NORTH AMERICAN KANT SOCIETY: VIRTUAL NAKS 2021-2022.

Illustration by NAKS Member Tamara Fakhoury   

2021-2022

Each V-NAKS Meeting is part of one or more series

                                                (descriptions and zoom link below)

May 19th, 2021

"Kant and Race: (How) Should We Teach Kant's Views on this topic?"

V-NAKS "Kant and____" Series

Speaker: Jameliah Shorter-Bourhanou (College of the Holy Cross): "Must I Teach Race?"

Speaker: Elvira Basevich (U-Mass, Lowell): "Teaching Kant: How to Welcome a Racist into the Philosophy Classroom"

Speaker: Patrick Frierson (Whitman College): "Teaching Race in the Groundwork"

Chair: Bennett McNulty (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)

June 2nd, 2021

"Spontaneity and Teleology in Kant's Theory of the Understanding" 

V-NAKS "Choose Your Ideal Commentators" Series

Speaker: Claudi Brink Herz Prize 2020 Winner (UC-San Diego)

Ideal Panel: Hannah Ginsborg (UC-Berkeley) and Béatrice Longuenesse (NYU)

Chair: Andrew Chignell (Princeton University)

June 16th, 2021

"Kant and the Primacy of Epistemic Normativity"

V-NAKS "Choose Your Ideal Commentators" Series

Speaker: Reza Hadisi (University of Arizona)

Ideal Panel: Patricia Kitcher (Columbia University) and Alix Cohen (University of Edinburgh)

Chair: Andrew Chignell (Princeton University)

June 30th, 2021

"The Unity and Uses of Reason"

V-NAKS Classic Format Series

Speaker: Thomas Sturm (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Commentator: Saniye Vatansever (Bilkent University)

Chair: Huaping Lu-Adler (Georgetown University)

July 14th, 2021

"One precise way in which Schelling or Hegel improves on Kant's Theoretical philosophy"

V-NAKS Incubator Series

Incubatees: Naomi Fisher (Loyola-Chicago), Anton Kabeshkin (Potsdam), Jake McNulty (NYU)

Chair: James Kreines (Claremont-McKenna)

July 28th, 2021

V-NAKS Women Scholars Network Series

Details TBA

August 11th, 2021

"Kant and the Current IberoAmerican Scene" (15-min presentation)

"Kant On the Mathematical Schematism"

V-NAKS "Kant and____" Series & V-NAKS Classic Format Series

Speaker: Efraín Lazos (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

Commentator: Katherine Dunlop (University of Texas at Austin)

Chair: Alejandro Naranjo Sandoval (Princeton/UC-Davis)

August 25th, 2021

V-NAKS Women Scholars Network Series

Details TBA

For Zoom link and registration click here

Series descriptions

V-NAKS "Choose your Ideal Commentators" series

Here we ask an up-and-coming scholar to name a “dream team” of commentators for one of their works-in-progress.  The commentators don’t prepare anything in advance, but they are allowed to interrupt occasionally and ask clarifying questions during the talk, and then add a couple of questions at the end. Sort of like “Shark Tank” for Kantians. This is followed by the usual sort of Q&A.

V-NAKS "Kant and _____" Series

Here we fill in the blank in ways that are not typical for anthologies and conference discussions.

V-NAKS Classic Format Series

This is the typical talk/commentary format. No pre-reading is required.

V-NAKS Women Scholars Network Series

This series features members of the NAKS Women Scholars Network, which was founded in 2021. For more information on the Network, please contact us.

V-NAKS Incubator Series

Here speakers give a short, 10-15 minute "poster-style" presentation of a new or in-progress idea, followed by a Q&A/brainstorming session of 15-20 mins. 

Virtual NAKS is organized by Andrew Chignell, Huaping Lu-Adler and Elizabeth Li.

For questions or queries contact us here.

To join Naks, Scroll down.

