University of Alberta Department of Philosophy

04/09/2026

We’re pleased to announce that Miyu Bao is a recipient of a 2026 Graduate Student Teaching Award from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Miyu is a PhD student in the Philosophy Department who has demonstrated teaching excellence over recent years as a Teaching Assistant in several philosophy courses.

Congratulations, Miyu!

03/30/2026

Join us on Thursday from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in 1-160 CCIS for our Annual Public Lecture in Philosophy. This year's lecture, "Why Study the History of Philosophy?", will be given by Phil Corkum, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy.

There will be a reception following the lecture in 2-02 Assiniboia Hall.

03/26/2026

Join us in one week on Thursday, April 2 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in 1-160 CCIS for our Annual Public Lecture in Philosophy. This year's lecture, "Why Study the History of Philosophy?", will be given by Phil Corkum, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy.

Scientists and scholars largely ignore debunked historical theories. Chemists today care little about phlogiston. But many philosophers continue to discuss their long gone predecessors. What contribution does historical scholarship make to contemporary philosophy? Noting that philosophy is partly a value-laden activity, I explore ways a historical narrative, allowing the assessment of certain non-epistemic values, influence philosophical practice.

There will be a reception following the lecture in 2-02 Assiniboia Hall.

03/20/2026

Congratulations to Victoria School of the Arts, winners of the 2026 Edmonton Regional High School Ethics Bowl held on the University of Alberta campus on Saturday, March 7. The event featured approximately 80 students on 16 teams from 6 local high schools. This is the sixth annual Ethics Bowl sponsored by the Philosophy Department, organized this year by Professor Jack Zupko and Professor Luke Kersten.

Pictured: Professor Jack Zupko, Anne Bégin, Carys Kregel and Inez da Silva

02/25/2026

Join us on Thursday, April 2 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in 1-160 CCIS for our Annual Public Lecture in Philosophy. This year's lecture, "Why Study the History of Philosophy?", will be given by Phil Corkum, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy.

Scientists and scholars largely ignore debunked historical theories. Chemists today care little about phlogiston. But many philosophers continue to discuss their long gone predecessors. What contribution does historical scholarship make to contemporary philosophy? Noting that philosophy is partly a value-laden activity, I explore ways a historical narrative, allowing the assessment of certain non-epistemic values, influence philosophical practice.

There will be a reception following the lecture in 2-02 Assiniboia Hall.

02/06/2026

University of Alberta Graduate Philosophy Conference "Violence, Resistance, and Decoloniality: Rage Against the Machine" taking place May 1-2, 2006
Submission deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026
https://philevents.org/event/show/143354

01/07/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our alumnus Joseph McDonald (PhD 2025) has accepted a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Theoretical Computer Science of the Institute of Computer Science at the Czech Academy of Sciences. Joseph will conduct research on lattice-ordered algebras and non-classical logics.

12/11/2025

Please see this CFA for a PhD-level student interested in working with Prof. Jorge Sanchez-Perez on the SSHRC-funded Indigenous Stories of Philosophy project.

11/11/2025

Today and every day we are thankful for those who fought for our freedoms. Lest we forget.

10/10/2025

Join us on October 18 for Open House at booth 19 and for a special presentation:

"The Philosophy Degree" in ECHA 1-490 at 11 a.m.
Curious what you can study in Philosophy and where it can take you? Learn about the wide range of courses available and the many career opportunities a Philosophy degree can open up.

Learn more at

Join us at the University of Alberta Open House in October to explore campus, learn about programs, discover student life and so much more.

09/30/2025

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day of reflection to honour the children who never returned home , survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

In observance of this day, the university is closed. We encourage everyone to read the U of A’s TRC Report to Community, the Braiding Past, Present and Future:
The University of Alberta Indigenous Strategic Plan Interim Report Card, and the 10-year anniversary of the release of the TRC Calls to Action. You can find these and other resources here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/indigenous/index.html