MenuClose
Philosophy Menu
Programs
Careers & Alumni
Get Involved
Giving
Give
background 0background 1background 2background 3

The CSU has a new policy on freedom of expression. Learn more.

Get Involved

Philosophy welcomes students to a dynamic community of thinkers and questioners. Connect with your peers and instructors in one of our social or research-based groups.

The Humboldt Philosophy Club is open to any student with an interest in philosophy.

The primary purpose of the club is to provide a venue for students to meet and interact with others who share a common interest in philosophy.

Activities include academic and social events depending on the interests of the club members.

Where and when the club meets and the nature of its meetings and events is up to the current participants. In the past, these have included both academic and social meetings, on and off campus meetings, and an annual weekend trip to the Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy conference in Oregon.

The Philosophy Club is a place to expand, discuss, and potentially argue about philosophical topics. It is also: a resource for those who are struggling to write a philosophical document; a refuge in which individuals can raise and discuss any philosophical questions they have pondered; a haven for those who seek edification in the fundamental questions of society, morality, reality, religion, politics, language, how to live well, and more. It is also a lot of fun and a place where you can make new friends.

Philosophy Club has access to the resources (financial and otherwise) afforded Humboldt clubs. For more information see the Humboldt Clubs & Activities page: https://clubs.humboldt.edu/

Contact the club at: philclub@humboldt.edu  -- or see the club page: https://orgsync.com/161482/chapter     

Club faculty advisor - Benjamin Sheaffer (Philosophy): hbs1@humboldt.edu

Most semesters Philosophy holds a faculty / student pot-luck social. These are held at a faculty member’s home,  on campus, or at a nearby park.

It is a time for us to socialize and enjoy a variety of tasty foods. While attendees tend to be Philosophy majors and minors, the social is open to any philosophy students.

Students without transportation can carpool with other majors.  

The Humboldt Philosophy Forum covers topics of contemporary significance and aims to increase understanding of the diversity of ideas, values, and practices embodied by our culture. It begins with a Keynote speaker or panel followed by Q&A and discussion with attendees. It is open to the campus and community.

As a philosophy forum, the aim is also to promote critical as well as constructive thinking, so discussions are expected to be reasonable, respectful, but also open to objections. Formerly called the Humboldt Ethics Forum, the Humboldt Philosophy Forum now covers a broader range of topics of interest to the university and larger community.

For more information, contact Mary Bockover, Professor of Philosophy: mary.bockover@humboldt.edu.

2023-24 Philosophy Forum In Collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

"Revolutionary Care and Inclusive Excellence"
Keynote Speaker, Maurice Hamington
Wednesday, March 6 from 5:30-7PM in the Great Hall

2022-23 Philosophy Forum

“Intersectional Environmentalism: Advocating for Inclusion and Climate”
Keynote Speaker, Pattie Gonia
Wednesday, April 26 at 7 PM in the Van Duzer Theatre

Humboldt Philosophy Forum topics have included:

  • 2020-21: Racism and Culture Change - Keynote Speaker, George Yancy on "Between Pessimism and Optimism: White Crisis"
  • 2019-20: Conversations on Culture and Power - Keynote Speaker, John Leguizamo [canceled due to COVID-19]
  • 2018-19: Sexual Awareness in Contemporary Times - Keynote Speaker: Tarana Burke
  • 2018: An Urban Food Revolution - Keynote Speaker, Ron Finley
  • 2017: Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion -  Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Finney Boylan
  • 2014: Sex, Gender, and the Self -  Keynote Speaker: Janet Mock
  • 2013: Ethics, Animals, and the Environment - Keynote Speaker: Peter Singer
  • 2012: Science and Spirituality: Falling Awake to Diversity - Keynote Speaker: Vic Stenger on "God and the Folly of Faith"

Humboldt Ethics Forum topics have included:

  • Biomedical Ethics
  • Hate: Some Social, Psychological, and Philosophical Dimensions
  • The Ethics & Politics of Health Care
  • Marriage Equality
  • Persons Living on the Margin
  • Privacy, Safety, and Globalization
  • Addiction: Desire, Disease, or Choice?
  • Global Warming: A Moral Controversy
  • Ethics, Violence, and Revolution
  • War, Peace, and Globalization
  • Life, Death, and Medical Ethics
  • On Democracy
  • Non-violence, Terrorism, and War

A bimonthly philosophy colloquia/reading group hosted by the Humboldt Philosophy Department that invites students and professors to come to a brief talk given by a student or faculty member, followed by discussion.

What is it? 

Colloquia - Students and professors are invited to come to a brief talk given by a student or faculty member. Any broadly philosophical topic is fair game. Each talk will last 10-20 min, followed by informal discussion. There may be refreshments, but you are welcome to bring something to eat or drink.