 * Membership level

Category 1 - FreeSubscription period: 1 yearNo automatically recurring paymentsStudents or unemployed members, including all international members who fall under those descriptions. Those who are emeritus are asked to choose one of the other categories.

Category 2 (One-Year Membership) - $20.00 (USD)Subscription period: 1 yearAutomatic renewal (recurring payments)Non-student, employed but non-tenure track members, as well as all members not employed in North America.

Category 2 (Three-Year Membership) - $45.00 (USD)Subscription period: 3 yearsNo automatically recurring paymentsNon-student, employed but non-tenure track members, as well as all members not employed in North America.

Category 3 (One-Year Membership) - $35.00 (USD)Subscription period: 1 yearAutomatic renewal (recurring payments)Tenure track or tenured members, with annual income up to $70,000.00.

Category 3 (Three-Year Membership) - $90.00 (USD)Subscription period: 3 yearsNo automatically recurring paymentsTenure track or tenured members, with annual income up to $70,000.00.

Category 4 (One-Year Membership) - $40.00 (USD)Subscription period: 1 yearAutomatic renewal (recurring payments)Tenure track or tenured members, with annual income between $70,000.00 and $100,000.00.

Category 4 (Three-Year Membership) - $105.00 (USD)Subscription period: 3 yearsNo automatically recurring paymentsTenure track or tenured members, with annual income between $70,000.00 and $100,000.00.

Category 5 (Three-Year Membership) - $165.00 (USD)Subscription period: 3 yearsNo automatically recurring paymentsTenure track or tenured members, with annual income over $100,000.00.

Category 6: True Kantian (Lifetime Membership) - $1,200.00 (USD)Subscription period: UnlimitedThe membership level for those who truly dare to know.

GOOGLE DOES IT AGAIN, REMOVES MY PICTURE. MAYBE I'M TO CRITICAL OF TRUMP AND PUTIN.

GOOGLE IS BACK AT IT. MAYBE I'M TO CRITICAL OF TRUMP AND PUTIN.

CONTROLLING THE MEDIA IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ESTABLISHING TOTALITARIAN 

GOVERNMENTS. WELL, THE GOP AND PUTIN CONTROL FOX AND FACEBOOK, I GUESS

IT WAS GOOGLES TURN. FASCISTS HATE WHAT THEY CONTROL.

THIS MEMORIAL DAY. U.S REP. SETH MOULTON.

 

David,

Above the World War I Memorial in my college church is an inscription that I think about today and every Memorial Day:

“While a bright future beckoned, they freely gave their lives and fondest hopes for us and our allies that we might learn from them courage in peace to spend our lives making a better world for others.”

I love this quote because it serves as both a memorial and a call to action. These words inspire me to do more for others.

However, you choose to spend your Memorial Day—whether or not you have the good fortune to gather with family and friends for the first time in a long time—please join me in reflecting on how each of us can find the courage to serve. To serve our friends, our families, our communities, and our country is perhaps the greatest respect we can pay to the men and women who have given their lives for all of us.

May we all have the courage to serve.

-Seth

 

 

SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY REPRINT. FICTION- REWARD FOR THE FALLEN. FULL STORY.

 PART 1.

The man found himself on a dirt road.  How he came to be there was a mystery, for he could not remember the circumstances of his arrival.  In fact, he had no recollection of anything in the past.  All around him was an alien landscape and heavy foliage lined the path that stretched into the distance.

"What is going on?", he said to himself, "Why am I here?"  The man decided that perhaps the answer lay at the end of the trail, so he began to walk.

After a short time, a shape emerged before him, seemingly out of nowhere.  The man was startled, but regained his composure quickly.  Looking the newcomer over, the man was puzzled.  The figure was dressed in a shabby manner, wearing a worn out buckskin shirt and pants, and carrying an antiquated flintlock rifle.

