Sophia is the Students of Philosophy Association. As such, we are committed to fostering community among students, as well as organizing various events. This group is intended to keep philosophy students in the loop with everything pertaining to the association, its events and projects.
Daily office hours on weekdays. Please stop by to share your comments and concerns. We can hook you up with a tutor, tell you about our next party, or suggest some ways to get involved with the association.
Hope you’re all navigating the philosophical depths smoothly as we tackle finals season! Here’s something exciting to fuel your intellectual fire:
The Reed – St. Olaf College’s Existentialism Journal is calling for submissions! Whether it’s philosophy papers, poetry, short stories, or art exploring the human search for meaning, they want YOUR perspective!
Plus, they’ve got the Hong Memorial Essay Prize—$100 prize awaits the best academic paper!
As the semester wraps up, SoPhiA invites all undergraduate and graduate students to join us for a social event on Thursday, December 7th (7 pm), at our classic gathering place, N sur Mackay! This time, thanks to the initiative of Benny, our elected event planner, it’s Pyjama themed. So, grab your favourite PJs and dive into a cozy night filled with great conversations.
Don’t miss out on this perfect blend of great conversations and comfort!
When: Thursday, December 7th @ 7 pm
What: SoPhiA’s Pyjama Philosophy Night, end of semester social event!
Where: N Sur Mackay, 1244 Mackay St, Montreal, Quebec. H3G 2H4
Who: Open to all undergrad and grad students in philosophy hosted by SoPhiA.
SoPhiA and the Graduate Association of Philosophy are joining for a Halloween-themed snack get-together this upcoming Tuesday! Feel free to come and have a fun time with us. Costumes are encouraged!
With the arrival of June, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new era for SoPhiA. As the previous volume mentioned, it is time for a changing of the guard as the baton is passed to a fresh team of executives who will continue the legacy of empowering philosophy enthusiasts like you. Allow me to introduce myself – I am Sebastian, and I have assumed the role of Outreach Communicator.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest admiration for Andrew, the outgoing Outreach and Communication Coordinator. His dedication and remarkable contributions over the past three years have been truly exceptional. Make sure to check the updated philosophy student guide which is one of his latest projects.
We have an important update regarding this week’s tabloid. In light of the ongoing transition period, it will have a special focus. As we adapt to new leadership and explore fresh communication approaches, we understand the significance of your input.
In line with this transitional phase, I have initiated a survey to gather your valuable feedback. We encourage you to participate and make your voice heard. Ensuring that you are well-informed about everything happening within SoPhiA is our priority.
This new year is going to be full of interesting events specially shaped for you. Look forward to it!
In addition, the SoPhiA executive team for the upcoming mandate can be found in the executives section. We are a group of passionate individuals eager to serve you and the association. If you are interested in becoming part of SoPhiA, there are also a few vacant positions waiting to be filled. Your involvement is invaluable, and we welcome new perspectives and ideas with open arms. Also check the “how to get involved with SoPhiA” page for more information.
A special shout-out to students on vacation – enjoy this well-deserved break! And to those taking summer courses, your dedication is commendable.
Stay safe and take care of yourself amidst the current smog in the city. Remember, your existence matters, even to the existentialist philosophers pondering life’s meaning in this hazy atmosphere. Don’t let the smog cloud your existential journey!
We hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather of Montreal! 🌞😎
This is our 46th issue of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, and the final one to be written by your current Outreach and Communications Coordinator. While I may be gone after my three-year stint in SoPhiA, may it continue within the spirit of the new executives in SoPhiA.
Finally, we’d like to mention once again about our updated new philosophy student guide and the addition of an “opportunities and awards for philosophy students” page. I’m also in the works of producing a “how to get involved with SoPhiA” page. Be sure to check them out to get the most out of being a philosophy student!
Without further ado, here’s the 46th Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, which brings you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we tell you about:
New student info sessions
Various Concordia events
A philosophy book recommendation!