Reading Group - A reading to be discussed is distributed via e-mail a week before the meeting. (See examples below): 

Giving a talk - If you are interested in giving a brief talk, don’t hesitate to sign up for a slot in the near future. Please note that it does not have to be a polished APA-style presentation, and the Q&A will be friendly. Your topic could center on a paper in progress, an old paper, an argument sketch, a philosophical puzzle, diagnosis of a problem, you facilitating a dicussion on a topic, etc. It’s really open-ended! Who knows, maybe one of your philosophy professors will give you extra credit for your presentation.

Suggesting a reading - Contact John Chandler

When do we meet? - Contact forum creator John Chandler (Lecturer in Philosophy) for more information or to offer to present: John.Chandler@humboldt.eduExmaple

Sample Past Topics - Reading Group

"The Extended Mind", by David Chlamers and Andy Clark. Is your mind housed only in your head, or does it extend to your IPhone or PlayStation? Where does the mind stop and the rest of the world begin? The question invites two standard replies. Some accept the boundaries of skin and skull, and say that what is outside the body is outside the mind. Others are impressed by arguments suggesting that the meaning of our words ‘just ain’t in the head’, and hold that this externalism about meaning carries over into an externalism about mind. We propose to pursue a third position. We advocate a very different sort of externalism: an active externalism, based on the active role of the environment in driving cognitive processes.

Our program has a long and distinguished history of student attendance and participation in local philosophy conferences. 

For example, Pacific University’s annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference (the largest such conference in the country) and California State University, Bakersfield’s Undergraduate Conference on Philosophy and Religious studies regularly include some of our students. Whether presenting or just attending, students typically travel as a group.

Students who present their work at a conference can receive partial to full travel reimbursement from the university (if they fill out the proper paperwork in advance). This must be submitted early in the fall semester to reserve travel funds should your paper later be accepted.

Humboldt Philosophy Student Publishing

  • Kyle Smith, "The Benefits of Epistemological Skepticism", Res Cogitans. (2020)
  • Sam Gomes, "Whitehead on the Experience of Causality", Process Studies. (2014)
  • Yolanda Walker, “Machine Functionalism: Brains as Computing Machines”, Res Cogitans (2013)

Humboldt Philosophy Student Presenters at CSU Bakerfield Philosophy & Religious Studies Undergardauate Conference

  • Jake Hanten, "The Justification of Civil Disobedience: When, Why, & How?", (2015)

Humboldt Philosophy Student Presenters at Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference

2020

  • Kyle Smith, “The Benefits of Epistemological Skepticism"

2019

  • Brandon Upson, “Is Literary Fiction a Source of Knowledge?”
  • Quinn Hermon, “What if Misfortune is the Rule”
  • Olivia Gainer, “We Think, Therefore We Are: A Collectivized Look at Our Modern Ontology”
  • Jessica Richard, “Thomas Kuhn’s Stamp on Scientific Progress: Punctuated Equilibrium and Darwin’s Theory of Evolution”
  • John Ferdon, “Stoicism & Complacency: Can Practicing Stoic Fatalism and the Dichotomy of Control Lead to Non-Ambition?”

2018

  • Miate Castillo Rodriguez, “Analytic v. Synthetic, Distinction or Myth?: Kant’s Kantribution, Quine’s inquisition, & Strawson’s Salvation.”
  • Douglass Keener, “Seven Deadly Sins & Me: The How-To Guide of Will Restriction”
  • John Ferdon, “A Theory of Remembering, or Theories of Remembering”
  • Brendan Morgan, “The Role of Substance in john Locke”
  • Casey Tran, “On Language Being Not Sensible Signs & Its Limits”
  • Kyle Lord, “On Aspects of Narratives, Virtue and Nature”
  • Caitlin Mace, “”William James’ Pragmatic Theory of Truth: The Objectivity of Subjective Experience”
  • Wes Stouder, “The Naess-cessity of Subject/Object Dichotomy”
  • Eric Vaughn, “Roderick Chishom and the Problem of Criterion: One Problem, Two Sets, of Questions, Three Solutions”

2017

  • Four presenters – records incomplete
  • Kayla Santiago-Snyder ----
  • Colbert Kirchner ----

2016

  • Ryan Brunn, "Implications of Separating Out Information from Philosophical Examples" )
  • Ryan Kemp, "Meno, Euthyphro, and the Value of the Philosopher"
  • Natasha Sanders, "A Universal Process of Progress"
  • Kayla Santiago-Snyder , "Diotima and Dichotomies"
  • Alan Spencer, "Feminist Epistemology and James' Way of Deriving Truth"

2015

  • Four presenters – records incomplete

 2014

  • Gomes, Sam. "Whitehead on the Experience of Causality."
  • Nilan, Michelle. "The Art of Forgetting in the Zhuangzi and Its Practical Applications in Daily Life."
  • Ory, Patrick. "Mechanisms by which War is Made Possible."
  • Waterbury, Kyle. "Zhuangzi as Wilsonian Outsider: From Where Wang Ni Is Coming, To Where Wang Ni Is Going."

