Through the Symposium, Siena College has had the privilege of hosting a truly remarkable series of distinguished philosophers, including Richard Rorty, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Judith Butler. These philosophers visit campus at the beginning of the Symposium, both to meet with the Symposium students and to deliver a public lecture on their work, and at the end of the semester to participate in a public panel discussion where the Symposium students discuss their work. There are two additional public lectures by philosophers whose work critically engages with the work of the featured philosopher; these visiting philosophers also meet with the Symposium students to discuss their work.
The Symposium provides a transformative experience for our students, who not only have the chance to work closely with some of the most influential people in contemporary philosophy, but also the opportunity to construct and defend their own positions on some of the topics and issues that shape contemporary philosophy.