New Student Resources
Are you a new student looking to get the most out of your experience as a new Concordian and/or a first-time university student? See below for workshops and information sessions on how to navigate your university experience.
“Through whole and small group discussions, case studies, and practice, you will develop a vision and mission statement for an organization of which you are a part or would like to create. You will leave this session feeling enlightened and empowered in your leadership role.”
“Join us every Tuesday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in our summer Spirituali-tea sessions! We will be making friends and chatting while enjoying the summer weather and ice cream outside!”
“During this interactive workshop, we will work on strengthening your “A” muscle by making the distinction between passiveness, aggressiveness, and assertiveness. After exploring why you react the way you do in certain situations, we will discuss some key phrases for you to have in your back pocket and practice your assertiveness so that you can feel more comfortable when you say no.”
During the 2020 COVID pandemic, Albert Camus’ book “The Plague” surged to new popularity. Now you can enjoy the original French text from the philosopher, absurdist, and often coined existentialist (a label he rejected) Albert Camus.
“A haunting tale of human resilience and hope in the face of unrelieved horror, Albert Camus’ iconic novel about an epidemic ravaging the people of a North African coastal town is a classic of twentieth-century literature.
The townspeople of Oran are in the grip of a deadly plague, which condemns its victims to a swift and horrifying death. Fear, isolation and claustrophobia follow as they are forced into quarantine. Each person responds in their own way to the lethal disease: some resign themselves to fate, some seek blame, and a few, like Dr. Rieux, resist the terror.
An immediate triumph when it was published in 1947, The Plague is in part an allegory of France’s suffering under the Nazi occupation, and a timeless story of bravery and determination against the precariousness of human existence. “
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books! Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Most pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
This is in fact our 45th issue of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid. It started as a pilot project and a way to communicate the vast network of info of the university community distilled down into news most relevant to philosophy students at Concordia. We hope it was useful and helpful to at least some of you. While my mandate as Outreach and Communications comes to an end on May 31st, our newly elected Outreach and Communications Coordinator will hopefully continue and improve or streamline our newsletter.
The department of philosophy organizes an annual philosophy speaker series. The speakers for the 2023-2024 academic year can now be found on their website. This is a great opportunity to hear from visiting researchers on topics you may be interested in.
We’d also like to congratulate Dr. Eleni Panagiotarakou, part-time professor in philosophy and political sciences, for the receipt of the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award in the category of “Excellence in Teaching by a Part-time Faculty Member.” Congratulations! If you’ve never had a course with Professor Panagiotarakou, I highly recommend enrolling in one of their courses (4.8/5 rating on RMP). Unfortunately, in the upcoming Fall term they are not teaching any philosophy courses.
Without further ado, here’s the 45th Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, which brings you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we tell you about:
New student info sessions (more info added this week)
Various Concordia events
A philosophy book recommendation!
New Student Resources
Are you a new student looking to get the most out of your experience as a new Concordian and/or a first-time university student? See below for workshops and information sessions on how to navigate your university experience.
“The Scholars will discuss their academic trajectories, highlighting some of the exceptional opportunities they have received in their graduate studies, and discussing some of the ongoing challenges of being a graduate student.”
A good opportunity to learn some technological knowledge to accompany your philosophy skills
“A quick and simple introduction to the Linux operating system. This workshop is for beginners with little to no experience working with this free and open-source OS.”
“What are recruiters looking for? What do they expect from you? If you are wondering how to prepare yourself to connect with recruiters or potential employers, this is the series for you!”
“Through whole and small group discussions, case studies, and practice, you will develop a vision and mission statement for an organization of which you are a part or would like to create. You will leave this session feeling enlightened and empowered in your leadership role.”