The man wanted to speak to this new arrival, but never had the chance.  With a cursory glance, the one blocking his way said in a plain gruff voice; "You are on the right path, continue."  On that note, the individual stepped back into the overgrowth and disappeared.

"Strange," said the man, "an obvious eccentric."  So he continued on his way.

A short time later the man found his path once again blocked by an individual that appeared suddenly and without warning.  This time the intruder was dressed in a blue tunic, with matching blue trousers that had a yellow stripe running down the side of each leg.

Again, the man was given a quick once over, and then was addressed in an accent he couldn't identify;  "Ah, not a Son of Erin, but you'll do.  You're on the right path, continue."  As before, the way was made clear by the departure of this most recent interloper.

The man was confused.  "What is going on," he thought, "why am I here, and who are they that seem to pass judgment on whether or not to allow me to continue my journey?"

End of PT 1.

REWARD FOR THE FALLEN.  PT 2.

The man shook his head in bewilderment and continued on his quest to find the end of the trail.

However, things began to get more confusing.  Now his journey was often interrupted by individuals who spoke in languages he could not identify.  Almost as strange was the array of clothing that outfitted some of those who blocked his path.  

Often they were quite colorful and very extravagant.  Yet, at other times they seemed quite simple, often consisting of a plain tunic or robe.  Attire on the head and feet also represented both ends of the spectrum. It could be a helmet or cap accompanied with boots, or bare-headed with sandals.

It was not just the clothes that became more varied.  Individuals came in all sizes with many different skin colors being represented.  From time to time the newcomer was a woman, who treated him with identical solemness.

The man was becoming extremely frustrated, but that only seemed to strengthen his resolve to complete the journey.  There were a couple of more things that lifted his spirits.  He knew, inexplicably, that each person was dressed in some type of uniform.  Additionally, that they all were evaluating him and the judgment was universally positive, whether or not he understood the words spoken.  It was the tone of voice that came through loud and clear.

End of PT 2.

REWARD FOR THE FALLEN.  PT 3.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the man came upon a gate that crossed the path.  There was no way around, for the vegetation off the road seemed impenetrable.

As he gasped in frustration, he became aware of an approaching figure on the other side.  While this individual was dressed in now familiar clothes, his manner and look were different.  To the man, he appeared to be in his early twenties, but his wide-open smile set him apart from recent contacts.

"Hello Tony," the new arrival said, leaning against the gate.  "I guess you're wondering what the heck is going on."

The man looked intently at his counterpart and whispered out loud, "George Mellen, you were killed in a firefight outside of...," then he suddenly stopped, memories flooding back.

"Yeah, said his host, "I was killed in that tiny village, the one command considered vital to securing the region.  Caught one in the throat.  Wrong place, wrong time", he chuckled.

The man looked into the face of this lost comrade, and suddenly noticed that they were not alone.  Figures appeared from the trees that lay beyond the gated fence.  They were represented by every manner of dress he had already encountered, and some still unfamiliar.  The man was scared, but pride refused to let it be known to others.

"Tony, your home." His benefactor said, opening the gate.  The man hesitated crossing the threshold, and asked, "Am I dead, is this Heaven?"

"You're dead, that much is sure," George replied, "in time you'll recall the circumstances.  Is this Heaven? Let's just say it is an outpost on the edge of forever.  Just a place for men and women like you and me to rest, exchange stories, and prepare for what comes next."

As he passed through the gate, Tony became aware of the beauty of his new surroundings, and a feeling of peace and serenity settled over him.  Suddenly, he understood.  Turning to his companion he asked, "Is this just for us, no one else. Why?"

George gave him a slight smile, and as others gathered around them to offer welcome to the new arrival, answered; "I guess someone figured that those of us who gave all it was possible to give, and lost our lives with such brutality, deserved a special place where our sacrifice was acknowledged and appreciated.  I never expected such a place would exist, but our kind never asked for much in return.  Maybe that is why it's here, because we earned something we would never have asked for."

THE END.