Department Resources

Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) is an international, student-run organization aimed at promoting the past and present work of underrepresented groups in the field of philosophy.

The mission of SF State MAP is to offer students at San Francisco State University, in philosophy as well as other departments, an environment free from stereotypes, epistemic injustice, racist and sexist ideology, as well as a platform to discuss the work of philosophers from underrepresented groups and literature on the philosophy of race, sex, gender, class, disability and other pressing concerns. We hope to help in opening philosophical dialogue around these considerations, by engaging in public philosophy and outreach on our campus and in our community at large.

SF State chapter of Minorities and Philosophy (MAP)

Mission Statement: 

We the members of San Francisco State University’s chapter of Minorities and Philosophy make it our mission to establish and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for underrepresented groups in philosophy. As an all-inclusive group that will be available to both graduates and undergraduates, we seek to provide academic support through the following means:

• Offer peer editing opportunities [to members] in such a way that safeguards against implicit biases, stereotypes, and epistemic injustice that often lead to members of underrepresented groups being negatively stigmatized and unfairly down-graded in their capacities as knowers.
• Offer a platform to engage with literature on the philosophy of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability, etc.
• Offer an environment free from:
  • Racism and sexism, understood as ideologies that offer post-hoc justifications for historical and present-day systems of bias.
  • Ideologies, in general, that suggest one’s physical or cultural characteristics strictly determine one’s intellectual and moral capacities, choices, and identity.
• Offer an environment in which it is understood that existing problems of discrimination and bias are intersectional, in that they relate to one another in complex and sometimes poorly undestood ways, and in which we seek to better understand these relationships.
• Engage in public philosophy aimed at discussion around ways to promote inclusivity and be proactive against bias.
• Establish a working relationship with the philosophy department’s faculty in order to efficiently ensure that support is provided to students who feel attacked on the basis of social categorization.
• Promote engagement with the work of philosophers from underrepresented groups in all fields in philosophy.

We do so with the promise to uphold the following principles, however, let it be made clear that these principles are only enumerative and by no means exhaustive:

• All group members are to engage with mutual respect for each other, and to uphold the “principle of charity” as we’re taught to do with canonical philosophers.
• When engaging in group participation one is expected to recognize and support each member’s identity.
• All group members are expected to respect the confidentiality of fellow group members. This includes, but is not limited to, upholding university policy when engaging with student’s work through peer review, forums, and workshops. In particular, all group members are expected to refrain from plagiarizing any philosophical works showcased through group channels.

In joining San Francisco State University’s chapter of Minorities and Philosophy one agrees to uphold the above principles with the purpose of maintaining the mission of the group.

For information please email mapsfstate@gmail.com or reach out by email individually to coordinators Luke Quinton. The faculty advisor for MAP is Dr. Carlos Montemayor.

For the past six years, students of the SF State Department of Philosophy have been proud to participate as coaches for high school teams in the National High School Ethics Bowl program. Students have also competed on the intercollegiate team at regional competitions at schools like San Diego State University, Cabrillo College and Arizona State University. In the coming years, the program plans robust development and new exciting opportunities. Rather than adversarial debate, Ethics Bowl is focused on using respectful deliberation to apply ethics to real life problems.  

Participate as a member of the intercollegiate team and debate in competition, earn credits, coach undergraduates or high school students, volunteer for mock competitions. There are many ways to get involved with the program! 

For information, please email sfsu.ethicsbowl@gmail.com or reach by email out individually to coordinator  Dorian Lok. The 2023/2024 faculty advisor for Ethics Bowl is Dr. Macy Salzberger.

Academic credit is also available!

In this program, incoming students will have the opportunity to work with experienced graduate students in order to best prepare for higher education. Mentees will be able to learn about work expectations, helpful research sources, and all aspects of graduate life. If you are interested in participating or have questions, comments, or concerns please direct them by email to philmentor.sfsu@gmail.com. Please note that this is not intended to be a tutoring service, although graduate mentors may advise their mentees on helpful resources and approaches to philosophy.

Roughly once a semester we host “Ask a Philosopher!” during which students are invited to ask a panel of professional philosophers any questions (related to philosophy) that they want. Questions can be general — “How did you get interested in philosophy?” “What is philosophy, anyway” — or discipline specific— “What is metaontology?” “Why did the debate shift from talking about morality of affluence to global justice?” — or just a prelude to vigorous discussion — “Characterize the analytic/continental divide” “Do mathematical objects exist?” In short, it is a wide open evening that will be whatever students make of it!

The Philosophy Lounge is the center of life in our department, and key to our success in creating a warm, welcoming environment for students. Several clubs hold meetings there, instructors hold tutorials, and philosophy students in all our majors and minors treat it as a place to hang out between classes and discuss philosophy! Our yearly Welcome Party is held in the Lounge, as well as other notable celebrations. And during finals, study groups gather here to work together.