AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION: Group Newsletter for Member Groups: Experimental Philosophy.

The American Philosophical Association

Member Groups: Experimental Philosophy Newsletter

Upcoming Events Nomination deadline for the 2021 Berger Memorial Prize Monday, June 15, 2020 Nomination deadline for the 2020 APA/PDC Prize Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Nomination Deadline for the 2020 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching Saturday, August 1, 2020 Nominations open for APA leadership positions Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Deadline to submit reports for the Fall 2020 board meeting Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Experimental Philosophy Related Group News APA Announces Spring 2020 Prize Winners Posted in APA Announcements, 5/22/2020 3:00:00 PM The APA is pleased to announce the winners of the following seven prizes for the first half of 2020. APA prizes recognize many areas of... more » Call for Nominations: 2020 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching Posted in APA Announcements, 5/1/2020 11:00:00 AM We are pleased to open nominations for the 2020 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching , sponsored by the American Philosophical Association (APA), the American... more » 2020 Lebowitz Prize Awarded to Philosophers Callard and Paul Posted in APA Announcements, 4/13/2020 12:20:00 PM 2020 Lebowitz Prize Awarded to Philosophers Callard and Paul The American Philosophical Association (APA), in conjunction with the Phi Beta Kappa Society (PBK), is pleased... more » Request for Proposals: APA Diversity Grants and Small Grants Posted in APA Announcements, 3/16/2020 11:00:00 AM The American Philosophical Association is now accepting APA member proposals for 2020–2021 grant funding. Small Grant Fund Each year, the APA's small grant fund, financed... more » APA Awards Grants to Ten Projects for 2019–2020 Posted in APA Announcements, 12/5/2019 3:00:00 PM Following the fall meeting of its board of officers, the American Philosophical Association is pleased to announce the following grant funding for the 2019–2020 fiscal... more » View All News »

IN REMEMBRANCE: JUNE 6TH.

"...whether on the scaffold high or in the battle's van, the fittest place for man to die is where he dies for man."

- MICHAEL JOSEPH BARRY.

ETHICS AND MORALITY. RIGHTS- WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT. PT 2.

Rights, when we are discussing the Public Sector, generally fall into two categories;

1)  HUMAN RIGHTS-  These are Protections, Freedoms and Guarantees that are bestowed upon individuals by virtue of their being part of the Human Race.  To a certain degree some of these may be applied to all living things, but only to a certain extent and varies depending on specific situations.

2) CITIZENS RIGHTS-  Are granted by a governing body with the legal authority over a specified jurisdiction, to individuals identified as part of the recognized civil population.  These Rights can vary greatly, depending on the source of Authority.  i.e (Constitutional Republic, Monarchy

Oligarchy, Dictatorial etc.)

This brings us to the concept of CIVIL RIGHTS, which is basically a sub-category

of CITIZENS RIGHTS. The main difference is;

 -  Rights given to all Citizens may include the ability to chose a System of Morality and/or Faith that is constructed by the individual, and is not interfered with by the State.  Further, that one cannot be held either Criminally or Civilly for Behavior or Speech that others consider offensive.

 -  Civil Rights are guarantees set up by the State/Government, that protect individuals from Malicious, Discriminatory, Arbitrary and Hateful acts that target them specifically as a single person or as part of a group.

These Rights apply to both the Public and Private sectors. Civil Rights are basically set up to"Level the Playing Field", in which no single person or group has an unfair advantage over other parts of society.

However they are applied, not all Rights are created equal.  Some can never be taken away, Some are Valid only in certain cases, and others may be given up voluntarily.

There is one main rule that applies to all Rights:  NO ONE CAN EXERCISE A RIGHT, WHICH AT THE SAME TIME VIOLATES THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.

End of PT 2.

ETHICS AND MORALITY. RIGHTS- WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT. PT 1.

There is perhaps no more important word, when we discuss such issues as Freedom of Choice,

Protection from Governmental Interference into our lives, and yes, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness." Yet, the definition of RIGHTS seems to be something many don't understand. 

Even more alarmingly, there are those who define the term in different ways at different times, depending on the agenda they are supporting in the latest election cycle.

The goal of this article is to define what is meant when the word RIGHTS is used properly, and to shed light on the improper usage of the term.

In general terms, a RIGHT can be referenced and defined in several ways:

-  A Protection against Persecution for certain behaviors, that an individual or group may engage in.

-  The ability to make decisions about ones' own life, free of improper

influence or malicious retribution.

-  Protecting groups that are recognized legally, from hostile actions by those

who desire to inflict harm upon the members, without just cause.

-  Punishment administered to any individual, Either by Government, Social Organization, or Employer must be justified through defined procedures that allow the individual an opportunity to provide a proper defense to any and all charges. Further, that judgment will be based on facts and evidence that were gathered in a prescribed manner.  Of course, the degree to which these are implemented differs from the Public to the Private sector.

When speaking of Rights that are found in the Private Sector, we usually find them to be creations of contractual agreements between Employer and Employee, or in By-Laws that are part of a fraternal organizations code of conduct for members. By their very nature, these Rights affect a very select group.

This is not true in the Public Sector.

End of PT 1.