Comment: Thomas Firey, Virginia Tech
4:15 Break
4:30 Second Paper: "Berkeley on Skepticism and Solipsism"
Jay Morris, U. of Virginia
Comment: Dan Flage, James Madison U.
6:00 Reception (location TBA)
7:30 Dinner
8:30 Presentation: "Meiland=s Two Dimensional Model of Time and Changing
the Past"
Goeff Goddu, U. of Richmond
Saturday, October 31
8:30 Coffee and Snacks
9:00 Fourth Paper: "Self, Self-Control, and Agency"
Craig Dove, New River Community College
Comment: Jim Hall, U. of Richmond
10:15 Break
10:30 Fifth Paper: "On the Semantic Value of Fictional Names"
Anne Jude Hunt, U. of Virginia
Comment: Gary Hardcastle, Virginia Tech
Minutes of the Business Meeting of the 59th Annual Assemblage of the Virginia Philosophical Association, Christopher Newport University, October 31, 1998
President John Christman called the meeting to order at 11:30.
The minutes of the 58th Meeting were approved.
President Christman discussed VPA-Discuss, a listserv for discussion. All people for whom there are known e-mail addresses from past years are included in the listserv. To this point in time, no one has used the listserv. Anyone wishing to submit an issue for discussion should send it to: vpa-discuss@listserv.vt.edu. Anyone wishing to have his or her name removed from the listserv may contact John Christman at: JPC11@psu.edu or Dan Flage at flagede@jmu.edu.
President Christman read the following Resolution of Gratitude, which was accepted by acclamation.
Resolution of Gratitude - 59th Meeting of the Virginia Philosophical Association
The Virginia Philosophical Association, assembled on the campus of Christopher Newport University on October 30th and 31st, 1998 endorse the following resolution, and directs the secretary to dispatch it promptly to the University through its Provost, Robert Doane, and the chair of its Philosophy Department, George Teschler:
WHEREAS, the warm and gracious hospitality manifests the good effects of seeing intellect and body to be in harmony, knowing from Aristotle that intelligent people may be soft-skinned but are not thin-skinned,
AND WHEREAS, in speaking and discussing philosophy we were aware of each others' minds despite it being the case that upon acting God, perhaps aided by a certain Dr. Green, caused us to simultaneously perceive said discussion,
AND WHEREAS, we knew ourselves to be non-fictional centers of narrative gravity, despite realizing the glaring absence of one of our members, the average philosopher,
AND WHEREAS, in making reference to said hospitality we successfully communicated about the same hospitality since we, while doing, at least during reception times, shared the same M&N's (or were those M&Ms?),
AND WHEREAS, we may conclude that our activity can be described as a narrative, though it being unclear whether it is fictional or non-fictional, and whether its author is best thought of as Homer, Daniel Dennett, or Luigi Pirandello,
Be it therefore resolved that the Virginia Philosophical Association expresses its appreciation to Christopher Newport University and the faculty of the Department of Philosophy for their generous hospitality in hosting the Association's 59th meeting.
There was some discussion of how to publicize and popularize the VPA meetings. It was agreed that the call for papers should be distributed early, and efforts should be made to assure that the notices are distributed to all philosophers in Virginia. It was suggested that notices be sent to department secretaries, and that the words "PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR DEPARTMENT" be printed on the notice in large letters.
President Christman announced next year's meeting--the 60th Anniversary meeting of the Association--will be hosted by Virginia Tech. The College of William and Mary and Old Dominion University are possible hosts for future years.
There was discussion of the possibility of a VPA table at the Eastern Division APA meeting again this year, a table sponsored by an anonymous member of the VPA. The Association indicated that it would be grateful if a table were again provided.
President Emeritus Richard Beauchamp placed the following names in nomination for the 1998-98 year:
The nominees were elected by acclamation.
There was no further business.
Dan Flage declared the meeting adjourned at 11:45.
Respectfully submitted, Nancy Schauber Secretary
3:05 "The Present State of Epistemic Naturalism"
Gary Hardcastle, Virginia Tech
Commentator: Bill Knorpp, James Madison University
4:30 "Was Socrates a Skeptic about Punishment?"
Michael Cholbi, The University of Virginia
Commentator: Debra Nails, Mary Washington College
6:00 Drinks, Colonnade Club
7:30 Dinner, Dome Room at The Rotunda
8:30 "What is Postmodern Ethics?"
