Needless to say, questions about sex, gender, and identity have become tremendously political in the last several years. Consider debates about who gets to use what bathroom, or about the use of pronouns, or about what kind of medical procedures and/or care should or shouldn’t be provided to persons experiencing gender dysphoria.
This reading group aims to help students step back and use the tools of philosophy to think about fundamental questions presupposed by such political controversies. For example: How should we think about the distinction between sex and gender? How should we define ‘woman’? The reading group will deliberately consider authors with a range of differing views in a spirit of civil discourse. Any student committed to honest truth-seeking and respectful dialogue in a spirit of friendship is most welcome, regardless of views.
This multi-week reading group will also help to contextualize and process one of our major events of the semester: a public debate between two philosophers on the question, “What defines ‘woman’?”
All undergraduates, graduate, and medical students are welcome.
Email jprather@houstoninstitute.org to RSVP.
