Mark Kingwell, John Ralston Saul, Jan Zwicky, Thomas Hurka, Will Kymlicka, Graeme Hunter, Paul and Patricia Churchland, Michel Seymour, Arthur Schafer, Charles Taylor-the list of Canadian philosophers who have made important contributions to public debate is a long one. Here, in a single volume we find their views on topics ranging from free speech to free trade, from science to citizenship, from terrorism to tyranny, and from ethics to the environment.

In the Agora celebrates the unique perspectives, distinctive voices, and important contributions of Canadian philosophers by bringing together some of the nations? top minds to speak candidly on issues of popular public debate. Following a foreword by John Ralston Saul, editors Andrew D. Irvine and John S. Russell have carefully collected over a hundred essays into an accessible, controversial, and lively book that delves into any number of significant issues.

A spirited and engaging read, In the Agora effectively illustrates how Canadian philosophers have contributed to public discourse and enriched our world. It is a collection that is sure to prompt both interest and debate.

Contributors:
Paul M. Churchland
Andrew Irvine
Thomas Hurka
Trudy Govier
Jeffrey Foss
Jan Zwicky
James Robert Brown
Patricia Smith Churchland
Ray Jennings
Mark Kingwell
John Russell
Ian Hacking
William Hare
Graeme Hunter
John Woods
Thomas De Koninck
David Gauthier
Charles Taylor
Peter Loptson
Jan Narveson
John Dixon
Leo Groarke
Paul Groarke
Stan Persky
Grant Brown
Susan Sherwin
Leslie Burkholder
Michel Seymour
Will Kymlicka
John RalstonSaul
Alister Browne
Lou Marinoff
Steven Davis

Andrew D. Irvine is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia.

John S. Russell is an instructor in the Department of Philosophy at Langara College.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Public Face of Canadian Philosophy

Acknowledgements

Contributors

I. SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Expanding Our Perspective Paul M. Churchland
2. Is it Time for a New Space Race? Andrew Irvine
3. Should We Implant Live on Mars? Thomas Hurka
4. Murdering Trees? Trudy Govier
5. The Environmentalist Faith Jeffrey Foss
6. Wilderness and Agriculture Jan Zwicky
7.  Science Rules James Robert Brown
8. Is Scientific Progress Inevitable? Andrew Irvine

II. MIND INTELLIGENCE AND THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES

1. From Descartes to Neural Networks Patricia Smith Churchland
2. How do Neurons Know? Patricia Smith Churchland
3. The Role of Logic Ray Jennings
4. Could a Machine Think? Paul M. Churchland & Patricia Smith Churchland
5. I Checkmate, Therefore I am Mark Kingwell
6. The Credible-Computer Conundrum John Russell & Andrew Irvine
7. Creative the Phenomena Ian Hacking
8. The Future of Intimacy Mark Kingwell

III. EDUCATION AND CULTURE

1. Broad Subjects Free Us from Narrow Minds Andrew Irvine
2. the Ideal of Open-mindedness William Hare
3. Taming the Tempest Graeme Hunter
4. The Young and the Jobless Graeme Hunter
5. How to Get to the Top Thomas Hurka
6. The Case for a Liberal Education John Woods
7. Why Intellectuals Care about the Flintstones Thomas Hurka

IV. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

1. Human Destiny Thomas De Koninck
2. Perfecting Inhumanity David Gauthier
3. Society is only as Good as its Apologies John Rssell
4. Three Malaises Charles Taylor
5. Humanism and It’s Role in the Contemprary World Peter Loptson
6. All Things being Unequal Mark Kingwell

V. AUTHORITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL

1. What is Government For? Trudy Govier
2. How to Make Governments Competitive Andrew Irvine
3. Where My Rights End –and Yours Begin Mark Kingwell
4. Do Children have Rights? Thomas Hurka
5. Religion isn’t on Trial John Russell
6. Guns Jan Narveson
7. Questions for the Census Takers Andrew Irvine
8. Responsible Government Andrew Irvine
9. A Market Economy Makes Us Better People Thomas Hurka

