AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION: Call for Anti-Racist Resources for Teaching Philosophy.

Dear DAVID, The American Philosophical Association Committee on the Teaching of Philosophy and Committee on Inclusiveness in the Profession are creating an anti-racist resource list. If you have materials you could include on the list, please complete this form. We will begin reviewing materials on June 29, but we will continue accepting submissions and adding to the list through the summer. If you have any questions or concerns about the form or the list that is being compiled by the APA, please contact Cecilea Mun (cecileamun@icloud.com). Please share this announcement widely. Thank you! In addition, as you may be aware, last week the APA board of officers and the Graduate Student Council issued statements condemning racist violence and police brutality. Both statements are available on the APA website. All the best, David W. Concepción Chair, APA Committee on the Teaching of Philosophy

The American Philosophical Association University of Delaware 31 Amstel Avenue, Newark, DE 19716

THE POLITICS OF PREJUDICE.... HATE...DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS.

Perhaps the Most Insidious form of Prejudice, as it Pertains to World of

Politics, is HIDING THE DESIRE TO DESTROY THE IDEOLOGY OF EQUALITY

AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, BEHIND THE MASK OF BEING "PATRIOTIC",

AND "FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY."

It is the STRATEGY OF CONTROLLING GOVERNMENT THROUGH CREATING 

NON-EXISTENT ENEMIES OUT OF SPECIFIC GROUPS WHO "THREATEN OUR WAY OF LIFE."  

However, These are not ENEMIES FROM THE OUTSIDE, FOREIGN POWERS WHO DESIRE OUR DESTRUCTION.  NO, IT'S THE ENEMY WITHIN.

In Reality, the only thing that is really THREATENED IS THE HOLD ON POWER 

THAT CERTAIN GROUPS WANT TO MAINTAIN, AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.

Throughout World History,  Many Government and Regimes have used SCAPEGOATS TO BLAME FOR EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL PROBLEMS OF THEIR OWN MAKING, OR TO FIND SOMETHING TO FAULT FOR AN INABILITY TO GOVERN SUCCESSFULLY, DUE TO THE FAILURE OF POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED.

IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HISTORY OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC HAS SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF SUCH;

-  IN THE 19TH CENTURY NATIVIST POLITICAL GROUPS FOUGHT ANY ATTEMPT TO ALLOW RECENT IMMIGRANTS A CHANCE TO ASSIMILATE, AND GAIN A MEASURE OF POLITICAL EQUALITY.

-  UNIONIZATION IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY BROUGHT CRACKDOWNS ON AMERICANS WHOSE ANCESTRY CAME FROM PARTICULAR PARTS OF EUROPE, NOTED FOR THEIR ANARCHISTIC AND NIHILISTIC GROUPS.

-  THE "RED SCARE" OF THE LATE 1940s and 50s, an Assault on any Intellectual Movement that didn't accept and obey A RIGID AND STRICT DEFINITION OF THE "AMERICAN WAY." DOES THIS TYPE OF THINKING SOUND FAMILIAR? 

The American Philosophical Association—Setbacks and Responses

Dear DAVID, You doubtless know that the 2020 Pacific Division meeting had to be canceled. The APA’s financial loss has been substantial. Registration refunds cost about $40,000, and far worse was the loss of about $100,000 in additional anticipated income. Other burdens imposed by the pandemic have landed on the staff and divisional officers, and worse may yet come. The association is seeking outside funding, but the relevant major sources are few in number and stretched in resources. Every effort is being made to accommodate the papers that were scheduled for the canceled San Francisco meeting. The plan is to distribute them among the three 2021 meetings. The divisions are also welcoming, as normally, submissions for those meetings. We hope the 2021 meetings can all be held in person as planned, but reduced attendance resulting from the pandemic will cause further financial losses, particularly given the APA’s commitment to support graduate students whose papers are accepted. For me, the 2020 Pacific Division papers enriching the programs makes attending even more attractive. I know many philosophers have recently suffered financially, but a great many have retained their positions, and there is surely reason to expect economic improvement. The APA is continuing to support philosophers and philosophy programs wherever it can. This includes preparing for 2020-2021 programs, promoting APA members’ participation in public conversations, and offering webinars on timely topics. We hope to avoid interruption of services or publications, and the APA’s online capacities are being strengthened to facilitate online meetings and, if necessary, programming. Membership renewals have never been so important for the association—particularly since its slim reserves will be threatened or even depleted if renewals drop. Please renew your membership. Losing renewals could raise the deficit to hundreds of thousands of dollars next year and require cuts to both staff and programs. Some members receiving this may be able to donate to the association (as I have recently done and will continue to do). One way to combine renewal with a kind of donation is a life membership (now $3,500). Three-year renewals would also help with the crisis, and they allow you to lock in your dues rate for the next three years. Many members (myself included) have found life membership both an expression of long-term support and an annual convenience. I close with this. The pandemic has set us back, but it has also brought out the best in many. Most of us care deeply about the long-term well-being of America and are cooperating with others in abiding by reasonable restrictions. The discipline of philosophy is a major element in American education—and in civilization itself. Philosophy supports social responsibility and human decency, and it teaches skills that no other field models or develops in the same ways. The APA is a mainstay of the profession, and philosophy has never been more needed in our fractured and changing world. I believe you well understand its connection with so much that is important. I hope you will do everything you can to support it in this time of urgent need. Sincerely, Robert Audi Chair, APA Development Committee

The American Philosophical Association University of Delaware 31 Amstel Avenue, Newark, DE 19716

POLITICAL MYTHS- WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW. WHEN INTELLECT AND INTEGRITY REFUSES TO CONFRONT DISHONESTY AND INJUSTICE. #1.

Have you ever Wondered Why...

-  SO MANY AMERICANS ARE DEEPLY OFFENDED

BY DESECRATION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG, A SYMBOL

OF FREEDOM, YET ARE WILLING TO DISREGARD THE 

U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE FOUNDATION OF FREEDOM?

-  THERE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WOULD DENY 

THEIR CONSTITUENTS DECENT HEALTH CARE THAT IS

AFFORDABLE, ALONG WITH A LIVING WAGE, BECAUSE 

THEY ASSERT IT IS NOT TRUE "CAPITALISM."  HOWEVER, 

THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE CONSUMER TAX MONEY TO BAIL 

OUT THOSE WHO MAKE POOR INVESTMENTS, AND LOSE 

TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GAMBLING ON RISKY AND 

FOOLISH INVESTMENTS?

EXACTLY WHICH DEFINITION OF "FREE MARKET CAPITALISM" 

ARE THEY USING?

-  FREEDOM OF RELIGION, TO SOME, MEANS DENYING 

OTHERS CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOICES THAT 

THEY THEMSELVES TAKE FOR GRANTED?

-  WITH ALL THE ADVANCES IN SCIENCE THAT HAVE 

BEEN MADE, ENHANCING THE QUALITY AND LENGTH OF LIFE 

FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO 

WANT RELIGIOUS FAITH, INSTEAD OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD,

TO BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN FINDING ANSWERS ABOUT, 

AND UNDERSTANDING, THE NATURAL UNIVERSE? 

I Think the Answer lies with the Idea that certain Blocs of Voters Hang

"Tags" on Themselves, about what They Believe, and what They 

Represent.  However, the Labels They Choose are Often Wishful

Thinking, and Upon Inspection, NOT BASED IN REALITY.

Unfortunately, Their Opponents do not challenge these Assertions, 

which allows these groups to get away with making Statements and

Judgments that are in OPPOSITION TO THE IMAGE THEY ARE 

TRYING TO MAINTAIN.

See #2.