The Philosopher’s Toolkit: A Compendium of Philosophical Concepts and Methods (2010)
“‘The Philosopher’s Toolkit is a very good book. It could be highly useful for both introductory courses in philosophy, or philosophical methodology, as well as independent study for anyone interested in the methods of argument, assessment and criticism used in contemporary analytic philosophy. It is unique in approach, and written in a pleasant and considerate tone. Its authors are both competent philosophers, and the book visibly reflects their deep sympathy to the discipline and their appreciation of its unique character. This book will help one to get going to do philosophy, but more advanced students might find this text helpful too. I wish I had had access to this book as an undergraduate.'” (TeachingPhilosophy)
A great book for anyone new to philosophy or philosophical methodology!
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books! Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Most pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
The Students of Philosophy Association would like to congratulate both Andrew Wilcox and Gabriel Bidner, both B.A. Philosophy Honors program students, on their recent awarding of a Concordia Undergraduate Student Research Award (CUSRA) for the summer of 2023.
Gabriel Bidner, Honors Philosophy with a minor in linguistics, will be working with Dr. Gregory Lavers on his project “The Role of Phenomenal Experiences in the Foundations of Mathematics.”
Gabriel’s project is aimed at developing an understanding of the roles, if any, that phenomenal experiences play in shaping our understanding of mathematical concepts through an analysis of letters exchanged between Edmund Husserl and Gottlob Frege.
Andrew Wilcox, Honors Philosophy with a minor in professional writing, will be working with Dr. Nabeel Hamid on his project “Dilthey on Historicity and Individuality in the Human Sciences.”
Andrew’s project aims to understand Wilhelm Dilthey’s (1833-1911) historicist approach to the notion of individuality in the human sciences, through a close study of Dilthey’s major works, and answer the following questions:
What is the individual’s relation to the world, according to Dilthey?
How does Dilthey’s historicism condition his concept of an individual?
How does Dilthey’s account of humans as historical species inform his account of the epistemology of the human sciences (especially psychology)?
The CUSRA is a funded summer-research project meant to stimulate interest in research and research-creation projects to supplement coursework and enhance preparation for graduate studies. CUSRA winners spend their summer researching their project full-time while receiving biweekly funding over a 16-week period of the summer (May-August). The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies (VPRGS) usually gives out two or three of these awards each year to philosophy students, from recommendations of the department of philosophy.
These awards are a great opportunity for students to deepen their study of a topic of their interest and get a feel for self-guided research, such as what you would do in graduate studies.
CUSRA applicants must secure a sponsor, a professor at Concordia, to nominate them and supervise their project. Then, they fill out a student form, and the sponsor fills out a form, then the student must submit a CV and student record with their application.
CUSRA Applications are usually due in February of that same year (March 1st this year).
We hope your pre-summer season and academic summer term is full of awesomeness. Whether you are working, taking a break, returning to your home country, studying, or travelling, we hope you have a great summer.
SoPhiA still works over the summer to plan and make sure the upcoming year will be a great one for all philosophy students! SoPhiA never sleeps, so continue to stay tuned for information from us over the summer.
If you want to sharpen some skills over the summer, consider taking non-credit UDEMY courses (free for Concordia students), or work towards your FutureBound certificate with FutureBound skill workshops!
For senior philosophy students, you can check out the current list of advanced PHIL-4xx offerings for Fall and Winter of the upcoming academic year.
Consider checking out Dr. Ulf Hlobil’s course on “Truth” in the Fall
Requirements: 12 credits in philosophy, including one of PHIL 263 or 265 or 364 or 365
Description: The course will be “on the philosophy of truth.” Students “will read seminal texts on the nature and logic of truth from different historical periods.”
Or Dr. Anna Brinkerhoff’s course on the “Ethics of Belief” in the Winter.
Requirements: 12 credits in philosophy, including one of PHIL 263 or 265 or 364 or 365
Description: This course “will focus on central questions in the ethics of belief” such as:
Is it always wrong to believe on insufficient evidence?
Are we responsible for what we believe?
Does morality get a say in the rationality of belief?
Does friendship place demands on belief that conflicts with epistemic demands?
What contribution do moral beliefs make to the moral worth of an action?
Finally, stay tuned if you’ve submitted to receive the Sheila Mason Bursary, because the winners will be announced soon if not already!
