We’re delighted to report that Dr Helen Ngo has been awarded the 2019 Innovation in Inclusive Curricula Prize by the Australasian Association of Philosophy, for her work on ASP214 Justice and Equality:

The judging panel unanimously decided to award the Prize for Innovation in Inclusive Curricula to Helen Ngo for her unit Justice and Equality. The first half of the unit focuses on grounding the students with a knowledge of the key movements in contemporary political philosophy, including utilitarianism, Rawlsian liberalism, libertarianism, Marxism, and communitarianism. In the second half the focus turns to racism, decolonial justice, feminism, transgender identities, and disability.

Rather than looking at these topics in isolation from the philosophical movements explored in the first half of the unit, Ngo links the new topics to political philosophy as traditionally conceived. For instance, Marxism is connected to decolonial justice through the work of Frantz Fanon; Rawlsian liberalism is discussed in relation to racism through the work of Charles Mills. The new topics are also discussed in relation to each other. For example, the week on transgender identities is related back to the week on feminism, and the tensions between feminist and transgender activism are explored, as are the possibilities for trans-feminist solidarity.

Ngo has radically altered the unit from previous years, assigning authors from a variety of underrepresented and marginalised groups. The unit also encourages the students to engage with real-world issues that are traditionally overlooked in undergraduate units in political philosophy. Ngo makes the case that these issues can both illuminate and pose serious challenges to existing political theories. Her unit is an excellent example of how to design a philosophy course that encourages diversity and inclusivity.

Congratulations Helen!

Deakin Philosophy is once again proud to present the Max Charlesworth Lecture:

 For details or to register, visit the event page.

“Some events refuse to settle into the stories we tell about them. Instead of resolving, Fred’s story simply orbits, back here, to Cape Otway.”

Deakin Philosophy’s A/Prof Patrick Stokes has recently produced a radio documentary, ‘Last Light: The Valentich Mystery‘ for ABC Radio National’s ‘The History Listen.’ It’s available for download now, and will broadcast at 11am Tuesday 4th June and 5:30pm Saturday 8th June.

Deakin Philosophy has been awarded a result of 4, ‘Above World Standard’ in the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) assessment exercise conducted by the Australian Research Council. The full report is available here.

In the ARC’s parallel Engagement and Impact assessment, Deakin scored ‘High’ for Engagement in Philosophy and Religious Studies. This report can be read here.

We’re delighted at this strong result. Thanks to all the Deakin philosophers, past and present, who have brought us to this point.

Dr Christopher Mayes‘ new book, Unsettling Food Politics, is having a launch at the Institute for Post Colonial Studies (78-80 Curzon St North Melbourne) on 9^th May at 7:30pm.  

The launch will involve a panel discussion with Stefano de Pieri, Lauren Rickards and Nick Rose followed by some food and drinks. Click here for more details, and register via Eventbrite.

You can also hear Christopher talking about the book on the Deakinstruction podcast.

Our podcast Deakinstruction is now available!

Episode One: ‘Post-Truth?’

We’re told we now live in a ‘post-truth’ era. But are we? What does that mean? Is being ‘post-truth’ even possible? And if that’s really where we are, how do we get out? Deakin’s Dr Cathy Legg offers some pragmatist responses to the ‘post-truth’ era, as well as telling us what it’s like working as a philosopher in the tech industry.

Daniel Goldsworthy, associate lecturer in Deakin’s law school, was recently shortlisted twice for New Philosopher Magazine’s Writers’ Award, for articles on the topics of ‘Life‘ and ‘Power.’

Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that – very broadly – understands knowing the world as inseparable from agency within it. This general idea has attracted a remarkably rich and at times contrary range of interpretations

Deakin’s Dr Cathy Legg has just completed a major rewrite of the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy‘s entry on Pragmatism. The SEP is one of the world’s leading resources for philosophers and it’s a testament to Dr Legg’s expertise and profile to be asked to revise such a high-profile entry.

The past is a reconstruction, the future is an expectation. But really if we take care of the present, in many ways we have time to reflect on the past and to look forward into the future without this stress of a linear idea of time.

For the new year, Deakin Philosophy lecturer Dr Leesa Davis spoke to this. about the nature of time and living in the here-and-now:

Always looking forwards? It might be time to reflect

Associate Professor Matthew Sharpe has a timely new piece in The Conversation entitled “Criticism of Western Civilisation isn’t new, it was part of the Enlightenment”:

The duelling sides in today’s cultural wars about “Western civilization” are united in one thing, at least – each is inclined to gloss over the extent to which “Western civilisation” has always been deeply complex and divided.

Read the full article here.