Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium
Encyclopedia
The Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium (the GPPC) is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1980 serving the region around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, including western New Jersey
and northern Delaware
. Its current membership includes the philosophy
departments of 14 regional colleges and universities.
The GPPC states its purpose as "fostering cooperation among philosophers" and "sharing the insights and methods of philosophy with a larger public."
(the Milton C. Nahm Professor of Philosophy at Bryn Mawr College
) and Joseph Margolis
(the Laura H. Carnell Professor of Philosophy at Temple University
) co-founded the GPPC in 1980.
The GPPC was founded to help bridge between the traditions of Anglo-American philosophy and Continental philosophy
that persisted in the early 1980s. It also sought to enlarge the scope of philosophical inquiry, pursuing interdisciplinary topics in the sciences, social sciences, and other humanities.
The earliest core member institutions of the GPPC included the philosophy departments of Bryn Mawr College
, the University of Pennsylvania
, Temple University
, and Villanova University
. Each of these offers advanced degrees in philosophy and extended instructional and library access to graduate students of other GPPC member schools. Drexel University
, Haverford College
, La Salle University
, and Swarthmore College
soon joined as associated faculties, though not offering advanced degrees in philosophy. The GPPC also attracted the participation of faculty at other institutions, as well as other qualified persons in the Philadelphia region with an interest in philosophy.
Support for the GPPC during the 1980s included grants (received by Joseph Margolis) from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Rockefeller Foundation
, Exxon Educational Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts (with Michael Krausz).
The GPPC operates under the auspices of the Greater Philadelphia Human Studies Council, composed of 15 colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region. The Council exists to promote interdisciplinary faculty interaction and development, including the funding of four distinct consortia.
, Richard Rorty
, and Stanley Cavell
.
The Consortium also sponsors a variety of discussion groups and working groups. Past topics include aesthetics
and theory of interpretation, philosophy and feminism
, and ancient Greek philosophy,. Current groups discuss epistemology, philosophy of science
, philosophy of religion
, Asian and comparative philosophy, as well as special topics.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, including western New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and northern Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. Its current membership includes the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
departments of 14 regional colleges and universities.
The GPPC states its purpose as "fostering cooperation among philosophers" and "sharing the insights and methods of philosophy with a larger public."
History
Michael KrauszMichael Krausz
Michael Krausz is a Swiss-born American philosopher as well as an artist and orchestral conductor. His philosophical works focus on the theory of interpretation, theory of knowledge, philosophy of science, philosophy of history, and philosophy of art and music. Krausz is Milton C...
(the Milton C. Nahm Professor of Philosophy at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
) and Joseph Margolis
Joseph Margolis
Joseph Zalman Margolis is an American philosopher. A radical historicist, he has published many books critical of the central assumptions of Western philosophy, and has elaborated a robust form of relativism....
(the Laura H. Carnell Professor of Philosophy at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
) co-founded the GPPC in 1980.
The GPPC was founded to help bridge between the traditions of Anglo-American philosophy and Continental philosophy
Continental philosophy
Continental philosophy, in contemporary usage, refers to a set of traditions of 19th and 20th century philosophy from mainland Europe. This sense of the term originated among English-speaking philosophers in the second half of the 20th century, who used it to refer to a range of thinkers and...
that persisted in the early 1980s. It also sought to enlarge the scope of philosophical inquiry, pursuing interdisciplinary topics in the sciences, social sciences, and other humanities.
The earliest core member institutions of the GPPC included the philosophy departments of Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
, the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. Each of these offers advanced degrees in philosophy and extended instructional and library access to graduate students of other GPPC member schools. Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
, and Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
soon joined as associated faculties, though not offering advanced degrees in philosophy. The GPPC also attracted the participation of faculty at other institutions, as well as other qualified persons in the Philadelphia region with an interest in philosophy.
Support for the GPPC during the 1980s included grants (received by Joseph Margolis) from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, Exxon Educational Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts (with Michael Krausz).
Governance
The Consortium is currently led by a Board of Directors, which consists of one faculty representative from each member institution. The Board selects several officers from among these representatives. The GPPC also receives support from a Board of Governors, who are a mix of academics and non-academics (doctors, lawyers, business persons, etc.) who share an interest in the public role of philosophy.The GPPC operates under the auspices of the Greater Philadelphia Human Studies Council, composed of 15 colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region. The Council exists to promote interdisciplinary faculty interaction and development, including the funding of four distinct consortia.
Member Institutions
The Philosophy Departments of the following institutions are current members of the GPPC:- Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
- Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
- Haverford CollegeHaverford CollegeHaverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
- La Salle UniversityLa Salle UniversityLa Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
- Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
- St. Joseph’s University
- Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
- Temple UniversityTemple UniversityTemple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
- The College of New JerseyThe College of New JerseyThe College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
- University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
- Ursinus CollegeUrsinus CollegeUrsinus College is a liberal arts college in Collegeville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.-History:1867Members of the German Reformed Church begin plans to establish a college where "young men could be liberally educated under the benign influence of Christianity." These founders were hoping to...
- Villanova UniversityVillanova UniversityVillanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
- West Chester University
Conferences and Working Groups
The GPPC hosts a variety of conferences each year, including a Public Issues Forum and an Undergraduate Philosophy Conference. Past conference speakers include well-known recent philosophers such as Jürgen HabermasJürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theory on the concepts of 'communicative rationality' and the 'public sphere'...
, Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
Richard McKay Rorty was an American philosopher. He had a long and diverse academic career, including positions as Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Princeton, Kenan Professor of Humanities at the University of Virginia, and Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford University...
, and Stanley Cavell
Stanley Cavell
Stanley Louis Cavell is an American philosopher. He is the Walter M. Cabot Professor Emeritus of Aesthetics and the General Theory of Value at Harvard University.-Life:...
.
The Consortium also sponsors a variety of discussion groups and working groups. Past topics include aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
and theory of interpretation, philosophy and feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, and ancient Greek philosophy,. Current groups discuss epistemology, philosophy of science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
, philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
, Asian and comparative philosophy, as well as special topics.
Publications
Several books have grown out of past proceedings and papers of GPPC conferences and discussions, published primarily by Penn State Press:- Rationality, Relativism, and the Human Sciences. Edited by Joseph Margolis, Michael Krausz, and Richard M. Burian. Dordrecht: Martin Nijhoff, 1986.
- Foucault and the Critique of Institutions. Edited by John D. Caputo and Mark Yount. University Park: Penn State Press, 1993.
- Is There A Single Right Interpretation? Edited and with an introduction by Michael Krausz. University Park: Penn State Press, 2002.
- The Musician as Interpreter. Paul Thom. University Park: Penn State Press, 2007.
- The Quarrel Between Invariance and Flux: A Guide for Philosophers and Other Players Collected and edited by Joseph Margolis and Jacques N. Catudal. University Park: Penn State Press, 2001.