Without further ado, here’s the 44th Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, which brings you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we tell you about:
New student info sessions
Recap from our end of year social event
Opportunity for a two-week 3-credit Concordia course (May 15-26)
A Glissant and Levinas Conference
Various Concordia events
A philosophy book recommendation!
New Student Resources
Are you a new student looking to get the most out of your experience as a new Concordian and/or a first-time university student? See below for workshops and information sessions on how to navigate your university experience.
What: New student information events When: Various dates Where: Online & in-person
End of year social event: Recap
SoPhiA hosted our last social event of the current academic year on May 9th at N sur Mackay. Hopefully all of you who came out had a great time! We took over most of the bar and many conversations were had. Stay tuned for our next line up of social events for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The social event included many undergraduate and graduate students, as well as friends and even an adjunct professor! We also launched this year’s Concordia undergraduate philosophy journal, The SoPhiA Review! An expert publishing of some of Concordia’s philosophical undergraduate work (thank you Diana Pylypenko!) And we had stickers too!
More physical copies of The SoPhiA Review will be available, TBD.
Summer Course opportunity: Mess and Method — Maintenance, Repair, and Sustainability Edition
“Darren Wershler, interim director of the Milieux Institute and professor in the Faculty of Arts and Science, will be leading a two-week, three-credit course on interdisciplinary research at Concordia.
The course will be co-taught with guest faculty Lori Emerson, associate professor of English at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and will introduce students to a range of contemporary critical and philosophical approaches to interdisciplinary research.”
ENGL 602 2231: Mess and Method – Maintenance, Repair and Sustainability Edition
“This course will introduce students to a range of contemporary critical and philosophical approaches to interdisciplinary research whose focus is contextual, material and discursive rather than textual and hermeneutic.
The purpose of ‘Mess and Method’ is to encourage students to think about culture in terms of a set of interrelated concepts such as: controversies and messes, articulations, assemblages and networks, materiality, practices and techniques, parallax and incommensurabilities. Many of the texts we’ll be looking at consider some or all of these concepts simultaneously, but they each have their particular strengths.
In this particular instance of the course, our focus will be on the practices and techniques of maintenance, repair, and sustainability. Drawing on readings from across the disciplines, we will be considering how incorporating such practices into our scholarly work requires us to move beyond the comforts of individual expertise and into a kind of collective engagement that Steven J. Jackson calls ‘broken world methodology’ in his influential work, ‘Rethinking Repair’ (a central text for the course).”
Program Details:
“The course will take place from May 15-26th, 2023. The first week will occur as an online seminar, and will provide the theoretical context for the practical work during week 2. The second week will consist of in-person (mandatory) team-based work in the Milieux Institute on a series of projects to be determined in the first week. The course concludes with a colloquium in which we will share our research with each other in the form of brief presentations.
All are welcome to apply. The working assumption of the course is that we will all bring different competencies and different weaknesses along with us, which is why the course emphasizes group work and collective thinking.”
Registration:
“To enroll, please contact Liz Burgess, the Graduate program Director at the Concordia Department of English, at grad.english@concordia.ca.
Who: Milieux Institute What: Two-week 3-credit summer course When: May 15-26 Where: Online + in-person at the Milieux Institute of Concordia (EV Building, 11th floor)
Glissant and Levinas Conference – thinking the Relation
Concordia’s Social Justice Center will be holding a conference on Glissant and Levinas next weekend May 19 and 20 to discuss the relation between Edouard Glissant and Emmanuel Levinas.
Mérédith Laferté-Coutu (post-doctoral researcher working with Dr. Matthias Fritsch) and our own Nelson Graves will be speaking at the event.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in existentialism, phenomenology, Glissant, or Levinas.
“The conference Glissant and Levinas: Thinking the Relation, invites scholars in philosophy, English, francophone, and Caribbean literature, environmental studies, decolonial studies, and Jewish studies, to think about the major point of contact between Édouard Glissant and Emmanuel Levinas: our relation to the other, and its ethical and political significance.”