2013

  • David Gilstrap, -------
  • Sam Gomes, "Its All In Your Head"
  • Yolanda Walker, “Machine Functionalism: Brains as Computing Machines”

2012

  • Aaron Leonardi, "Human Identity Through Time"
  • Sam Gomes, "On the Ethical Status of Non-Humans"
  • James Bruce, "Aristotle's Defense of the Epistemological and Metaphysical Implications of the Principle of Non-Contradiction"
  • Shannon Bass, "A True Feminist Epistemology"

2011

  • Price Cusolito, "Persistence of Identity: I Know I Exist, But How Can I Be Sure I'm Not a Copy of the Original?"

2010

  • Steve Trbovich, "Skepticism and the Closure Principle"

2009

  • James Grayot, "Philosophical Therapy"
  • Ryan Burke, "Ratios and the History of Western Philosophy"
  • Steve Trbovich, "Philosophical Dogmas and Their Psuedo-Problems"

2008

  • Chani Mooring, "Wittgenstein's Argument against Private Language: A Defense of Meaning as Found in Forms of Life"
  • Oliver Foland, "A Critique of Foundational Beliefs"

2007

  • Nikolas Djordjevski, "A Meaningful Existence"

2006

  • Jolie Colby, "Powerless Conscience vs. Conscienceless"

2002

  • Harry Nethery, "Plato's Symposium and the Speech of Alcibiades"

2001

  • Megan Strong, "Forms of ...Aristotle? A Critique of Aristotle's Critique of Forms"
  • Hannah Epstein, "Wang Pi and Berkeley: Exploring the Tao of Berkeley"

1999

  • Todd M. Shanklin, "Searle's Chinese Room and Connectionist Models of Mind"
  • J.W. Hemann, "Wittgenstein on Naming or Knowing Private Sensations"

1997

  • Jeffrey Johnson, "Unspeakable Truths: One Inconsistency in Searle's Admonitions against Linguistic Philosophy"

Philosophy hosts a reception immediately following Humboldt’s annual graduation ceremony - an opportunity for graduates and their guests to socialize with each other and the faculty whom they have shared their educational journey with.

Held in the first-floor lobby of the Behavioral & Social Sciences (BSS) Building, the reception features food and drink, live music, and both indoor and outdoor mingling space.

Family members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Students and their families often enjoy a meal after the ceremony while celebrating and getting pictures with fellow graduates, instructors and family members.

Annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conferences (nearby)

  • Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference (Oregon) http://www.pacificu.edu/as/philosophy/conference/
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies Undergraduate Conference, CSU Bakersfield http://www.csub.edu/philosophyrs/

  • Online Philosophy Resources

  • Who Studies Philosophy? American Philosophical Association.
     
  • American Philosophical Association (APA): http://www.apaonline.org/Many resources about the profession, including data on the profession, philosophy conferences, journals, associations and societies, committees of the APA, and more.
  • Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://www.iep.utm.edu/ Detailed, scholarly information on key topics and philosophers in all areas of philosophy.
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/ Detailed, scholarly information on key topics and philosophers in all areas of philosophy.
  • Essays in Philosophy: A Biannual Journal: An online journal of philosophy originally created and developed by Michael Goodman, Professor of Philosophy, Cal Poly Humboldt.
  • A Guide to Online Philosophy Resources: https://www.spiritbutton.com/philosophy-resource-guide/ Online courses, lectures, podcasts, databases...
  • Philosophers Imprint: is a refereed series of original papers in philosophy, edited by philosophy faculty at the University of Michigan, with the advice of an international Board of Editors, and published on the World Wide Web by the University of Michigan Digital Library. The mission of the Imprint is to promote a future in which funds currently spent on journal subscriptions are redirected to the dissemination of scholarship for free, via the Internet.
  • EpistemeLinks.com: Includes thousands of well-sorted links to philosophy resources, departments, organizations, journals, and much more.
  • Erratic Impact: A Philosophy Research Base, categorized by history, subject and author, is a meta-index featuring thousands of annotated links, text resources and community services for students and teachers conducting research in the field of philosophy.

Philosophy for Children

Philosophy News

  • Daily Nous: http://dailynous.com/.  Articles and commentaries about current events in Philosophy.   
  • The Stone (New York Times), weekly editorials by professional philosophers applying their philosophy skills and knowledge to address current events & Issues
  • Philosophy News Service: Philosophy news and announcements from around the world

Applying to Graduate School

Forms 

  • Student Petition - Philosophy Department
  • Student Travel & Funding
  • Student Class Climate Surveys
    • The Philosophy department values student feedback from course evaluations. Every class climate survey, which students submit at the end of each semester term, is included in every faculty member's file for retention, tenure, post-tenure review, and promotion. The Personnel committee reviews all student feedback as one source of information about each faculty member's teaching.
    • We strongly encourage students to take the time to complete the class climate surveys for every course taken at Cal Poly Humboldt. We appreciate student reflections on each course, and we use the feedback to seek continuous improvement in our teaching.