's works and to get feedback from a crowd of Webster philosophy teachers.
Don Morse explained that the conference was focused on professionals and higher-level students and may have been difficult to understand for the uninitiated.
He explained that the conference is the largest in the region, and includes schools in Missouri, Illinois and parts of Indiana. He hopes to expand the conference in the future to include Iowa and other states in the area.
"The reason why we had the students papers published in the students journal was so people could read along," he said, you can't really do that with a professional paper because they are going to publish that somewhere else."
"It's one of the nicer conferences I've been to," Eryn (CQ) Cantrell, a senior philosophy major at Missouri State University said. "It's always fun when the faculty asks you questions."
Cantrell presented his paper "The Conversion of Souls," which explored Plato's work, "The Republic." The audience questioned
Cantrell on the aristocratic nature of Plato's views and the Greek philosopher's endorsement of eugenics, which is a social philosophy which espouses improving human heredity traits through the use of various forms of interventions, including prenatal testing and screening and, genetic manipulation.
Another speaker, from also from Missouri State, Clark McVey, presented his paper "On Fate and Luck."
"The presentations are refreshing my memory about the classes I'm taking now," said Christian Walker, a freshman general credit major, from Webster, who was attending the conference.
A crowd of around 30, including faculty members and guest speaker, Alan D. Shreft, were on hand to poke holes in papers submitted by Webster students, and students from other local campuses, presented in an open forum.
Presenters came to present their positions on a various philosopher's works and to get feedback from a crowd of Webster philosophy teachers.
Don Morse explained that the conference was focused on professionals and higher-level students and may have been difficult to understand for the uninitiated.
He explained that the conference is the largest in the region, and includes schools in Missouri, Illinois and parts of Indiana. He hopes to expand the conference in the future to include Iowa and other states in the area.
"The reason why we had the students papers published in the students journal was so people could read along," he said, you can't really do that with a professional paper because they are going to publish that somewhere else."
"It's one of the nicer conferences I've been to," Eryn (CQ) Cantrell, a senior philosophy major at Missouri State University said. "It's always fun when the faculty asks you questions."
Cantrell presented his paper "The Conversion of Souls," which explored Plato's work, "The Republic." The audience questioned
Cantrell on the aristocratic nature of Plato's views and the Greek philosopher's endorsement of eugenics, which is a social philosophy which espouses improving human heredity traits through the use of various forms of interventions, including prenatal testing and screening and, genetic manipulation.
Another speaker, from also from Missouri State, Clark McVey, presented his paper "On Fate and Luck."
"The presentations are refreshing my memory about the classes I'm taking now," said Christian Walker, a freshman general credit major, from Webster, who was attending the conference.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Dave Trigg
posted 5/02/07 @ 6:32 PM EST
you guys could have at least learn how to spell Schrift's name.
Joe Fahrney
posted 5/11/07 @ 7:51 PM EST
The two authors of this article have to be two of the stupidest people alive. First of all Philosophy is spelled PHILOSOPHY. The authors of this article are a disgrace to the university, they can not write, spell, and they misquoted everyone who was interviewed. (Continued…)
Albert Brooks
posted 5/22/07 @ 8:18 PM EST
You go, Dave and Joe! (Just don't forget that categorical imperative.) Now go read Nikole Brown's article and the one about the Galaxy radio station. (Continued…)
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