Philosopher Peter Singer Discusses Effective Altruism

Philosopher Peter A. D. Singer spoke about the philosophy behind effective altruism to a packed auditorium at the Science Center on Sunday.

Snow Days by Concentration

Now that everyone has frolicked sufficiently, snow days have become a time for learned contemplation. FM considers how students of various concentrations can best use their time off.

PLUR As Told By Heidegger

Chances are if you’re reading The Harvard Crimson, you’ve never heard of Peace Love Unity Respect. The acronym is a silly combination of sounds—a feline’s pleasure with an extra letter snuck in—and the cliché it stands for wouldn't last a minute in college classrooms. But since the ’90s, PLUR’s been a credo and a life philosophy for rave subculture. This summer it became my personal mantra. This fall I’ve decided it was Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger’s as well.

Profs Argue for Integration of Sciences, Humanities

Psychology professor Steven A. Pinker and Philosophy professor Susanna Siegel talked about integrating the sciences and humanities.

Humanities and Sciences

Harvard College Prof. Steven A. Pinker engaged in a conversation about the transcendence of the humanities and sciences with Edgar Pierce Prof. Susanna C. Siegel in light of the recent discussions about the importance of the humanities compared to the sciences.

Cornel West on Virtue

Cornel R. West ’73, right, spoke in Emerson Hall on Thursday, April 10 as part of a discussion held by the Black Men’s Forum. West spoke to the importance of cultivating virtue and compassion in the United States.

In Search of the Mask

For the past few years, professor Sean D. Kelly, chair of Harvard’s Philosophy Department, has been searching for a copy of Blaise Pascal’s death mask that just might be lost in Harvard’s collection. After little success, he recently offered an automatic A to any student in his “Existentialism in Literature and Film” class who can find the mask.

Daniel W. Erickson

In that rare moment of calm I can’t help but wonder what new idea has seized control of him, and what form it will take when he decides to share it.

Sean Kelly

Harvard philosophy professor Sean Kelly discusses the purpose of the Bible during a forum last November Memorial Church.

N.T. Wright, University of St. Andrew's Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, discusses the purpose of the Bible during the Veritas Forum on Sunday night in Memorial Church.

Same Story, New Book: Repackaging Humanities at Harvard

Recently, national news outlets have declared a crisis of the humanities. But at Harvard, the plot gets more complicated. The challenges facing Harvard's humanities necessitate changes to course offerings far more than the core of the humanistic enterprise.

San Jose State Professors Criticize edX as ‘Social Injustice’

The Philosophy Department at San Jose State University condemned Harvard government professor Michael J. Sandel’s teaching of the edX course ER22x: “Justice” in an open letter sent this week.

Government professor Michael J. Sandel delivers a “Justice” lecture in Sanders Theatre in a December 2012 file photo. Sandel’s teaching in the edX “Justice” course was criticized by philosophy professors at San Jose State University.

That Pesky Language Requirement was Just as Pesky in 1955

Every week, The Crimson publishes a selection of articles that were printed in our pages in years past.

Concentration Satisfaction: Class of 2012

As freshmen enter the second week of Advising Fortnight, Flyby presents a complete set of data from the Class of 2012's concentration satisfaction ratings. For all freshmen looking to narrow down the list of potential concentrations, sophomores or juniors curious about their chosen concentrations, and seniors reflecting on their undergraduate careers, here are the stats from last year's graduating seniors on how satisfied they were with their respective concentrations. Check out our four interactive graphs showing overall satisfaction rates among Humanities, Natural Sciences, SEAS, and Social Sciences concentrators in the Class of 2012.

Overall Satisfaction with Humanities Concentrations among Class of 2012

Graduating humanities concentrators in the Class of 2012 rated their overall satisfaction with their respective concentrations on a scale of one to five.

Awais Hussain'15, a sophomore in Eliot House, is exploring the intersection of Arts and Science by pursuing a joint degree in Physics and Philosophy.

Adam B. Kern

Adam B. Kern stands in front of a classroom of inmates at the Suffolk County House of Correction, presenting five aspects of David Hume’s argument on the existence of free will.

'Justice' Diversifies Discussion Globally

Students in classrooms across three continents met online Friday morning to discuss questions of ethics as part of Michael J. Sandel’s efforts to create a global learning environment.

The Harvey Mansfield Story

You could call him a polemic. But then you might be missing the point.

A Conversation with Slavoj Zizek

FM sits down to discuss the Occupy movement, pop culture, and modern academia with Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek.

Belichick as Artist in Pats’ Defeat

The gutsy decision of Patriots Coach Bill Belichick to let the Giants score a touchdown at the end of the Super Bowl should be analyzed in artistic terms.

Justice Goes Global

Through the aid of technology and of simultaneous translation, “Justice” students in three countries now debate ethical dilemmas in real time with each other.

Colbert Grills Michael Sandel on Ethics, Cannibalism

Colbert and Sandel had a seven-minute exchange that focused on the core issues of justice in our world, from overpaid baseball stars to hypothetical cannibalism.

Interactive Justice, From the Comfort of Your Own Bed

Harvard professor Michael J. Sandel hosted his own call-in show this Sunday in a live, interactive discussion via the telephone. ...