Warren Schmaus is a professor of philosophy and has been working at IIT for 28 years. This fall he takes on a new role as co-director of graduate studies for the Lewis Department of Humanities. Here's Q&A with the professor:
Q: What research are you currently working on?
A: I'm studying how science works as a social endeavor. I'm working on one paper that deals with how a scientist's social and professional relationships with other scientists -- especially in the case of women scientists -- shape opportunities for making contributions to the growth of knowledge. On the more historical side, I've been working on two papers dealing with debates in 19th century France that are still relevant today: how to balance scientists' need for intellectual freedom -- including freedom of inquiry, freedom of discussion, freedom of publication -- against the need for social norms governing the research profession. I'm looking at the sociologist Emile Durkheim and the philosopher Charles Renouvier.
Q: Tell us your impressions of the IIT student body.
A: I'm impressed with the changes I've seen over my many years at IIT. The students today are very bright. I'm now able to assign them much more ambitious projects than I would ever have dreamed of.
Q: Tell us about your typical day on campus.
A: A typical day starts with my two morning classes. This fall semester it is Humanities 104: The Age of Darwin, and Philosophy 302: Origins of Modern Philosophy. Then in the afternoon I answer emails, grade quizzes, prepare assignments for my classes, meet with students, and possibly attend meetings. On Friday afternoons every other week, I run the Humanities Department Colloquium. This is an opportunity for members of our department to learn about each others' research in progress and offer critical suggestions and also to learn about the work of scholars at other universities. Here is this fall's schedule: http://www.iit.edu/~schmaus/colloquium/index.html
Q: Do you have any advice for prospective students to IIT?
A: I would advise them to think very seriously about the social context in which they will be receiving their education. IIT's urban location provides incomparable opportunities to enrich one's learning and experience that a student could not possibly enjoy at one of the many schools located in small college towns in rural areas. I'm not talking only about Chicago's many theaters, concert halls, clubs, museums, libraries, zoos, botanical gardens, and so on. Architects and engineers will be surrounded by the products of their profession. Students in the humanities and social sciences will meet people from all walks of life. Chicago is a great college town: one of the best.
