Symposium

Department of History and Philosophy

Mustafa Banister, Matthew Bardeleben, Patrick Belanger, James Cavanaugh, Lee Chang, Paul McKelvey and Patrick Sanders

Professor Rick Rogers, Sponsor

The Transformation of Our Neighborhood: Religious Diversity in Washtenaw County

This presentation will highlight several comparative elements drawn from the research of seven students of American history, all of whom have reconstructed for the first time the histories of seven very different local religious communities. Interviewing community historians (using a standard questionnaire) and gathering data from both private and public archival materials, these researchers have documented the stories of the following Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti organizations: The Muslim Community Association, The Baha'i Community, The Chinmaya Mission (Hindu), St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, The Church of Scientology, Second Baptist Church and Jewel Heart Center (Buddhist).

Session B - Tower Room - 10:00 a.m.~10:15 a.m.

Erica Bruns

Professor Margaret Crouch, Sponsor

Pushing the Boundaries: Self-Defense as a Woman's Priority

Women who protect themselves beyond the cultural limitations granted them are viewed as a threat. Why is this? The idea of women as independent and forceful beings has not been easily accepted or understood. This presentation will examine the boundaries linked between women, self-defense and society's reactions to the evolution of female-centered self-defense tactics.

Session C - Gallery II - 11:30 a.m.~11:45 a.m.

Jeffrey Buzzell

Professor Daryl Hafter, Sponsor

Labor With and Without Unions

The purpose of this research is to provide factual evidence that the unionization will bring about a leveling of economy for the state and, more importantly, within a community itself. Though impeded at times, labor unions have brought safety and rights to the worker while keeping the federal government at bay with its increasing sterilization. Referencing examples such as the Prevailing Wage Law study done by Dr. Peter Phillips of the University of Utah, as well as an interview with Ron Motsinger of IBEW Local 252, overwhelming facts will show the necessity and importance of labor unions within the community.

Session C - Gallery II - 11:45 a.m.~12:00 p.m.

Eric Colwell

Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor

Aristotle and Daoism: How to Live Well

This presentation will elucidate the most adaptable and healthy way to live a full life. First, an explanation and examination of Aristotle's position on happiness will be given. Following this, the difficulties presented by Aristotle's philosophy will be discussed within the framework of practical Daoist thought. Finally, some recommendations will be offered on what counts as living well.

Session B - Gallery II - 10:15 a.m.~10:30 a.m.

Rachel Gutenberg

Professor Ronald Delph, Sponsor

The Crusades and Their Effect on the Jews

The First Crusade caused an outpouring of religious zeal on the part of European Christians. Yet a substantial part of this religious zeal was expended upon the Jews of Europe, who experienced slaughter, mass suicide and declining economic success. This paper argues that the First Crusade created a growing intolerance of Christians for Jews, and this led to the further marginalization of the Jews in Europe.

Session A - Gallery II - 8:30 a.m.~8:45 a.m.

April Hall

Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor

The Ongoing Problem of Ignorance in Society

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast two opposing philosophies regarding the best interest of the individual and the state. I examine the negative effects of ignorance in ancient, 19th Century and modern society. I offer Plato's ideal society as described in his Republic and John Stuart Mill's ideal in On Liberty as potential solutions. I maintain that a modern solution to the problem of ignorance requires a balance of both philosophies.

Session A - Gallery II - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m.

Luke Hoorelbeke

Professor Thomas Franks, Sponsor

Sartre's Doubts on the Notion of Sincerity

Is sincerity possible? The complexities of this question are hidden within its apparent simplicity. Jean Paul Sartre confronts this question with necessary fervor and ultimately realizes that to truly be sincere is impossible. This presentation will utilize the collusion of Sartre's idea of bad faith and how bad faith confines us within an existence based on our own choices, and how, through those choices, sincerity is rendered impossible.

Session A - Gallery II - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m.

Charles Stuart

Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor

Plato's Religion: The Significance of Salvation in Plato's Philosophy

This paper argues that Plato's philosophy must be understood in part as a religion because of its focus on the soul's salvation. Though generally understood in philosophy as a theory of knowledge and a system of metaphysics, Plato's thought cannot be fully appreciated unless its religious aspects are recognized and explored. This understanding is important to the history of philosophy because it suggests that other philosophies may require similar interpretation.

Session B - Gallery II - 10:30 a.m.~10:45 a.m.

Barbara Sweeney

Professor Daryl Hafter, Sponsor

Slavery in France During the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

Slavery has a long history in France, starting with the unfree persons captured in war by the Franks. My paper discusses conditions that caused individuals to become slaves and how they were distinguished from freemen. The separate system of justice for slaves became weakened by the decline of slavery in the Middle Ages. Slave policies of early Modern France and toward colonial slavery in the 17th and 18th centuries became entangled in legislative disputes over the nature of royal power and the property rights of French subjects.

Session A - Salon - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m.

Danielle Wright

Professor Ronald Delph, Sponsor

Witches: The Legend Lives On

The tragedy of the 16th and 17th centuries European witchcraze left a deep mark on European society. Witches continued to live on in the memories and folk tales of Europeans for centuries. A striking example of this is found in the depiction of witches in the Grimm brothers' collection of fairy tales from 19th century Germany. This paper analyzes the portrayal of witches in these stories, and argues that the images of witches in these tales can be traced back to the images of witches in the earlier era of the witchcraze.

