Phi Sigma Tau
International Honor Society in Philosophy
Chapter Designation – Pennsylvania Mu
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Academic Year _________
FULL NAME ________________________________________________________________
SCHOOL ADDRESS __________________________________________________________
PERMANENT ADDRESS ______________________________________________________
E-MAIL _____________________________________________________________________
MAJOR(S) ______________________________ MINOR(S) ___________________________
CLASS YEAR _____________ EXPECTED DATE OF GRADUATION _________________
List all philosophy courses completed at Villanova University:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Name two professors to speak on your behalf: (no formal recommendation needed)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
If you are a transfer student please indicate from where you transferred and any philosophy courses you took there:
______________________________________________________________________________
List current courses:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Current GPA _____________ Philosophy GPA _______________
List any other philosophy-related activities: (attach additional sheet as needed)
______________________________________________________________________________
List any other extracurricular activities:
______________________________________________________________________________
Are you interested in becoming a PST Officer? If so, what?
______________________________________________________________________________
Write an essay (one page), to accompany this application, on the topic “Philosophy’s Relevance Today.”
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Conference Photos
Hi Everyone,
My official statement on the PST conference may be found here:
http://anom1k.googlepages.com
Special thanks go to Candace Stevens and her media expertise. Because of Candace, we will continue to be funded by student life. I was having trouble posting the photos for the conference on googlepages, so here are some photos from the conference:

Here, Dr. Rockhill is grilling me about my bourgeois psychoanalytical appropriation of Marx

Meera Broome Seth delivered a great paper thoroughly examining the debate surrounding Lacan's conception of the phallus, giving the axe to Judith Butler and poststructuralism, favoring aspects of Zizek's conception of the phallus as truer to Lacan's. She knows more about Lacan than I do.


Dr. Lowell Gustafson gave a down to earth lecture on the origins of language and politics, bringing in lots of empirical examples to support his claims. His presentation was a unique addition to our conference.

Ben gave a great presentation on the use of shock and hyperbole in the mainstream media to gloss over important political issues. Nice work Ben.


Eric delivered a paper examining the definition of terrorism, more specifically, how terrorism works, and what agents can be defined as terrorists if one actually uses a strict definition. A helpful essay. Eric intently observes as Paul asks a question.

Joe Pecora delivered an excellent paper that criticized the philosophical assumptions underpinning an economic study on terrorism that depoliticized its content, out of Deleuze and Guattari's model of the war machine. Interdisciplinary and smart.

Rory and Paul listen intently.

Ronni Sadovsky's paper took a look at important arguments in linguistics, criticizing the deflationist arguments against grammar as simply the use of language according to the speaker. I agree with her point, and I think generally I prefer my philosophy filled with hot air.

Jim Malazita, gave a very interesting presentation on the internet as a model open for democratic thinking, referencing the net neutrality movement. Jim, a media studies major, invited criticism from the philosophers in the room who were in the room. They were more than happy to oblige.

Dr. Rockhill and Ben in a heated discussion. I can't comment because I wasn't there, but do make note of the Perrier.

Classic.

Dr. Rockhill delivered a tremendous presentation on the politics of language, presenting ideas that he hopes to use later for an article or possibly even a book. It was a treat to hear a newly articulated philosophical framework. As you can see, we are all doing our best to cope with the onslaught of content before us.

Again, classic.