VI. FREE SPEECH

1. The Most Beautiful Thing in the World Andrew Irvine
2. The Porn Wars John Dixon
3. The Bessie Smith Factor John Dixon
4. Worlds Matter John Russell
5. Open Justice Can’t be Dismissed Lightly Leo Groarke & Paul Groake
6. When Liberty Loses Out Andrew Irvine
7. It’s Time for the Prime Minister to Take some Responsibility Andrew Irvine
8. Big, Bad Ideas? No Big Deal Stan Persky

VII. REVERSE DISCRIMINATION

1. Why Equality doesn’t mean Treating Everyone the Same Thomas Hurka
2. Affirmative Action: More Radical Arguments Thomas Hurka
3. Hidden Meanings Leo Groarke
4. Arrirmative Action, Women, and “the 50% Solution” Leo Groarke
5. It’s Affirmative Action, and It’s Bad for Universities and Students Graeme Hunter
6. ‘Fixing’ what ain’t Broke Grant Brown
7. The Curious Case of Country C Grant Brown

VIII. LIFE AND DEATH

1. Taking the Prime Minister at His Word Graeme Hunter
2. Abortion and the Moral Standing of the Fetus Thomas Hurka
3. Does Surrogate Motherhood Turn People into Commodities? Thomas Hurka
4. Are Feminists really Pro-Choice? Thomas Hurka
5. A Rose is a Rose, but Clones will Differ John Russell & Andrew Irvine
6. Feminism, Ethics and Cancer Susan Sherwin
7. Mercy Killing: The Deep Divide John Russell & Andrew Irvine
8. Nancy B and Nancy F Leslie Burkholder
9. Is Death really all that Bad for You? Thomas Hurka

IX. NATIONAL UNITY

1. If Quebecers say No It clearly will be out of Fear Michel Seymour
2. Equality between Peoples  Michel Seymour
3. Unity Poses Questions already Answered John Russell & Seymour
4. A Unity Referendum to End all Referendums John Russell & Andrew Irvine
5. The “Clarity” Bill in Retrospect Michel Seymour
6. Leading the Way Paul Groarke
7. Minorities and the State Will Kymlicka
8. The Paradox of Liberal Nationalism Will Kymlicka
9. Canadian Nationalsm and the Distinctiveness Fetish Thomas Hurka

X. 9/11 AND AFTER

1. Being True to Ourselves in Times of Crisis Andrew Irvine
2. Vulnerability Trudy Govier
3. Repeat of McCarthy Era would Imperil Democracy John Dixon
4. Freedom, not Security, is Fundamental Mark Kingwell
5. Evil’s Back –Now let’s Recover Trute and False Graeme Hunter
6. Zap! You’re Terrorist John Russell
7. A Slogan for our Times John Russell
8. The Democratic Challenge John Dixon
9. Kindness Trudy Gooier
10. Normal Behaviour John Ralston Saul

XI. HAPPINESS AND MORALITY

1. Should Morality be a Struggle? Thomas Hurka
2. Why God is Irrelevant to Morality Thomas Hurka
3. Is three such a Thing as Moral Luck? Thomas Hurka
4. Monstrous Acts Distort Reality Graeme Hunter
5. We Yearn for a Sence of Order, but … John Russell
6. On a Pedestal Leo Groarke
7. The Prime Directive Alister Browne
8. Love is all need to Understand Christmas John Russell
9. Pleasure alone won’t make You Happy Thomas Harka

XII. THE CHANGING UNIVERSTIY

1. Town, Gown, and the Long Way Down Graeme Hunter
2. Dumbed-down Universities Graeme Hunter
3. Academic Black Eye Andrew Irvine
4. The PC Tyranny Lou Marinoff
5. Are University Faculty Unnecessary? Andrew Irvine
6. Privatizing the University:  The New Tragedy of the Commons James Robert Brown
7. Factory Model Has No Place On Campus Andrew Irvine
8. Civil Liberties, Representative Democracy, Globalization and Education Steven David