Department of Philosophy

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University Departmental Dashboard Indicators. Department program reviews for Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University.

This work seeks to explore the possibilities of applying affect theory to practices of social justice, specifically, through the affect theories based on energetics described by Teresa Brennan. The first section gives an overview on Brennan’s main arguments and how I interpret her through a Spinozistic lens. This project then explores the positive and negative roles that happiness, anger, grief, and humor have had in various social movements and how they have often been mis- or underused in these moments. The final section offers Brennan’s theory of “Living Attention” as a means of understanding our own affects and the affects of others and how to use them effectively and healthily.

Earth’s environment has been undergoing unprecedented rates of degradation
during the Anthropocene paradigm. Current projections for the near future show climate
change producing grim outcomes for most habitable parts of the world. This thesis defends
the argument that in order to adequately address the state of the environment, humanity
must experience a shift in collective consciousness away from the current philosophical
paradigm, and instead adopt a paradigm that enables a common mindset regarding the place
of humans within the natural environment. Various forms of spiritual ecology are explored:
deep ecology, biblical eco-theology, and eco-feminist theology. These positions are
explored in order to introduce a framework necessary to achieve the collective shift in
consciousness required to address environmental issues: a Spiritual Framework of Organic Oneness, which includes components of spiritual ecology and earth-centered religious
traditions.

The twenty-first century has already seen some aesthetically exciting sacred architectural spaces. Much liturgical music, however, is centuries old. With regard to performing old music, philosophers such as Steven Davies, etc., have debated the aesthetic merits of striving for authenticity of performance. If authenticity is a valid performance aesthetic principle, as I contend it is, the following paradox arises: Some contemporary sacred spaces are the sites of moving, aesthetically valid performances of sacred music. But how is it possible to have aesthetically valid authentic performances of sacred music in twenty-first century sacred spaces?... The question of authenticity in this unique musical genre focuses on performance space, liturgical function, musical instruments, performer/listener interaction, and cultural conditions. ...Using architectural examples constructed in the twenty-first century, this thesis will propose a set of aesthetic criteria for achieving an authentic setting for sacred music from all periods.