UNF Philosophy Club

Table of Contents

  1. Quote of the "millennium"
  2. What is Philosophy?
  3. The Philosophy Club
  4. Philosophy Club Events for 2001
  5. Unix-Based Mailing List
  6. Why Should You Join the Philosophy Club?
  7. How to Join the Philosophy Club!
  8. Contacting the Philosophy Club
  9. Links, Links, Links

Quote of the "week"
If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, what will happen to us all?
                                                                                    The Outer Limits

What is Philosophy?

The word 'philosophy' means "love of wisdom" in ancient Greek, and this describes it perfectly. Philosophers ask difficult questions for which there may be only incomplete answers, so that philosophy is not really wisdom itself. It is the process of the search for answers, and clarifying the answers they get, that fascinates philosophers.

There are several main divisions of philosophy, named for the questions they ask. Metaphysics, for instance, asks about what kinds of things exist in the world, and how they exist. Epistemology is the study of knowledge: how do we know what we (think we) know? And ethics, of course, is the study of answers to the question of how we ought to live as moral agents in our world.

The Philosophy Club

The Philosophy Club of UNF is a recognized student organization and is funded in part by Student Government and the dues of active members. Its purpose is to further discussion of philosophical issues, problems, and arguments and to provide an outlet for student ideas and activities.

The UNF Philosophy Club is one of the most active student organizations on campus, having last year hosted the Third Annual UNF Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, as well as informal philosophical "Circles" and an annual debate with Jacksonville University. In addition, the club co-hosted the Trial of Socrates, an entertaining and enlightening reenactment of the historical trial of Socrates. This year, the club is planning even more activities.

We hope that the information presented here will convince you that the Philosophy Club is one of the most intellectually stimulating and enriching clubs you may consider joining and one that will provide students with a memorable and useful academic and social experience.

Philosophy Club Events for 2001

This year we are trying several new types of events such as our Coffee Cup Circles which will allow us to get together in a more relaxed environment to discuss whatever philosophically pleases us. We are also planning a field trip, so to speak, to a Buddhist Temple in Central Florida. Don't despair though if you enjoyed the more structured philosophical events, we are also in the process of setting up a speaker for January (The philosophy department has a few speakers coming this fall which are listed on our upcoming events page) and we are setting up a cross UNF club debate that should be a lot of fun. For times and dates of what we have already planned, please select the upcoming events link or check the current edition of our little news letter Metathought II (available from our club board outside Dr. Koegler's office.

UNIX-Based Mailing List

The Philosophy Club also has an email mailing list designed for use by students and faculty at the University of North Florida who are interested in philosophy and philosophical issues. Anyone wishing to be added to the philosophy club mailing list should send an email message indicating their intent to be added to the list to: unfphilosophy@hotmail.com

All discussions, announcements and messages relevant to philosophy as a discipline or the philosophy club in particular are welcome and encouraged.

Why Should You Join the Philosophy Club?

If you want to be rich and famous, you should join! Seriously (even though our T-shirts read: "Philosophy. I'm in it for the money."), you should join the Philosophy Club because it is one of the most active clubs on campus, it exposes you to a wide range of issues and problems, it provides an opportunity to travel with other students to regional and national associations and meetings in philosophy, and it provides an opportunity for you to be involved in developing rich and meaningful events for the UNF community and the Jacksonville area. Philosophy Club members are active in every event planned by the club and are welcome to offer suggestions for more activities and ways to develop even more fully the potential of students who are interested in philosophy. Working together, we can make the Philosophy Club not only one of the most active student organizations on campus, but we can retain its status as one of the most important as well. So, for a fun time.... Join the UNF Philosophy Club!

How to Join the Philosophy Club

Contact any Philosophy Club officer or advisor to find out about becoming a Philosophy Club member. Requirements for members and officers are delineated in the club constitution.

Philosophy Club meetings are sometimes combined with "Philosophy Circles" in which students or faculty members present their ideas and arguments to an audience of others having similar interests in order to discuss and expand their plans for research and to stimulate discussion among members of the club. The "circles" are purely informal meetings of students and faculty and have in the past proved to be valuable tools for students in developing their ideas for papers and presentations.

Contact Person

Teresa Hale, President -  teresa_hale@hotmail.com
Phone: (904) 620-1470

Links, Links, Links

Philosophy Here

Philosophy Near

On the Web

 Links to Links

This site is maintained by Teresa Hale
Last Modified: 3/2/01

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