Session B - Reception Room - 10:30 a.m.~10:45 a.m.


			Department of History and Philosophy Mustafa Banister, Matthew Bardeleben, Patrick Belanger, James Cavanaugh, Lee Chang, Paul McKelvey and Patrick Sanders Professor Rick Rogers, Sponsor The Transformation of Our Neighborhood: Religious Diversity in Washtenaw County This presentation will highlight several comparative elements drawn from the research of seven students of American history, all of whom have reconstructed for the first time the histories of seven very different local religious communities. Interviewing community historians (using a standard questionnaire) and gathering data from both private and public archival materials, these researchers have documented the stories of the following Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti organizations: The Muslim Community Association, The Baha'i Community, The Chinmaya Mission (Hindu), St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, The Church of Scientology, Second Baptist Church and Jewel Heart Center (Buddhist). Session B - Tower Room - 10:00 a.m.~10:15 a.m. Erica Bruns Professor Margaret Crouch, Sponsor Pushing the Boundaries: Self-Defense as a Woman's Priority Women who protect themselves beyond the cultural limitations granted them are viewed as a threat. Why is this? The idea of women as independent and forceful beings has not been easily accepted or understood. This presentation will examine the boundaries linked between women, self-defense and society's reactions to the evolution of female-centered self-defense tactics. Session C - Gallery II - 11:30 a.m.~11:45 a.m. Jeffrey Buzzell Professor Daryl Hafter, Sponsor Labor With and Without Unions The purpose of this research is to provide factual evidence that the unionization will bring about a leveling of economy for the state and, more importantly, within a community itself. Though impeded at times, labor unions have brought safety and rights to the worker while keeping the federal government at bay with its increasing sterilization. Referencing examples such as the Prevailing Wage Law study done by Dr. Peter Phillips of the University of Utah, as well as an interview with Ron Motsinger of IBEW Local 252, overwhelming facts will show the necessity and importance of labor unions within the community. Session C - Gallery II - 11:45 a.m.~12:00 p.m. Eric Colwell Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor Aristotle and Daoism: How to Live Well This presentation will elucidate the most adaptable and healthy way to live a full life. First, an explanation and examination of Aristotle's position on happiness will be given. Following this, the difficulties presented by Aristotle's philosophy will be discussed within the framework of practical Daoist thought. Finally, some recommendations will be offered on what counts as living well. Session B - Gallery II - 10:15 a.m.~10:30 a.m. Rachel Gutenberg Professor Ronald Delph, Sponsor The Crusades and Their Effect on the Jews The First Crusade caused an outpouring of religious zeal on the part of European Christians. Yet a substantial part of this religious zeal was expended upon the Jews of Europe, who experienced slaughter, mass suicide and declining economic success. This paper argues that the First Crusade created a growing intolerance of Christians for Jews, and this led to the further marginalization of the Jews in Europe. Session A - Gallery II - 8:30 a.m.~8:45 a.m. April Hall Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor The Ongoing Problem of Ignorance in Society The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast two opposing philosophies regarding the best interest of the individual and the state. I examine the negative effects of ignorance in ancient, 19th Century and modern society. I offer Plato's ideal society as described in his Republic and John Stuart Mill's ideal in On Liberty as potential solutions. I maintain that a modern solution to the problem of ignorance requires a balance of both philosophies. Session A - Gallery II - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m. Luke Hoorelbeke Professor Thomas Franks, Sponsor Sartre's Doubts on the Notion of Sincerity Is sincerity possible? The complexities of this question are hidden within its apparent simplicity. Jean Paul Sartre confronts this question with necessary fervor and ultimately realizes that to truly be sincere is impossible. This presentation will utilize the collusion of Sartre's idea of bad faith and how bad faith confines us within an existence based on our own choices, and how, through those choices, sincerity is rendered impossible. Session A - Gallery II - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m. Charles Stuart Professor Michael Jones, Sponsor Plato's Religion: The Significance of Salvation in Plato's Philosophy This paper argues that Plato's philosophy must be understood in part as a religion because of its focus on the soul's salvation. Though generally understood in philosophy as a theory of knowledge and a system of metaphysics, Plato's thought cannot be fully appreciated unless its religious aspects are recognized and explored. This understanding is important to the history of philosophy because it suggests that other philosophies may require similar interpretation. Session B - Gallery II - 10:30 a.m.~10:45 a.m. Barbara Sweeney Professor Daryl Hafter, Sponsor Slavery in France During the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period Slavery has a long history in France, starting with the unfree persons captured in war by the Franks. My paper discusses conditions that caused individuals to become slaves and how they were distinguished from freemen. The separate system of justice for slaves became weakened by the decline of slavery in the Middle Ages. Slave policies of early Modern France and toward colonial slavery in the 17th and 18th centuries became entangled in legislative disputes over the nature of royal power and the property rights of French subjects. Session A - Salon - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m. Danielle Wright Professor Ronald Delph, Sponsor Witches: The Legend Lives On The tragedy of the 16th and 17th centuries European witchcraze left a deep mark on European society. Witches continued to live on in the memories and folk tales of Europeans for centuries. A striking example of this is found in the depiction of witches in the Grimm brothers' collection of fairy tales from 19th century Germany. This paper analyzes the portrayal of witches in these stories, and argues that the images of witches in these tales can be traced back to the images of witches in the earlier era of the witchcraze. Session B - Reception Room - 10:30 a.m.~10:45 a.m.