Dr. Heather Douglas of the University of Waterloo, Ontario, presented the 25th annual Warren Steinkraus Lecture on human ideals titled, “Ideals for Responsible Science in Democratic Societies” on Sept. 28.
Douglas, Waterloo Chair in Science and Society in the University of Waterloo’s philosophy department, has a doctorate in history and philosophy of science from the University of Pittsburgh. She noted that science, when it functions well,
“crucially shapes our understanding of ourselves, the world, our policy options for collective decisions and our sense of responsibility.”
The late Warren Steinkraus, who retired from Oswego’s philosophy department in 1987 after a distinguished career in teaching and scholarship, was committed to a wide array of human ideals such as social justice, equality, peace and nonviolence.
The philosophy department inaugurated the Steinkraus Lecture a quarter-century ago, establishing a permanent fund for the series now managed by the Oswego College Foundation.
Dr. K. Brad Wray, professor of philosophy at Oswego, delivered opening remarks.
—Office of Public Affairs