Meera Broome Seth won and took Paul's money. Seriously, student life needs to reimburse you Paul. The end.
My official statement on the PST conference may be found here:
http://anom1k.googlepages.com
Special thanks go to Candace Stevens and her media expertise. Because of Candace, we will continue to be funded by student life. I was having trouble posting the photos for the conference on googlepages, so here are some photos from the conference:
Here, Dr. Rockhill is grilling me about my bourgeois psychoanalytical appropriation of Marx
Meera Broome Seth delivered a great paper thoroughly examining the debate surrounding Lacan's conception of the phallus, giving the axe to Judith Butler and poststructuralism, favoring aspects of Zizek's conception of the phallus as truer to Lacan's. She knows more about Lacan than I do.
Dr. Lowell Gustafson gave a down to earth lecture on the origins of language and politics, bringing in lots of empirical examples to support his claims. His presentation was a unique addition to our conference.
Ben gave a great presentation on the use of shock and hyperbole in the mainstream media to gloss over important political issues. Nice work Ben.
Eric delivered a paper examining the definition of terrorism, more specifically, how terrorism works, and what agents can be defined as terrorists if one actually uses a strict definition. A helpful essay. Eric intently observes as Paul asks a question.
Joe Pecora delivered an excellent paper that criticized the philosophical assumptions underpinning an economic study on terrorism that depoliticized its content, out of Deleuze and Guattari's model of the war machine. Interdisciplinary and smart.
Rory and Paul listen intently.
Ronni Sadovsky's paper took a look at important arguments in linguistics, criticizing the deflationist arguments against grammar as simply the use of language according to the speaker. I agree with her point, and I think generally I prefer my philosophy filled with hot air.
Jim Malazita, gave a very interesting presentation on the internet as a model open for democratic thinking, referencing the net neutrality movement. Jim, a media studies major, invited criticism from the philosophers in the room who were in the room. They were more than happy to oblige.
Dr. Rockhill and Ben in a heated discussion. I can't comment because I wasn't there, but do make note of the Perrier.
Classic.
Dr. Rockhill delivered a tremendous presentation on the politics of language, presenting ideas that he hopes to use later for an article or possibly even a book. It was a treat to hear a newly articulated philosophical framework. As you can see, we are all doing our best to cope with the onslaught of content before us.
Again, classic.
Meera Broome Seth won and took Paul's money. Seriously, student life needs to reimburse you Paul. The end.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Post Conference
I want to take this opportunity to write and thank all of the participants in the "Politics and Language" conference last Saturday. It was truly an excellent day of philosophical conversation, debate, and dialogue and I really appreciate the energy and intelligence that was shown by all of the participants!
As I announced, as well, we now have the exciting opportunity to PUBLISH the undergraduate contributors' papers in the international undergraduate journal STOA. If you are interested in having your paper published, please just send me your final, updated draft together with your PERMANENT contact information (address, email, phone number) and I will forward them to the journal for publication in an upcoming issue! Do let me know, as well, if you have any questions about the preparation of the final draft.
Thanks so much again!
Best,
-Paul
Dr. Paul M. Livingston
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Department of Philosophy
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 519-4714
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Minutes April 8
5:30 First Order of Business --- "Language and Politics" Conference Schedule
The Schedule for the PST Conference will be:
April 19 10:00 AM-6:00 PM in the Devin Room at Connelly
- 10:00-10:10 Paul Livingston: Introduction
- 10:15-10:50 (Villanova) Francis Prior: Alienation, Commodity Fetishism, and Lacanian Psychoanalysis
- 10:50-11:25 (Bryn Mawr) Meera Broome Seth: 'Beyond Signification': The Conflicting Nature of Contemporary Responses to the Lacanian Conception of the Phallus
- 11:25-12:00 (Faculty) Dr. Lowell Gustafson: The Origins of Language and Politics
- 12:00-1:00 Break for lunch
- 1:00-1:35 (Villanova) Eric Pfisterer: Terrorism and Strategy
- 2:10-2:45 (Villanova) Joseph Pecora: Assuming the Effect of Terror
- 2:45-3:00 Fifteen minute break
- 3:00-3:35 (Swarthmore) Ronni Sadofsky: Normativity and Nonsense in Baker and Hacker
- 3:35-4:10 (Drexel) James Malzita: Real time Democracy
- 4:10-4:30 Twenty Minute Break
- 4:30-5:30 Dr. Rockhill "The Language of Politics"
- 5:30-6:00? Closing remarks
5:50 Other assorted business
- Paul will send a draft of the schedule
- Raising awareness -- talk up conference in philosophy classes
- Also advertise it as a cultural event for ACS?
- Candy will raise awareness on the radio
6:00 More assorted business:
- Registration for Conference
- Leave clipboard outside the door/ Alternate people for sign in job/checking in with Paul
- Put signs around the Devin Room for directions
- Possibly show up early on the day of the conference?
- Possibility of nametags, to make things simpler.
- We have 50$ left after paying Rockhill and the winner.
- Candy will also photo-document the presentation
- Applying for funding in September
6:10 Meeting adjourned
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Minutes March 12
March 12:
6pm: for the philosophy conference, only 4 abstracts were recieved
options due to shortage of papers:
Extend deadline for one to two weeks
Don't have a conference
6:10 pm: Frank is going to solicite VU honors department and greater philadelphia area schools, including all political science departments
Also Resend the poster
Paul Livingston is responsible for the Wildcat Newswire
Motion to extend deadline to 3/24
Extension of two weeks accepted unanimously 5-0
Sarah Vitale needs respondents for the VU graduate philosophy conference
6:30 PM meeting adjourned.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
2/20/2008 Minutes
6pm: Frank responsible for finding the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Conference (GPPC) mailing list; also, to
email Department heads about conference information
Motion to have a poster committee (no decision as to who webkit-block-placeholder">
Awareness should be raised for the conference w/ posters & professors notifying their classes (Paul
Livingston will be responsible)
Discussion of food to be served at conference: coffee, bagels, cream cheese, etc. (Kristin will be
responsible for this)
6:17pm: Move to not meet next week
Motion seconded and accepted unanimously
to set next meeting on March 12th to review abstracts and select papers for the conference
to set next meeting on March 12th to review abstracts and select papers for the conference
6:25pm: Meeting ended
2/13/2008 Minutes
6pm: Discussion
Keynote speaker possibilities: Rockhill, Klein, Zaverich, Scholz
6:05pm: Vote on keynote speaker
Rockhill (6-1; first-round pick)
Scholz (1-6; first-round pick)
Klein (0-7; second-round pick)
Zaverich (0-7; second-round pick)
motion to ask keynote's participation in above precedence; motion moved
6:10pm: Date of Conference
Need abstracts and then will receive papers after accepted on basis of abstract alone
Abstract due date: March 10th; our response by March 17th, at the latest; person has three days to respond
with full paper
6:26pm:
motion to set above in favor; advertise at local schools
6:30pm: Motion to ask Rockhill to be keynote on April 12th
6:39pm: Motion to have Tom design flyer
set in motion, all in favor
request St. David's room to host conference
6:47pm: motion to ask Rockhill on April 19th, or if he is unable, request April 12th
6:53pm: $100 to keynote speaker, $50 cash prize to best paper
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