GPPC Undergraduate Conference

Swarthmore College, Department of Philosophy will host 

 

the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium (GPPC)

Undergraduate Conference

Friday, March 31, 2023 - 2:00-5:00pm

Saturday, April 1, 2023 - 9:00am-5:00pm

 

The Inn at Swarthmore, 101 S. Chester Rd, Swarthmore, PA 19081

 

Undergraduates from the following schools will present papers -
Haverford College, University of Delaware, The College of New Jersey, University of California, Los Angeles, University Massachusetts Amherst,
Lafayette College, University of Pennsylvania, Franklin & Marshall College, Pennsylvania State University, Sarah Lawrence College, Washington & Lee University, Swarthmore College, Temple University

 

Keynote speaker, Saturday, 4/1, 3:30pm, Room B

 

HIP HOP AND AMERICA'S RACIAL CONTRACT

 

Derrick Darby

Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of Philosophy

Rutgers University

 

Abstract: Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have argued that the formation of a social contract is the origin of political society. In exchange for accepting the rule of law under a sovereign, the people get peace, greater freedom, and justice. Contemporary philosophers have argued that in America's case not everyone has enjoyed these benefits and that the actual contract is a racial one. This lecture will draw lessons from hip hop to examine the social contract idea and to identify ways of responding to the racial contract hypothesis.

Bio: Derrick Darby is Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University. He discovered his passion for philosophy growing up in NYC. For the backstory, see his TEDx talk, "Doing the Knowledge.” He writes about rights, inequality, democracy, and hip hop. He has been profiled in The Atlantic and published in The New York Times and other outlets. His books include: A Realistic Blacktopia: Why We Must Unite to Fight, The Color of Mind: Why the Origins of the Achievement Gap Matter for Justice; Rights, Race, and Recognition, and Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason. Follow him on Instagram @hiphopandphilosophy.

 

Please direct all questions to philosophy@swarthmore.edu.