PhD Course 2024

Philosophy of Race Summer Seminar

12-14 June 2024, Aarhus University

PhD-course (3 ECTS) under the Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination (Danish National Research Foundation).

In this three-day workshop, we will engage in study of the philosophy of race in three parts. We will begin with the metaphysics of “race”: for example, ought race be understood as an bio-behavioral essence, a social construct, or something in-between? To what extent does it make sense to think of “race” as a group category? Next, we will proceed to competing conceptions of racism. Is it most accurate to regard racism as mistaken doxastic belief, a system of willful ignorance, or a set of hostile or subordinating attitudes? Finally, we will focus on the literature on racial discrimination: what, exactly, makes racial discrimination wrong, and in which contexts? Does the arbitrariness of racial discrimination drive our intuitions, or should we be more concerned about the demeaning beliefs that are expressed, or ill-consequences exacted by it? What forms have racial discrimination over the years taken? Are the descendants of those wrongfully discriminated against owed reparations? Readings will include theorists like W. E. B. Du Bois, Naomi Zack, Sally Haslanger, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Charles Mills, Deborah Hellman, and Jorge Garcia.

Teachers: Main: Désirée Lim (Penn State, CEPDSIC Affiliate) & Marion Godman (CEPDISC, Aarhus University)

View course description

Literature Day 1: The Metaphysics of Race

W. E. B. Du Bois, “The Conservation of Races” (18 pages)
Naomi Zack, “The Philosophical Roots of Racial Essentialism and Its Legacy” (14 pages)
Sally Haslanger, “Gender and Race: (What) Are They? (What) Do We Want Them To Be?” (24 pages)
Michael Omi and Howard Winant, Racial Formation in the United States, selected readings (19 pages)
Charles Mills, “But What Are You Really?” (25 pages)

Total: 100 pages

Literature Day 2: What is Racism?

Kwame Anthony Appiah, “Racisms” (12 pages)
Jorge Garcia, “The Heart of Racism” (20 pages)
Tommie Shelby, “Is Racism in the ‘Heart’?” (9 pages)
Cheryl Harris, “Whiteness As Property” (84 pages)
Uma Narayan, “Colonialism and its others: Considerations on rights and care discourses” (7 pages)

Total: 132 pages

Literature Day 3: Race and Discrimination

Deborah Hellman, When Is Discrimination Wrong?, selected readings (20 pages)
Owen Fiss, “Groups and the Equal Protection Clause” (17 pages)
Sahar Akhtar, “Race Beyond Our Borders: Is Racial and Ethnic Immigration Selection Always Morally Wrong?” (29 pages)
Rufaida Al Hashmi, “Historical Injustice in Immigration Policy” (15 pages)
Charles Mills, “Racial Exploitation and the Wages of Whiteness” (28 pages)

Total: 109 pages

Description of Qualifications

By participating in this course students acquire the following abilities:

To gain an understanding of major topics in contemporary debates in the philosophy of race;
To familiarize participants with key texts and primary contributions to the field of philosophy of race;
To demonstrate that that knowledge of the philosophy of race is essential to one’s study of the topic of discrimination;
To give participants the opportunity to engage in close reading and discussion at length of the topics at hand.

Eligibility Criteria

The course is open to PhD-candidates involved in a relevant field, e.g., Political Science, Philosophy or Psychology.

About the Course

Contact: Marion Kathe Godman

ECTS: 3

Period: 12-14 June 2024

Level: PhD-Course

Form: Presentations by scholars and discussions

Syllabus: 341 pages

Exam: 1500 words essay

Language: English

Department: Political Science, Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination

Faculty: BSS

Location: Aarhus University, Room TBA, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

Course Requirements and Exam

A reflection paper (of at least 1500 words) providing a detailed overview of what the participant has learned over the 3-day course (whether it is about a particular topic or broad insight), identifying which arguments or debates they have found most significant for their research moving forward, and describing new questions or areas of inquiry that have arisen from their study (to be handed in to Marion Godman -m.godman@ps.au.dk – at the latest 14 days after the conclusion of the course. Will be assessed and commented on by one of the teachers of the course).

Registration Fee

Participation fee is 895 DKK and covers:

Course fee
Dinner 12 June
Lunch and refreshments during the course 12-14 June

You sign up for participation here before May 1, 2024.

We will distribute a link to pay the registration fee by email.

Please notice the system only accepts payment by card (visa, master etc.) unless you are employed by a Danish institution and can provide an EAN number for an invoice.

Participants will have to make their own arrangements regarding travel and accommodation.