Who: Concordia Social Justice Center What: Glissant and Levinas Conference When: May 19-20 (all day) Where: MB 14.250 and MB.9A (JMSB building) and online (hybrid)
“Take control of your money matters with tips from our personal finance expert. We will start with the basics by covering credit cards, student loans, debt, and how to improve your credit score. We’ll discuss budgeting, automatic savings, and determining what percentage of your paycheck should be saved, invested, or enjoyed.”
“In this workshop, we will discuss ways in which we can tune in to and direct our internal compasses to promote well-being and manage stress. Through reflective exercises and small group discussions, you will develop a greater understanding of your own strengths and how to use them when navigating challenging circumstances. ”
“In this workshop, you will learn about the research on growth mindsets, develop strategies to cultivate resilience when faced with setbacks, and learn how to get smarter every day. ”
“Join us in celebrating and discovering the diversity and scope of research within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Ten researchers from the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural and Health Sciences will engage in substantive conversation with Patrick Leroux, Associate Dean of Research.”
The Philosopher’s Toolkit: A Compendium of Philosophical Concepts and Methods (2010)
“‘The Philosopher’s Toolkit is a very good book. It could be highly useful for both introductory courses in philosophy, or philosophical methodology, as well as independent study for anyone interested in the methods of argument, assessment and criticism used in contemporary analytic philosophy. It is unique in approach, and written in a pleasant and considerate tone. Its authors are both competent philosophers, and the book visibly reflects their deep sympathy to the discipline and their appreciation of its unique character. This book will help one to get going to do philosophy, but more advanced students might find this text helpful too. I wish I had had access to this book as an undergraduate.'” (TeachingPhilosophy)
A great book for anyone new to philosophy or philosophical methodology!
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books! Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Most pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
We hope all of you still in Montreal have been enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve been having! 😎 🌞
Grades from this semester should be released soon, if not already. I already have two of my final grades from the Winter semester. Keep an eye out! You should receive an email when a grade is posted to your academic record. Remember, don’t be afraid to challenge or inquire about a final grade if it doesn’t line up with what you calculated, because professors can make mistakes too.
The summer I & II terms officially starts on May 10th. Unfortunately, the Philosophy department only offers PHIL-210 in the summer, but you can take always classes from your minor / electives / second major if you’re looking for courses in the summer. Or you can take non-credit UDEMY courses, or work towards your FutureBound certificate with FutureBound skill workshops!
New students starting for Fall 2023 can now enroll in classes. If you haven’t done so we recommend you make your schedule now and enroll! Classes can fill up fast.
For senior philosophy students, you can check out the current list of advanced PHIL-4xx offerings for Fall and Winter of the upcoming academic year. Psssst… There’s cool courses on the “Knowledge of Other Minds” in the Fall, and “Democracy and Climate change” in the Winter.
Finally, stay tuned if you’ve submitted to receive the Sheila Mason Bursary, because the winners will be announced soon if not already!
Without further ado, here’s the 43rd Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, which brings you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we tell you about:
New student info sessions
End of year social event
Various Concordia events
New Student Resources
Are you a new student looking to get the most out of your experience as a new Concordian and/or a first-time university student? See below for workshops and information sessions on how to navigate your university experience.
What: New student information events When: Various dates Where: Online & in-person
End of year social event
SoPhiA is hosting our final end-of-year social event.
The social event will take place at N Bar on Tuesday May 9th. We are planning a big collaborative event between SoPhiA, the Graduate Philosophy Student Association (GPSA), and this year’s Concordia undergraduate philosophy journal launch, The SoPhiA Review!
Professors, graduate, and undergraduate students are all invited. Limited free drinks (and maybe food) will be present.
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books! Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
Plus, they’ve got the Hong Memorial Essay Prize—$100 prize awaits the best academic paper!
Submission Deadline: January 31st, 2024
Students of Philosophy Association 