Stanford University

Society

FSI researchers work to understand continuity and change in societies as they confront their problems and opportunities. This includes the implications of migration and human trafficking. What happens to a society when young girls exit the sex trade? How do groups moving between locations impact societies, economies, self-identity and citizenship? What are the ethnic challenges faced by an increasingly diverse European Union? From a policy perspective, scholars also work to investigate the consequences of security-related measures for society and its values.

The Europe Center reflects much of FSI’s agenda of investigating societies, serving as a forum for experts to research the cultures, religions and people of Europe. The Center sponsors several seminars and lectures, as well as visiting scholars.

Societal research also addresses issues of demography and aging, such as the social and economic challenges of providing health care for an aging population. How do older adults make decisions, and what societal tools need to be in place to ensure the resulting decisions are well-informed? FSI regularly brings in international scholars to look at these issues. They discuss how adults care for their older parents in rural China as well as the economic aspects of aging populations in China and India.

On the Idea of Human Rights

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The Program on Global Justice is co-sponsoring this special workshop along with the Stanford Political Theory workshop and Philosophy and Public Affairs. We will have presentations on Beitz's book from four distinguished scholars. A first session, from 1:15-3PM, will feature presentations from Barbara Herman (UCLA philosophy) and Tim Scanlon (Harvard philosophy). The second session, from 3:30-5PM, will have presentations from Jim Fearon (Stanford political science) and Jenny Martinez (Stanford Law School).  
Apart from providing an occasion to discuss the book and the important issues it raises about human rights, the workshop is a celebration of Professor Beitz's work as editor of Philosophy and Public Affairs (2001-2010). Other editors from the journal will be present at the workshop, including Seana Shiffrin, Alan Patten, Arthur Ripstein, and Samuel Scheffler.

Professor Beitz's  philosophical and teaching interests focus on international political theory, democratic theory, the theory of human rights and legal theory. His main works include Political Theory and International Relations and Political Equality: An Essay in Democratic Theory as well as articles on a variety of topics in political philosophy. He coedited International Ethics and Law, Economics, and Philosophy. His current work includes projects on the philosophy of human rights and the theory of intellectual property.

Before coming to Princeton, Professor Beitz taught at Swarthmore College and Bowdoin College, where he was also Dean for Academic Affairs. He has received fellowship awards from the Guggenheim, Rockefeller and MacArthur Foundations, the American Council of Learned Societies and the American Council on Education.

Professor Beitz is the Editor of Philosophy & Public Affairs.

Philippines Conference Room

Barbara Herman Philosophy Panelist UCLA
Tim Scanlon Philosophy Panelist Harvard
Charles Beitz Political Science Speaker Princeton
Jenny Martinez Law Speaker Stanford
James Fearon Political Science Speaker Stanford
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