The 2024 Uehiro Graduate Student Conference, titled “The Benefit of the Doubt: Skepticism, Epistemic and Moral,” was a resounding success. Held on March 7–8, 2024, the conference brought together graduate students and faculty to engage with the timely theme of skepticism across moral and epistemic domains.A theme on skepticism may recall Descartes’s famous “methodic doubt.” What made this conference unique, however, was that even Descartes was interpreted through the lens of comparative philosophy—for example, one presentation compared Descartes with Chan Buddhist phenomenology.
Keynote lectures were delivered by Dr. Karen Jones from the University of Melbourne, whose talk titled “Affective Regulation and Resistance” explored emotional dimensions of skepticism; Dr. Hans-Georg Moeller from the University of Macau, who presented “A Defense of Moral Foolishness: A Daoist View,” contrasting the theme with the East Asian tradition; and Dr. Tamara Albertini from the University of Hawaiʻi, who spoke on “Shades of Doubt and Degrees of Certainty: Lessons from al-Ghazālī and Descartes,” a unique comparison between Western philosophy and Islamic philosophy. Their thought-provoking talks sparked lively discussions during Q&A sessions and informal breaks. Dr. Jones also generously met with UH Mānoa philosophy graduate students on March 9, engaging with around a dozen students to discuss their research and foster meaningful academic connections.
The conference featured nine select graduate student presenters from universities across North America, along with three additional presenters from the UH Philosophy Department. One student joined remotely, while the rest presented in person. Each presentation sparked engaging and extended Q&A sessions, demonstrating the depth of interest and intellectual curiosity among attendees. This successful conference continues to serve as the primary international venue for students of comparative philosophy, enabling the next generation of scholars to engage in global philosophical dialogue, strengthen their research skills, and build long-term academic relationships. The ongoing exchange of ideas continues to enrich the UH Mānoa graduate philosophy community.
The CALL Uehiro Program sponsored this event. The PSA and the Philosophy Department extend sincere thanks to the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education for its continued sponsorship.