Who Needs Philosophy You Do!

A chinese lion statue

Philosophy is about the Big Questions:

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  • Who am I?
  • Where am I?
  • How and what do I know?
  • What should I do?
  • Is there a God?
  • What is a mind?
  • What is really real?
  • What is right/wrong/good/bad?

Click here for course materials.

CFA: Fandom, Fantasy, and Fitness: Rockford College Sports Studies Symposium

Shawn Klein September 27th, 2012

Call for Abstracts

Fandom, Fantasy, and Fitness
The 2nd Annual Rockford College Sports Studies Symposium
Date: April 19, 2013

Grace Roper Lounge
Rockford College
5050 E. State. St.
Rockford, IL 61108

Fans play a central role at all levels and within various aspects of sport, so any study of sport would do well to consider their influences in connection to fandom, fantasy, and fitness. A specific and growing area of fandom, fantasy sports, illustrates a concrete and complex way fans relate to and even affect sport. Moreover, the implicit and explicit connection of sport to fitness offers another important way that fans interact with sport. This year’s symposium seeks to explore and examine these aspects of the relationship between fan and sport.

We invite scholars from all disciplines to submit an abstract on these themes. This symposium will then bring together several panels of scholars to discuss these themes. The focus of each panel will depend, in part, on the submitted abstracts. Each presenter on a panel will have 20 minutes for their presentation. This will be followed by 30 minutes of a combined Q&A.

<strong>Abstract Submission:</strong>
Submissions are welcome on this theme of Fandom, Fantasy, and Fitness, or other related issues arising in the study of Sport. Abstract should be 300-500 words. Send via email (as PDF) to<a href=”mailto:SSS13@Rockford.edu”> SSS13@Rockford.edu</a>

Deadline: Friday, January 25th, 2013.
Notification of Acceptance: Monday, February 4th, 2013.

If you have any questions, please email <a href=”mailto:SSS13@Rockford.edu”>SSS13@Rockford.edu</a>, contact Shawn Klein (Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department) at 815-226-4115, or Michael Perry (Assistant Professor, English Department) at 815-226-4098.

The Sports Ethicist Blog

Shawn Klein July 22nd, 2012

Last week,  I launched a new blog: The Sports Ethicist. The blog will examine these issues and explore both the ethical implications of sport and the ways sport can teach us about ethics and human life. Along with the blog, there is a Facebook page and a Twitter account. Subscribe, like and follow!

I’ve already posted two substantive posts:

 

Imagining Better: Philosophical Issues in Harry Potter (Reason Papers Special Issue)

Shawn Klein June 27th, 2012

Over at Philosophyblog, I have a post about my recent publication: “Harry Potter and Humanity: Choices, Love, and Death” (PDF).

Sports Studies Symposium — April 28

Shawn Klein April 24th, 2012

Sports Studies Symposium Flyer

My colleague, Michael Perry, and myself are co-hosting the 1st Annual Rockford College Sports Studies Symposium: An interdisciplinary conference on the study of Sport, to be held at Rockford College on April 28, 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm in Grace Roper Lounge.

Panel #1
Chairperson:
Shawn E. Klein (Rockford College)
Speakers:
Erin Flynn (Ohio Wesleyan University): “On the Suárez Handball”
Tatiana Patrone (Ithaca College): “On What Running Could Be”
Christopher Johnson (University of Alberta): “Virtuous Victory”

Panel #2
Chairperson:
Michael Perry (Rockford College)
Speakers:
Christine Neejer (Michigan State University): “Mary Sargent Hopkins, Bicycling, and the Rhetoric of Expertise”
Christopher Garland (University of Florida): “With God on the Sideline: Religious Rhetoric in Tebowmania and the Penn State Scandal”
Jo Ann Oravec (University of Wisconsin at Whitewater):
“Blogging in the Backfield: Social Media in Sport Contexts”

Spring 2012 Course Syllabi

Shawn Klein January 12th, 2012

Course syllabi for the following classes are now available:

CFA: Sports Studies Symposium

Shawn Klein October 21st, 2011

Call for Abstracts

1st Annual Rockford College Sports Studies Symposium:
An interdisciplinary conference on the study of Sport.
Date: April 28, 2012

Rockford College
5050 E. State. St.
Rockford, IL 61108

Whether one is a participant, a casual spectator, a die-hard fan, or a critic, sport, in all its varieties and forms, play a significant role in the lives of most people through out the world. Sports and competitions have long been a part of human civilization and raise a wide range of important philosophical and ethical issues.

This symposium will bring together a panel of scholars to discuss philosophical themes or issues arising in the study of Sport. The focus of the panel will depend, in part, on the submitted abstracts. Each presenter on a panel will have 20 minutes for their presentation. This will be followed by 10-15 minutes for panelists to respond to each other and then 15 minutes or more for audience Q&A. There will also be a panel on the Rhetoric of Sport.

Abstract Submission:
Submissions are welcome on any philosophical theme or issue arising in the study of Sport. Abstract should be 300-500 words. Send via email (as PDF) to sklein_at_rockford_dot_edu.

Deadline: January 6th, 2012
Notification of Acceptance: February 1st, 2012

If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Klein (Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department) at 815-226-4115 or sklein_at_rockford_dot_edu or Michael Perry (Assistant Professor, English Department) at 815-226-4098 or mperry_at_rockford_dot_edu.

Sports Ethics: Football as Peace Making

Shawn Klein August 29th, 2011

Here is an article about an Israeli and Palestinian Australian rules football team that is working to break down barriers between Israelis and Palestinians.

From stabbing IDF soldiers to having them as teammates, Palestinian uses football for peace

Fall Reading Group: Aristotle’s Politics

Shawn Klein August 24th, 2011

Fall2011ReadingGroup_0001

Written in the 4th century BCE, Aristotle’s pioneering treatise of political philosophy remains influential to this day. The Politics examines such issues as:

  • The nature of a political community and citizenship;
  • The relationship between an individual and society;
  • The connections between morality, education, and the state;
  • The causes and prevention of political change and revolution.

The Reading Group will discuss these issues and more, looking at whether and to what extent Aristotle’s ideas are still relevant today and whether or not we can marshal Aristotle’s ideas in the defense of a free and open society.

Each meeting will take place at the Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship office on the second floor of Burpee, from 3-4 pm. There will be light refreshments. A free copy of the book will be provided to participants.

Sept 2: Introduction
Sept 16: Books I & II
Oct 7: Books III & IV
Nov 4: Books V & VI
Dec 2: Books VII & VIII

Colorful Flyer!

Fall 2011 Room Assignments

Shawn Klein August 23rd, 2011

We finally have our room assignments for the Fall:

PHIL 103-1: Intro to Philosophy (TTH): SCAR 012
PHIL 103-2: Intro to Philosophy (M): SCAR 208
PHIL 223: Sports Ethics: SCAR 220
PHIL 304: Ethical Theory: STARR 221

Make sure to check self-service and the portal for any changes/updates.

Fall 2011 Course Information

Shawn Klein August 22nd, 2011

Fall 2011 course information is now available.

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