UofS: Approve the essential position of Social and Political Philosophy Tenure Track

Dick move, Ken Wilson.

The world is desperate for clear thinkers who can read, analyze and communicate difficult themes. This happens in a dept of philosophy.

The time is now to be creative to keep this department alive and well. As a U of S alumni I know the university has the capabilities to get this done.

Disgraceful and disappointing.

The pursuit of knowledge found through the study of Philosophy is a unifying principle for people. Through my time as a student in philosophy, I have never seen such a diverse group of individuals interested in one field. People from various parts of the world have congregated and participated through our Philosophy Department. The lose of the tenured position such as the essential role of Social and Political philosophy has far deeper consequences than losing a few classes. This struggle is found across many other studies in arts and science and is not independent to philosophy. The lose of this position states that the campus and powers that be do not mind threatening less profitable departments with extinction. The point of education is for the betterment of humanity and is perverted when education is directed towards profit.

If there was ever a time to entrench a position in Social and Political Philosophy, it is now. Society is in a state of rapid transformation and investment should made on the basis of what will be needed to manage the change, not on the basis of what has been profitable in a socioeconomic context that will soon be irrelevant.

I am a UofS alumnus. Our daughter is currently pursuing a degree in Philosophy at UofS. I believe this is a valuable department that is deserving of full recognition and support.

Not even surprised usask would make a move like this. Here to say and prove we’re better than this. Our current social climate is a prime example positions like this need to be valued at a higher level and fully supported for the good of all.

Mr. Noppen is an excellent professor and the U of S philosophy department would be impoverished not to grant tenure to him.

I'd like to echo Josh and others who've already commented on this. This move not only snubs Dr. Noppen, a hard worker and good man, but also hurts the dept. long term. With the astronomical expenditures in administration and other faculties at the U of S, it's just pathetically shortsighted to deny students the opportunity to engage with these ideas. Social and political philosophy are possibly the best avenues for critiquing and rethinking existing power structures—like the structures that lead to decisions like these! As an alumnus who benefitted from and was deeply impacted by these classes, I can promise you decisions like these factor into whether I or anyone like me will ever donate money to your institution. Rethink this.

Much needed

Don’t kick the leg off a stool!

This position is critical for the Philosophy Department at Usask. I can personally attest to the high quality of instruction I have received from Dr. Noppen and the entire faculty. This department rivals the international instruction I have received abroad and it would be a disappointment to see Usask take away this position, lowering the quality of an amazing programme. Thoughtful instruction on such topics as Ethics, Law, and Politics is needed evermore in our society and this position would demonstrate to our community the value Usask sees in these areas. If it is taken away, it would be a blatant disregard to the incredible progress made by Philosophy not just for the University, but for the community at large.

Please don’t hurt our generations by playing political games.

If the university cares about student's opinions about whether or not there should be a course like social and philosophical, it should be asked directly. Students do know which course is their favorite.

Philosophy is the basis of human knowledge and stunting our philosophy department not only hurts this department but will hurt every department across campus. Ethics is needed in our technological and medical fields, to make sure that advancements made in those fields help humanity and not solely special interests and capital. We need our leadership at our university to support our philosophy department or we will lose an essential element to knowledge, knowledge that guides our advancements, so that its for humanity's benefit and not for only for capital.

So many members of the department were excited to have a new tenure position approved. To have it taken away at the last minute, is heartbreaking! The department's future is bleak without this necessary position.

Political philosophy is the most important branch of philosophy. It shapes the world we live in, and it is not to be disregarded.

This needs to be fixed immediately, or there could be horrible consequences, not only to the department of philosophy, but to the school in general!