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Mississippi Philosophical Association
Welcome to the home page of the Mississippi Philosophical Association.
As set forth in our constitution, the purpose of the MPA is to increase the understanding and appreciation of philosophy; to encourage research and advance the standards and ideals of the teaching of philosophy; and to cultivate an interest in the study of philosophy in Mississippi institutions of higher learning.
The MPA holds an annual meeting, usually in the spring, featuring papers by faculty, students, and invited speakers. Members not on the faculty of one of the four multi-person philosophy departments in the state pay $20 per year in dues, but the annual meetings are free and open to the public.
The 2020, 2021, and 2022 meetings of the Mississippi Philosophical Association were not held due to the coronavirus.
SSoCIA 2022 – the 2022 meeting of the Society for Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology – was successfully held at the University of Mississippi on March 7-9, 2022. The meeting was designated as an MPA-sponsored event. The theme of the meeting was "Astrobiology: Philosophical Issues and Implications." The keynote speakers was Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute.
MPA members who attended paid the full conference registration fee to attend SSoCIA 2022, but that payment did count as having paid their 2022 dues for the year. For more information about SSoCIA 2022, contact Neil Manson (namanson@olemiss.edu). We anticipate that regular MPA meetings will resume in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Prior conferences themes include: Why Should We Do History of Philosophy? (2019), Well-Being (2018), Civic Studies (2017), Attention (2016), Philosophy of Race (2015), Consciousness (2014), Philosophy of Biology (2013), and Experimental Philosophy (2012).
Officers for 2021-2022
Kristin Boyce, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (kboyce@honors.msstate.edu)
Neil Manson, Department of Philosophy and Religion
The University of Mississippi (namanson@olemiss.edu)
SECRETARY-TREASURER
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTS
Alicia Hall, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (ahall@honors.msstate.edu)
Anthony Neal, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (aneal@philrel.msstate.edu)
Mike Bruno, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (mbruno@philrel.msstate.edu)
Steven Smith, Department of Philosophy
Millsaps College (smithsg@millsaps.edu)
Bart Moffatt, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (BMoffat@philrel.msstate.edu)
Donovan Wishon, Department of Philosophy and Religion
The University of Mississippi (dwishon@olemiss.edu)
Robert Thompson, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mississippi State University (jrt@philrel.msstate.edu)