Third SoCal Pragmatist Forum
'Democratic Communities and the Post-Truth Crisis'
February 21, 2026
HIB 135
8:45 am – Introduction – Jeffrey Barrett (UCI Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science) and Anna Boncompagni (UCI Department of Philosophy)
9:00 am - Nathan Crick (Texas A&M University) “Nihilism as the Triumph of ‘Economic Man”
Commentator: Rachel L. Torres (Graduate student, DoP)
10:00 am - Cheryl Misak (University of Toronto), “Pragmatism, Truth, and Politics”
Commentator: Neil Crawford (Graduate student, LPS)
11:00 am - Coffee break
11:15 am - Chris Voparil (Lynn University) “Addams and Rorty on Internormative Engagement”
Commentator: Eylül Z. Başkaya (Graduate student, DoP)
12:15-1:00 pm – Q&A
2:00-3:30 pm – Informal roundtable discussion, featuring guest speakers, graduate commentators, Forum leaders, and any audience members who have registered for it in advance
Topic: Part I of Michael Lynch’s Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It
Coordinators: Andrew Howat (CSU Fullerton) and Patrick Ryan (Fullerton College)
Please RSVP [available soon]
Info: socalpragmatistforum@gmail.com
Sponsors: UCI Departments of Philosophy (School of Humanities) and of Logic and Philosophy of Science (School of Social Sciences), Humanities Center “Building Intellectual Community” Grant, Dean of Social Sciences