Home » Academics » Schools and Departments » School of Liberal Arts » Philosophy » Siena Symposium on Living Philosophers

Siena Symposium on Living Philosophers

The Siena Symposium on Living Philosophers:
a unique undergraduate learning experience. 

Students focus on the work of a major contemporary philosopher in a yearlong program, integrating

  • a seminar, team taught by Siena faculty and an external scholar
  • a public lecture series, including talks by the featured philosopher and by prominent scholars on convergent themes
  • personal encounters with the featured philosopher

The featured philosopher visits first in Fall for a public lecture and to teach a seminar session.  The second visit in Spring  includes a public lecture, along with the culminating event of the program: a public panel discussion where students present their research to the community and engage the philosopher in reflection on his/her work.

This biennial program hosted Richard Rorty in in 2005-06, Michael Walzer in 2007-08.  This year the Symposium focuses on the work of
                                     John D. Caputo

Rorty
Rorty  Symposium 2005-2006		 Walzer
Walzer Symposium 2007-2008
 

For more information contact this year's Co-Directors John Burkey burkey@siena.edu or Raymond Boisvert boisvert@siena.edu.

Pablo Muchnik is the Founding Director of the Siena Symposium on Living Philosophers.

 
Meet the Featured Philosopher 
2009-2010 
 

John D. Caputo works out of the tradition of continental philosophy specializing in postmodern theory of religion. He is an uncommonly clear writer whose books address both scholarly and general audiences (Radical Hermeneutics, 1987; The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida, 1997; The Weakness of God, 2006; On Religion, 2001; Philosophy and Theology, 2006; What Would Jesus Deconstruct? 2007). Caputo taught philosophy at Villanova University for 37 years and is currently the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Humanities at Syracuse University.  

http://religion.syr.edu/caputo.html