Philosophy Annual & Endowed Lectures
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the Department of Philosophy offers several annual events featuring visiting speakers: Elton, Griffith, Thacher and Sophia lectures. Each year, the department invites the GW campus community to hear prominent philosophers speak on their work and on the current applications of philosophical study.
Upcoming Events
Elton Lecture
The Elton Lectureship, along with the Elton Professorship, was endowed by Romeo Elton, a professor of classics at Brown University. Elton was a good friend of William Staughton, the first president of the original Columbian College before it became the George Washington University. The Elton Lecture is delivered annually on a philosophical subject of general public interest.
Griffith Lecture
The Griffith Lectureship honors William B. Griffith, former professor and chair of the Philosophy Department. The lectureship was formerly named after Thomas Goutman, BA ’76, a distinguished attorney and benefactor of the department. The Griffith Lecture was renamed at Goutman’s request and is delivered annually on a subject related to ethics, social and political philosophy or public affairs.
Thacher Lecture
The Thacher Lectureship was established in 2003 through the financial support of Michael Thacher, BA ’70, a former public affairs manager for global energy company Unocal Corporation. The Thacher Lecture is offered annually on a subject related to cognitive science, epistemology, logic, or philosophy of science and technology.
Sophia Lecture
The annual Sophia Endowed Lecture in Philosophy is made possible in part by support from alumna Brook J. Sadler, BA '93.