Dwight Furrow, College of William and Mary
Saturday, October 25, Minor Hall Auditorium
8:30 Coffee and Doughnuts
9:00 "Aristotle and 'Modern' Accounts of Responsibility"
Walter Ott, Jr., The University of Virginia
Commentator: Nancy Schauber, University of Richmond
10:30 "Kant's Justification of the Laws of Mechanics"
Eric Watkins, Virginia Tech
Commentator: Dan Kolb, Radford University
11:45 Business Meeting
12:00 Adjourn
Minutes of the Business Meeting of the 58th Annual Assemblage of the Virginia Philosophical Association, University of Virginia October 24-25, 1997
President Richard Beauchamp called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m., October 25, 1997. Secretary Dan Flage read the minutes of the 57th annual meeting, which were approved as read.
Bob Redman read the Resolution of Gratitude expressing the Association's apperciation and thanks to the University of Virginia for its hospitality (see Appendix). The resolution was passed by acclamation.
President Beauchamp discussed the locations of future meetings of the VPA. The VPA will meet at Hollins College in 1998. Both Christopher Newport University and the College of William and Mary are considering invitations for 1999 and 2000. Virginia Tech has expressed interest in hosting the meeting in 2001. The date of the 1998 meeting has not yet been set. When it is set, the dates will be posed on the VPA webpage (../vpa/vpa.html).
Vice President John Christman discussed the VPA web page and the two listservers he has set up. (1) VPA-Announce@listserve.vt.edu is used to communicate electronically to the departments, usually to the department chair. If your department does not receive communications from the VPA, please contact John to have your department added at johnc@vt.edu. (2) VPA-Discuss@listserve.vt.edu is a discussion listserver. If you wish to participate in VPA Discuss, please contact John at johnc@vt.edu. The address to post is VPA-Discuss@listserv.vt.edu. VPA-Discuss can be accessed through the VPA webpage.
The association was pleased to accept an offer by an anonymous member to sponsor a VPA table at the Eastern Division meeting.
Dorothy Coleman, chair of the Nominations Committee, presented the nominees for the new officers of the VPA. She also vouched for their credentials. The following slate of officers was unanimously approved:
President: John Christman, VPI&SU; Vice President: Dan Flage, JMU; Secretary: Nancy Schauber, University of Richmond.
Several new members of the VPA were acknowledged. Several conferences and presentations were announced.
There being no further business, the meeting was turned over to the new President, John Christman, who adjourned the meeting at 12:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Dan Flage, Secretary
Whereas, the superb quality and extent of the hospitality extended to us has been so ontologically overpowering that the only possible natural response is the epistemic certainty of heartfelt appreciation and gratitude, and
Whereas, it is only just that the Virginia Philosophical Association express and proclaim the harmony of soul that is realized, without pain or anything resembling punishment, in its deep experience of gratitude, and
Whereas, the refreshments were generous--as Mr. Jefferson said, a people without wine would turn to rum--and the dinner under Mr. Jefferson's dome was superb (and the far expeditions to the restrooms were useful exercises), and
Whereas, in spite of being informed that in the postmoderm era a consensus is always the result of violence, there is consensus among the members of the VPA that a worthwhile time was had by all, and this consensus was reached without a hand being raised, and
Whereas, all members of the VPA--adults, children, and animals- are responsible for this resolution and voluntarily adopt it, and
Whereas, both Kant and Newton would agree that the action of such hospitality must result in the reaction of expressed gratitude,
Be it therefore resolved that the VPA expresses its appreciation to the University of Virginia and the faculty of the Department of Philosophy for their generous hospitality in hosting the Association's 58th annual meeting.
Commentator: Patrick Croskery, Virginia Tech
Alex John London, University of Virginia
"The Doctrine of the Mean in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics"
Commentator: Greg Beyer, WIllima and Mary
Scott Gravlee, William and Mary
"Particulars and Self-Knowledge in Aristotle's Ethics"
Commentator: Deborah Mullen, Chirstopher Newport University
Nathan Wollstein, University of Richmond
"William James and His Offspring"
Commentator: Uwe Scharf, James Madison U./Univ. of Virginia
John Justice, Randolph-Macon College
"Unified Theory of Names"
Commentators: Greig Mullberry and Gary Hardcastle, Virginia
Tech
Minutes of the Business Meeting of the 57th Annual Assemblage of the Virginia Philosophical Association, James Madison University November 8-9, 1996
President Dorothy Coleman called the meeting to order at 12 noon, November 9, 1996.
Secretary John Christman read the minutes of the 56th annual meeting, which were approved as read.
President Coleman noted the large number of submissions (16 in all) for this year's Conference program. Hard choices therefore had to be made concerning which papers to include. This was interpreted as evidence of the good health of the VPA.
It was announced that the 58th annual VPA will be held at the University of Virginia in October of 1997. Hollins College had extended an invitation to host the 59th annual meeting the following year. For the 60th annual meeting, Christopher Newport University was being consulted.
It was further noted that the 60th annual meeting was of such momentous importance in the history of the VPA that some special arrangements should be considered.
It was announced that a table at the Eastern Division APA will again be sponsored by the VPA.
