Welcome
Welcome to the Web home of the American Philosophical Association's Committee on Public Philosophy. The committee is made up of 10 members of the APA, who serve to achieve the committee's goals. According the committee's charge, its basic purpose is "to find and create opportunities to demonstrate the personal value and social usefulness of philosophy." Click here or on the "Mission" button above to read the committee's detailed charge.
On the "Activities" page you will find information on the conferences that committee members have organized, as well as panels planned for the APA divisional meetings and other varied initiatives aimed at pursuing the committee's charge. We will use this Web site for posting further resources, opportunities, updates, and tools relevant to public philosophy. This page is still in development. If you have suggestions for inclusion in its content, contact the committee chair, Dr. Eric Thomas Weber (etweber@olemiss.edu). Come visit again from time to time for updates, such as those listed here below.
Recent News and Upcoming Events and Opportunities
2012 
Public Philosophy Op-Ed Contest, and Results from our 2011 Contest
The Committee on Public Philosophy is extending the deadline for the 2012 Public Philosophy Op-Ed Contest. Until June 30th, 2013, we will continue to accept nominations of pieces published in 2012. Details are also available on our Activities page.
In addition, we concluded our 2011 Public Philosophy Op-Ed Contest. The committee considered pieces published in 2011 and made its selection for awards issued in 2012. You can learn about the pieces and our selections on our Activities page.
2013 Public Philosophy Network conference
The Public Philosophy Network (PPN), an organization dedicated to the support of publicly engaged philosophical teaching, research, and social action projects, is holding its second conference on March 14-16, 2013 at the Emory University Conference Center. The deadline for paper and workshop proposals has passed--but it is not too late to geton the program! Click here (http://publicphilosophynetwork.ning.com/page/public-phil-conference) for more information and to register for the conference and sign-up for workshops. Registrants who sign-up before January 15th will be listed in the conference program as discussants. Workshop sign-up is on a first come, first served basis, so register early!
CPP Book Signing and Panel Organized at the 2012 Eastern Division Meeting of the American Philosophical Association
Book Signing:
At the December 2012 Eastern Division meeting of the American Philosophical Association in Atlanta, GA, the Committee on Public Philosophy hosted a book signing event on December 29, 2012, from 2-4 PM in Imperial Ballroom B at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.
Five philosophers participated and have written books that show the impact of philosophy on public life. They included
John Lachs, Stoic Pragmatism
Jeremy Wisnewski (with R.D. Emerick), The Ethics of Torture (unable to attend)
John Shook, The God Debates
Carlin Romano, America the Philosophical
Robert Talisse, Democracy and Moral Conflict.
Each author in attendance said a few words about writing for the public about pressing philosophical matters and then met visitors and signed books available for purchase (cash or check). You can also read our initial press release about this event here, which includes a brief summary of each book.
Panel:
We also sponsored the following panel featuring Jim Sterba's work: 
"Can Moral and Political Philosophy Really Provide a Foundation for Public Policy or is it Question-Begging All Around? A Panel on Jim Sterba’s Work"
Sunday, December 30th, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Session VI-J, Room TBA @ the conference
David Cummiskey (Bates College)
John Lachs (Vanderbilt University)
James Sterba (University of Notre Dame)
Moderator: Eric Thomas Weber (University of Mississippi)
If you would like to learn more about the American Philosophical Association, you can visit the organization's Web site here: http://www.apaonline.org/.