Summer Institute in American Philosophy

CU Boulder

  • Next Institute: July 7-12, 2008, Boulder, CO.
    The 11th Annual Summer Institute of American Philosophy will meet July 7-12, 2008, at the University of Colorado, Boulder. As at past Institutes, leading scholars in various aspects of American philosophy are invited to present seminars on their recent or current work.
  • Registration Form (including housing) -- .doc file (HERE)
  • Program for 2008 Summer Institute available ( HERE)
  • Flyer (and list of presenters) for 2008 Summer Institute available here (HERE)

    Confirmed participants include: (last update, June 12, 2008)

    Mitchell Aboulafia (The Juilliard School), “George Herbert Mead and the Dilemmas of Cosmopolitanism.”
    Randall Auxier (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale), “Reading Royce as a Whole.”
    Roberto Frega (Alma Mater Bologna University, Italy), "A Pragmatist Theory of Public Reason."
    Robert Innis (University of Massachusetts, Lowell), “Susanne Langer:  The Symbolic Mind.”
    Judith Green (Fordham University), "Pragmatism and Social Hope:  Rorty, Dewey, and Deepening Democracy."
    Alison Jaggar (University of Colorado, Boulder), "Abortion Rights and Gender Justice Worldwide."
    Bill E. Lawson (University of Memphis), “Booker T. Washington in the 21st Century.”
    Arthur Lothstein (Long Island University), "Ralph Waldo Emerson."
    Joseph Margolis (Temple U.), "Pragmatism, Continental, and Analytic Philosophy:  Toward a Rapprochement."
    Phillip McReynolds (Penn State University), Documentary video:  “American Philosopher.”
    Robert Neville (Boston University), “The Axiology of Thinking.”
    Nicholas Rescher (University of Pittsburgh), "The Fragmentation of American Philosophy."
    Sandra Rosenthal (Loyola University, New Orleans), "The Importance of C.I. Lewis for the Pragmatic Tradition."
    Crispin Sartwell (Dickinson College), “Entanglements:  A System of (American) Philosophy.
    Roger Ward (Georgetown College), "Jonathan Edwards on Sin and Self-Knowledge"

    2008 Readings lists:

    Rescher     (1)
    Auxier     (Read: Intro, chs. 5-7)
    Neville     (list is here)
    Aboulafia     (list is here)
    Lothstein     (1, also see list, here)
    Frega     (1)
    Innis (1,2,3,4,5-optional)
    Sartwell (1, also a list is here)
    Margolis (1, 2, also see list, here)
    Lawson (1)
    Ward (1)
    Green (1-reading list, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
    Margolis (1 2 also see list, here)

    Notes about Reading Lists    : (a)     Numbers in parentheses link to actual readings. The phrase "list is here" typically links to just a list of the readings which participants need to gather and copy from local libraries, etc.
    (b) ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT READINGS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE SESSION LEADER. EACH NAME ON THE READING LIST LINKS DIRECTLY TO THAT SEMINAR LEADER'S EMAIL ADDRESS.

Call for Abstracts
Again this year will be several one-hour "Works in Progress" sessions, at which interested persons may present their works-in-progress, especially books, and receive critical feedback from Institute attendees.Those wishing to present their work should submit, by May 1, a 150-to-300-word abstract to Ken Stikkers, either via e-mail, at kstikker@siu.edu or at: Department of Philosophy, Mailcode 4505, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. Submitted abstracts will be blindly reviewed, and persons submitting them will be notified as soon as possible.
Also, there will again be sessions on "Dissertations in Progress," at which graduate students, at any stage in the process of writing their dissertations, present brief summaries of their work and receive valuable feedback from Institute attendees. Graduate students interested in presenting their work need not submit abstracts but should contact Ken Stikkers.
The Institute is co-sponsored by the Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, and the University of Colorado, Boulder and Denver.

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Previous Institute: July 9-14, 2007, Boulder, CO.

The Summer Institute in American Philosophy seeks to provide a forum for more intensive and extensive discussion of American philosophy than is normally afforded by traditional conference formats.