Secretary Christman announced that the VPA now existed in cyberspace. The web page for the VPA, still under construction, was located at http://server.phil.vt.edu/johnc/classes/vpa.html
Secretary Christman will maintain the page. It will contain announcements, an archive of VPA materials, and the e-mail addresses of philosophers in Virginia. And although use will be made of e-mail communication, business will continue to be conducted via traditional modes of communication as well.
The question was raised about whether a listserv should be set up for VPA members. There was, in general, a positive response to this suggestion and it was decided that such a listserv will be set up. Secretary Christman agreed to undertake this task.
Secretary Christman read a statement of commemoration for David James, who died on May 8, 1996. A moment of silence followed.
Peter Vallentyne, chair of the Nominations Committee, presented
the nominees for the new officers of the VPA. He also vouched for their
credentials. The following slate of officers was unanimously approved:
President, Richard Beauchamp, Christopher Newport University; Vice
President, John Christman VPI&SU; Secretary, Dan Flage, James Madison
University.
President Coleman opened the floor for other announcements. Alan Fuchs suggested that the listerv could be used to disseminate information about speakers and colloquia around the state. Peter Vallentyne then suggested that there be two listervs, one for announcements and the other for general philosophical discussion.
Peter Vallentyne suggested ways to urge greater student participation. He suggested that Department Chairs be urged to fund travel for students to future VPA's. A motion to write a letter urging Department Chairs to fund such travel was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Next was discussed the question of whether there was an official procedure to gain membership to the VPA. After discussion, it was moved and seconded that all those attending the VPA and whose name appears on our guest list (or whose name is put on our list by someone attending) can be brought before the business meeting and inducted into the VPA.
Patrick Croskery, interim representative of the Gratitude Committee, read the Resolution of Thanks expressing the Association's appreciation and gratitude to James Madison University for its hospitality (see below). The resolution was adopted by universal acclaim.
There being no further business, the meeting was then turned over to the new President, Richard Beauchamp, who adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted, John Christman, Secretary
WHEREAS, we traveled through the terrible rains for this purpose, though due to good fortune none of our trolleys were forced to run over P1, or even P2...P6; and
WHEREAS, the members of the society, rigidly designated the 'VIRGINIA PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION,' did convene our 57th Annual Meeting upon the beautiful campus of James Madison University on November 8 and 9, 1996; and
WHEREAS, we did not do impermissible acts, though we may have allowed some, and we bracket the question of whether we minimized the occurrence of impermissible acts; and
WHEREAS, we recognize that man is also a political animal, we violated no laws, or at least violated no laws as a group; and
WHEREAS, to avoid confusion throughout our discussion we replaced the term 'term' with the term 'name', and the name 'name' with the name 'term', both, of course, in the word reflexive sense; and
WHEREAS, though some theorize that the Saturday session came before the Friday session, a close analysis that does not rely on the common discussions suggests that the traditional view that Friday came before Saturday is correct; and
WHEREAS, we learned of the personal particular, though not from that particular person, who was ill and has our sympathy; and
WHEREAS, no child's arm had to be twisted to find a substitute for our indisposed friend, but rather a man of practical wisdom stepped forward, displaying the virtues of courage and loyalty; and
WHEREAS, those of us who believe in self-deception deceived ourselves on every live, momentous, and forced decision we faced this weekend, while the remainder simply deceived the self deceivers for their own good; and
WHEREAS, our hosts did not provide us with vulgar feel-good tea from California, but rather with sophisticated wines and feel-awake coffee brewed in Virginia; and
WHEREAS, we did feast upon white meat, in particular chicken, and it was indeed wholesome, and delicious; and
WHEREAS, if the agency of the staff of James Madison University had vanished, this would have had the double effect of removing our chicken and our happiness; and
WHEREAS, the virtue of generosity is exemplified by our hosts at James Madison University, and poor Earnest, who is perhaps still young, should study their example well; and
WHEREAS, the response that is called for when generosity is encountered
is not obsequious simpering or smug indifference, but sincere and frank
gratitude;
LET IT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT: the VIRGINIA PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION, being quite old and experienced, feels gratitude at the right time, now, in the right manner, deeply, toward the right people, Dan Flage, Richard Whitman, and all the others at James Madison University, who have made our visit so pleasant and enjoyable; and
LET IT FURTHER BE RESOLVED THAT: now that Mill is Frege, Aristotle is not Plato, James is Stich (but Stich is not Pierce) and Nagel is Scheffler, we name all those with the same reference 'York' (not to be confused with York, which is not a name at all, but a city), and name the others 'York', which is the same vocable but not the same name; and
LET IT FINALLY BE RESOLVED THAT: This resolution be placed into the minutes and communicated to the officials of James Madison University