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Examined Life

Examined Life Poster for Spring 2023 What's everyone talking about?
What's no-one talking about?
Examined Life is a discussion series that meets weekly to chat philosophically about topics ranging from the popular to the obscure. Please join us! Examined Life is open to all members of the UC Merced community.
We meet on Fridays from **12:00-1:00pm** in SSM 217 (El Capitan).
(Note the new time for Spring 2023.)

Philosophy Speaker Series

A series of talks scheduled during term time, with a mix of event types (e.g. movie nights and external speakers). Information from past talks are in the Events Archive. Spring 2023 events will include:

Friday, March 17th 3 to 4:30 p.m. Javiera Perez Gomez (Marquette): "Social Utility in the Allocation of Scarce, Lifesaving Resources: On a Slippery Slope?" in GRAN 103 **note new date!**

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been argued that when medical resources such as ventilators or vaccines are scarce and not everyone who needs one can be saved, priority should be given to first responders and other frontline workers. One central argument for this view appeals to the principle of social utility: the idea that when lifesaving resources are scarce and not all can be saved, priority should be given to individuals who are most valuable to society. But is this a morally permissible principle for making allocation decisions? Given that hospitals and other agencies continue to develop and modify allocation guidelines in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a key moment to revisit this question. In this talk, I argue that even if making allocation decisions on the basis of this principle is not in itself morally objectionable—as, for example, doing so on the basis of race or gender would be—saying ‘No’ to this action may, in light of the unintended by foreseen consequences that could follow for certain members of our society, be the right thing to do.

Friday, April 21st 3 to 4:30 p.m. Aleta Quinn (University of Idaho): TBD in COB2 392

Friday, May 5th 2 to 4:30 p.m. Workshop on Applying to Graduate School and Non-Academic Jobs in COB2 392

 

In addition, the Mind, Technology, and Society talk series of the Cognitive and Information Sciences Department is hosting a number of philosophers this term on Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m.:

January 30th: Jeff Yoshimi, UC Merced, COB 110
February 6th: Tim Bayne, Sydney Univeristy, Zoom.
February 27th: Michael Madary, University of the Pacific, COB 110
March 13th: David Chalmers, New York University, Zoom
April 10th: David Barack, Pennsylvania State University, Zoom

Minorities and Philosophy

Minorities and Philosophy 2023 Minorities and Philosophy at University of California Merced is an undergraduate led chapter of MAP International that is committed to examining and addressing issues of minority participation within academic philosophy. MAP at UC Merced facilitates conversations on issues in philosophy pertaining to gender, race, minorities, sexual orientation, class, and disability. If you would like to be added to the mailing list (this is separate from the philosophy program mailing list), register here.

 

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