News | Sage School of Philosophy

Yellow tape that says "Do Not Cross, Police"

Ethics expert on dark discourse around death of UnitedHealthcare CEO

The darker-than-darkly humorous comments and the horrified responses to them are compatible forms of righteous blame, says David Shoemaker, a professor in ethics and public life.

Book cover: The Architecture of Blame and Praise

Holding people responsible through a system of blame, praise

Philosopher David Shoemaker examines the complicated nature of both modes of response, teasing out their many varieties while defending a general symmetry between them.

Dozens of people standing on a lawn, at a public rally

‘Violent indifference to women’ and gender stereotypes affect top ticket

The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election aren’t due to a simple dislike or distrust of women, but a reflection of America’s violent indifference to women.

Cornell experts analyze rhetoric used by both campaigns in final stretch

Following former President Trump’s campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Cornell experts comment on the event's speeches and on Democrats' responses.

Three dimensional art piece; a honeycomb like construction of white clay

‘Silence’ theme of Society for the Humanities Fall presentations

Six fellows from a broad swath of humanities fields will present their projects in progress during the annual Fall Fellows’ conference, on Friday, Oct. 25.

Kate Manne: Named Finalist for National Book Awards

Kate Manne is one of twenty-five finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.

From portfolios to pizza, fall A&S career events explore diverse fields

"Cornell alumni are generous with their time and efforts to assist students, to answer questions from students, or connect them to people and places."

Dean Peter Loewen posing behind the A.D. White statue on the Arts Quad

New A&S dean relishes ‘life in a university’

Peter John Loewen says he's excited to support faculty in their research, meet students and showcase the value of a liberal arts education.

Moral psychology summer institute hosted at Cornell

Directed by College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) faculty in psychology and philosophy, the NEH-funded institute featured presentations from many leading figures in moral psychology, which studies human thought and behavior in ethical contexts

Augustine was ‘wrong about slavery’: Book reexamines key figure

Assistant professor Toni Alimi traces the connections between Augustine’s understanding of slavery and his broader thoughts.

Kamala Harris at a podium with the seal of the vice president on it and an American flag in the background

What a Harris candidacy means: Cornell experts weigh in.

As Vice President Kamala Harris garners crucial support for her presidential campaign, Cornell University experts discuss the potential implications and challenges she might face.

Pinkonomics Podcast covers women in the economy

Arundhati Singh approached the task using game theory and logic, to “strategize how women can go forward in this economic game that we seem to be stuck with."

A&S honors 10 faculty with endowed professorships

With these new appointments, the number of A&S faculty appointed to endowed professorships since fall 2018 has reached 76.

The cascading effect of a 19th-century professorship

Many generations of Sage professors have established a lasting legacy in Cornell’s history and have deeply influenced the study of philosophy and psychology worldwide.

Oliver Vonnegut, Tufts undergrad, wins top prize in Cornell journal

Vonnegut, the grandson of author Kurt Vonnegut, is a rising senior at Tufts University.

Philosopher mines the ethical line in caustic wisecracking

In his new book, David Shoemaker, professor of philosophy, explores the need for spirited, sometimes prickly humor and the ethics that distinguish an innocent gibe from an offensive insult.

Peter Loewen named dean of Arts and Sciences

Coming from the University of Toronto, where he was the director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Loewen began his five-year appointment as the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Aug. 1.

Eighteen receive awards recognizing inclusive excellence

A&S graduate students and faculty were among those honored with 2024 Distinguished Awards at the Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Awards and Recognition Celebration on May 14.

Person speaking at the front of a classroom

Hard work, personal stories bring speech team big wins

Cornell Speech Team members shared stories about gender, ethnicity, racism and their hometowns during the most successful season in the team’s 40-year history.

Humanities scholars research free speech, AI, sports culture and the Supreme Court

“This year’s Humanities Scholar Program conference was spectacular. The range of topics covered, the diversity of approaches, and the level of mastery demonstrated by the students were inspiring,” said interim director Lawrence Glickman.

pink blossoms on branches in the foreground; McGraw Tower in the background with a clear blue sky

Outstanding A&S teachers, advisors honored with 2024 awards

Among the faculty members being recognized this year for exceptional teaching and mentorship are Liliana Colanzi, Durba Ghosh, and Nick Admussen.

'I learned how to ask the right questions'

Kim Montpelier is a classics and philosophy major.

'I never imagined a degree in philosophy could have such broad application'

Derrick Jones is a Philosophy major.

LGBTQ flag, multicolored arrow shape pointing right at multicolored rows

Community event will showcase trans philosophy and scholarship

Organized by trans Cornellians, the event will address issues and harms facing the community from a trans perspective.

One person puts off another with a hand gesture

Persistent questioning of knowledge takes a toll

A new study highlights how demoralizing it can be for a person to work in a climate of repetitive skepticism and doubt.

Summer Experience Grant applications now open

The grants provide funding for students in unpaid or low-paying summer experiences to offset the cost of taking on those positions.

Spring on the Arts Quad Cornell University Photography

Students host first undergraduate philosophy conference

Sophia Gottfried '25 talks about putting on Cornell's first undergraduate philosophy conference.

A moral philosopher contemplates the evils of 'fatphobia'

After penning two acclaimed books on misogyny, Kate Manne turns her attention to a different—but related—form of oppression

Following Freedom

"There’s something kind of beautiful about that sort of devotion to studying questions that really matter." Toni Alimi

Arcanum on the Interface of Philosophy and Math

Hodes works primarily in logic and the philosophy of mathematics, so he is accustomed to getting confused looks when he explains his projects. “I am interested in defending some version of logicism, the idea that an awful lot of mathematics is really fancy logic, which is to say higher order logic,” Hodes explains, “But I’m not sure how intelligible this is likely to be to someone without any philosophical training. I mean, what I do is kind of arcane.”

The voices we can(not) silence

An accomplished philosopher of language, social philosopher, cognitive scientist, and mathematician with a full roster of other interests and experiences behind them, Professor Starr reflects on having “gotten deeply into a number of different things at different stages of [their] life.”

‘Fatphobia’ a form of oppression, says philosopher Kate Manne

In her new book, “Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia,” Prof. Kate Manne draws on personal experience as well as scientific research.

Four donuts in a stack: frosted pink, covered with sprinkles

What if ‘food noise’ is just…hunger?

Kate Manne writes that “food noise,” ubiquitous on social media, is a rebrand of some of the most basic human drives: hunger, appetite, craving – and she argues that we should resist this reframing.

Cornell Campus in the spring, Cornell University Photography — Cornell Campus in the spring Cornell University Photography

NY Times op-ed by philosopher Kate Manne wins award

The award honors “standout pieces that successfully blend philosophical argumentation with an op-ed writing style.”

Bright yellow umbrella held by a person wearing a white sweater. It's not raining.

Struggling with sarcasm: Cornell expert on why Musk’s Grok chatbot isn’t funny

The key to funny sarcasm is found in empathy, says professor David Shoemaker, who studies the moral psychology of humor.

Seeking Ethical Measurement of Racial Discrimination

Historically, racial discrimination has been correlated with disparities in mental and physical health data. Morgan Thompson, a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Philosophy, seeks to measure that impact through ethical psychometric tools and novel methodology.

Navigating the Seas of Ethical Complexity: The Philosophical Journey of Julia Markovits

In the age-old tradition of seafaring, the role of the navigator is pivotal. Armed with an array of tools from compasses to celestial bodies, the navigator guides the ship through both tranquil and tempestuous waters, ensuring a safe journey. This aptly captures the role of Julia Markovits, an Associate Professor in the Sage School of Philosophy, in the realm of philosophy.