Philosophy of agency, mind, and meaning

We recently discussed a range of topics including autonomy, freedom, and moral responsibility; classical and modern accounts of causation; Hume’s compatibilism and Kant’s moral metaphysics; ancient debates on determinism; and the nature of mind and matter from Descartes through Ryle and Dretske. The readings also explored meaning, pain, and moral vegetarianism, as well as linguistic philosophy concerning word meaning, definition, and feminist approaches to language. Simone Weil’s work connected suffering and moral depth, while the Two Hands Philosophy essays reflected on misunderstanding and conceptual resistance. Common threads include agency, consciousness, language, and the moral structure of human life.

Each of us has his or her own philosophical history and journey, and during these walks, we introduce each other to our recent questions and reflections. There is no assigned reading, no required text. Bring your own recommendations, or see what has been recommended by others before. In this dropbox folder you'll find texts and videos that have been discussed on previous occasions. You'll also find a list of recommended texts, if you are new to philosophy.

We gather at Flywheel Coffee, near Stanyan and Page. At 11:15am we begin a hike through Golden Gate Park and return to Flywheel by 1:00pm. During the walk, we'll discuss your philosophical topics, whatever they may be.