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Historical treasures of ‘most talented woman in 20th-century philosophy’ come to Penn
Three people standing over a book in a library setting.

Philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe was both a divisive figure and one of the most important female philosophical minds of her time. Notebooks filled with old postcards and scrawled responses, like those viewed here by graduate student Paul Musso (left), associate professor Errol Lord, and graduate student Marie Barnett, reveal Anscombe’s thought process as she corresponds with Anthony Kenny, a philosopher and priest, about God and faith.

Historical treasures of ‘most talented woman in 20th-century philosophy’ come to Penn

On loan from the Collegium Institute, an archive of materials written to and by Elizabeth Anscombe will be at the Libraries’ Kislak Center for Special Collections for the next three years.

Michele W. Berger

One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues
A group of people, some sitting on a bench, some standing, looking at something offscreen, with paintings on yellow walls in the background.

Penn neuroscientist Zab Johnson (standing, second from right) led an exercise during which the mindCORE students studied a single painting for an hour. The idea, she explains, is to “slow down and really take a good look.”

One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues

The exercise is one part of a two-week mindCORE summer workshop aimed at underrepresented undergrads across the country. This year’s program focused on language science and technology, and minds in the world.

Michele W. Berger

Three from Penn elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Anita Allen, Daniel Rader, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

Penn's Anita L. Allen, Daniel J. Rader, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein are among more than 200 newly elected members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Three from Penn elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Vice Provost for Faculty Anita Allen of the Law School and the School of Arts and Sciences, Daniel Rader of the Perelman School of Medicine, and Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of Perry World House join a group recognized for their world-class leadership and expertise.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Pint-size philosophers
Karen Detlefsen working with students

Pint-size philosophers

By engaging with Philadelphia elementary students and high school teachers, Penn professor Karen Detlefsen is opening young minds to a new kind of philosophical thinking.

Michele W. Berger

Spencer named Robert S. Blank Presidential Professor
Quayshawn Spencer

Philosophy professor Quayshawn Spencer

Spencer named Robert S. Blank Presidential Professor

Quayshawn Spencer, an associate professor of philosophy, has been named the Robert S. Blank Presidential Associate Professor of Philosophy.

Penn Today Staff

7 hours a week on existential despair

7 hours a week on existential despair

In a uniquely reflective course taught by Justin McDaniel of the School of Arts and Sciences, students meet weekly to read an entire book cover to cover and then discuss. Noting the quality of the resulting discourse, McDaniel said, “it’s the best conversation I’ve ever had in a classroom.”

The iconic species of the Galápagos, in photos
Fish near Santiago Island, Galápagos (©Walter Perez)

El Niño of 2015-2016, which warmed the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, was then the strongest such event in almost two decades, according to NASA. But when El Niño ended, the cold waters around the Galápagos returned, bringing with them loads of nutrients, fish populations like this one near Santiago Island exploded. (©Walter Perez)

The iconic species of the Galápagos, in photos

A new book co-authored by Michael Weisberg and a naturalist guide from the Galápagos reveals unseen behaviors of some of the islands’ best-known animals.

Michele W. Berger

Talking philosophy, privacy, and race with Anita Allen
Anita Allen.

Anita Allen, Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law and professor of philosophy.

  • Q&A

    • Talking philosophy, privacy, and race with Anita Allen

    On July 1, the Vice Provost and professor of Law and Philosophy became the first female African-American president of the American Philosophical Association’s Eastern Division.

    Michele W. Berger