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Richard Werner, the John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, gave a paper, Pragmatism, Fallibilism, and War," at the University of Rochester on April 18. It was part of a symposium in honor of Professor Robert L. Holmes who is retiring from the University of Rochester Philosophy Department after 47 years. Professor Holmes is Werner's mentor.

Rick Werner, the John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, presented a paper, "The Right to Hope and the Ethics of Belief," at the 21st Annual Conference of Concerned Philosophers for Peace at SUNY Cortland, Oct. 30-Nov. 2.

Richard Werner,  the John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, presented "Hope and the Ethics of Belief" at the Third International Conference on Philosophy, June 2-5, in Athens, Greece. The paper argues that when the stakes are high it is rational to hope for and consequently believe in the best outcome as long as that outcome has a nonzero probability of success and even if it is not the most likely or best-supported outcome by the evidence. The argument continues that present world problems present us with high stakes where the likelihood of success is less than optimal but where hope for success is nevertheless rational.

Richard Werner, the John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, published "Pragmatism for Pacifists" in the December 2007 issue of the philosophy journal Contemporary Pragmatism.