Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium

 

 

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The GPPC: A Brief Introduction

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    In the rich intellectual tradition of Philadelphia, philosophy has played a vital role ever since delegates to the Constitutional Convention debated in City Tavern. Today we find a greater number of colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area than in any other American city, and their programs in philosophy are diverse and nationally recognized.

    The Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium builds on this tradition by fostering cooperation among philosophers throughout the Delaware Valley and sharing the insights and methods of philosophy with a larger public. The GPPC, founded in 1980 and comprising 14 institutional members, is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting philosophical inquiry into the vital intellectual and social issues of our day.

    Its varied programs offer both to scholars in the humanities disciplines and to a larger public opportunities for interaction with leading researchers in philosophy and related disciplines. Among its current programs:

 

  1. An annual series of half-day colloquia or "Conferences on widely diverse topics in Philosophy," bringing nationally and internationally recognized scholars in philosophy and the related disciplines before a diverse audience of faculty, students, and interested members of the general public.

  2. A series of "Public Issues Forums" directed to the campus communities and the general public on topics focused on deepening critical thinking in all aspects of educational life and exploring vital topics in public life.

  3. A Working Group and several Discussion Groups in selected philosophical areas in which faculty members, graduate students, and others gather to discuss recent scholarship and their own work in progress.

  4. Annual Tutorials in Diverse Traditions of Global Philosophy, such as African Philosophy, Islamic Philosophy, East Asian Philosophy, each year focusing on a different tradition. These are designed to help the community of the Consortium become more rigorously acquainted with diverse traditions.

  5. An Annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference.

 

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