The 10th Annual Summer Institute of American Philosophy will meet July 9-14, 2007, at the University of Colorado, Boulder. As at past Institutes, leading scholars in various aspects of American philosophy are invited to present seminars on their recent or current work. The list of seminars will be posted shortly. Also, there will again be sessions on "Dissertations in Progress," at which graduate students, at any stage in process of writing their dissertations, present brief summaries of their work and receive valuable feedback from Institute attendees. Graduate students interested in presenting their work should contact Ken Stikkers

Call for Abstracts

New this year will be several one-hour "Works in Progress" sessions, at which interested persons may present their works-in-progress, especially books, and receive critical feedback from Institute attendees. Those wishing to present their work should submit, by June 1, a 150-to-300-word abstract to Ken Stikkers, either via e-mail, at kstikker@siu.edu or at: Department of Philosophy, Mailcode 4505, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. A panel of scholars will blindly review submitted abstracts, and persons submitting them will be notified as soon as possible.

The Institute is co-sponsored by the Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, and the University of Colorado, Boulder and Denver.

History: The Institute was originally conceived and planned by Larry Hickman, Director of the Center for Dewey Studies, and began at the University of Vermont in 1998 with a great attendance of both established scholars and students of American philosophy. John Lachs (Vanderbilt University) organized the Institute's second meeting, expanding its format. Instrumental in the success of the Vermont meetings was the organizing work of Tony Earls, presently at the University of Wyoming. In 2003 the Institute moved to the University of Oregon, where it was assisted by Scott Pratt and John Lysaker. Collaborating with Hickman and the Institute's local hosts in developing the Institute's programs are Kenneth Stikkers (Southern Illinois University) and Charlene Haddock Seigfried (Purdue University), who serves as SAAP''s liaison to the Institute. Beyond the scheduled meetings, the intimate setting for the conference, wherein participants dine together and socialize in the evenings, aims to enrich the seminar experience, as conversations spill over into the meals and evening hours and collegial friendships are formed and strengthened.

Questions?

Contact Ken Stikkers at kstikker@siu.edu or 618-536-6641.

Interested persons are encouraged to consult past programs of Institute to get a better sense of its structure and content. Click here to visit the archives of previous years' conference programs and details.

Comments about the Summer Institute in American Philosophy

"It was the most exciting professional experience of my life." (David Vessey, Beloit College)

"I had no idea how much fun the Summer Institute was." (Ann K. Clarke, St. Mary's University)

"I learned more about Whitehead in three days of discussion with Jude Jones than in three readings of Process and Reality; and it was more fun." (Doug Anderson, Pennsylvania State University)

"The Summer Institute is an inspiring experience. The diversity of speakers and topics, the supportive environment, and the opportunity to share ideas in a beautiful and historic setting make this the philosophical gathering that I most look forward to each year." (Heather Keith, Lyndon State College)

"I attended the Summer Institute in American Philosophy for the first time in the summer of 2000. It was one of those rare experiences where my best hopes were made real. The week was rich with discussion of issues and ideas I have little opportunity to share in elsewhere. The seminars were professionally run, with insightful, focused, and lively discussion. I was struck by the support everyone gave each other, by the openness with which ideas were given and received; I found myself in a community of thinkers I can gladly call home. The Summer institute is itself an instantiation of the best of American Philosophy. It presents one with an opportunity to learn in a caring atmosphere of top-notch philosophers; I shall continue to attend as long as I am able." (Paola Lortie)

"Just a short note of praise for the 2000 Summer Institute in American Philosophy. The quality and diversity of the program is impressive as is the quality of scholars in attendance. The informal interactions create easy and informative contact among all who attend. The location is wonderful and certainly facilitates interaction. Congratulations on yet another successful summer program." (Jim Garrison, Virginia Tech)

"I found the Classical American Institute genuinely stimulating for many reasons. The questions raised in my seminar truly developed my grasp of the topic and hopefully helped other participants. I found the other seminars I attended of high quality. The graduate students there showed genuine interest and searching questions. And overall the fun and camaraderie were great." (Frank Oppenheim, S.J., Xavier University)