The Philosophy Department and its members regularly host philosophy lectures and events for the Gonzaga community, including the following:
- The Annual Rukavina Lecture in Philosophy
- Graduate Student Philosophy Conference
- Philosophy Club Lectures
Upcoming Events:
Philosophy of Humor and Pop Culture
Spring 2026 Lecture
Location: Humanities Building, College Commons
Date & Time: April 16, 2026, 5:30-7:00 pm
Dr. Elizabeth Cantalamessa (St. Bonaventure University) will offer a thought-provoking lecture on the philosophy of humor, exploring how memes, irony, and satire reshape our shared norms of responsibility and accountability. Dr. Cantalamessa is known for her work in pragmatism and philosophy of language, where she examines humor not as entertainment but as a powerful cultural tool for negotiating meaning, authority, and social identity.
Loving Strangers
Fall 2026 Lecture
Location: Hemmingson Auditorium (Hemm 004)
Date & Time: September 30, 2026, 5:00-7:00 pm
The Philosophy Department’s Rukavina Lecture invites a scholar to give a talk on contemporary philosophical issues, giving attendees the opportunity to engage in dialogue with leading scholars on issues that impact their lives.
Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, and founding Director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. Sullivan is currently working on a book about the role of love in our moral lives. She is also directing a major grant project with scholars and nonprofit leaders to expand the love ethic, as well as a major planning grant considering the role of Christian thought in AI ethics. Sullivan will be a featured speaker at the 2025 TED Next Conference.
For general information on these or other events, contact philosophy@gonzaga.edu or 509.313.6741.