Observation and Judgment in the Humanities

All are welcome to join us next Friday, February 26, for a symposium at
the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale University: "Observation and
Judgment in the Humanities."

This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.

Symposium: Observation and Judgment in the Humanities
February 26, 2010
Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University

Organized by Mia Reinoso Genoni and Norma Thompson, in conjunction with
the spring 2010 course "Evidence in Humanistic Inquiry." How do objects
and texts provide and constitute evidence, and how do we learn to assess
this evidence? Investigation of observation and judgment as the critical
tools of humanistic inquiry. Focus on both textual exegesis (philosophy,
history, literature, and rhetoric) and visual analysis (painting, prints,
sculpture, architecture, and mixed media) and the ways in which we see,
evaluate, and understand.

Opening Remarks: María Rosa Menocal, 10:15

I. The Humanities in Practice, 10:30-12:00
Chair: Peter Salovey
A. Linda Friedlaender, "You see, but you do not observe. The distinction
is clear."
B. Barry Nalebuff, "There is Nothing So Practical as a Good Theory"
C. Toni Dorfman, "Reimagining the Ending of La Finta Pazza"

Lunch: 12:00-1:15

II. States of Evidence, 1:15-2:45
Chair: Mark Schenker
A. Norma Thompson, "Aristotle's Rhetoric and Securing Evidence for the
Polis"
B. Paul Kahn, "Evidence, Judgment, and the Legal Imagination"
C. David Gelernter, "Identifying the American Creed"

Coffee break: 2:45-3:15

III. Objects of Knowledge, 3:15-4:45
Chair: Alice Prochaska
A. Alastair Minnis: "Text and Image in Late-Medieval Commentary on
Vernacular Poems"
B. Mia Reinoso Genoni, "Seeing Understanding: Vision and Revision in the
Invention of the Renaissance Architectural Treatise"
C. Kathryn James, "Secret of Secrets: The Memory of Practice and Early
Modern Alchemy"

Keynote Speech: 5:00
Howard Bloch: "On the Common and Applied Humanities"

Reception: 6:00

SPEAKERS and CHAIRS
Bloch, Howard. Chair of the Humanities Program & Sterling Professor of
French.
Dorfman, Toni. Associate Professor & Director of Undergraduate Studies,
Theater Studies.
Friedlaender, Linda. Curator of Education, British Art Center & Lecturer,
Dermatology.
Gelernter, David. Professor of Computer Science.
Genoni, Mia Reinoso. Mellon Special Collections Humanities Postdoctoral
Fellow & Lecturer, Special Programs in the Humanities.
James, Kathryn. Assistant Curator of Early Modern Books and Manuscripts
and the Osborn Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Kahn, Paul. Robert W. Winner Professor of Law and Humanities Law.
Menocal, María Rosa. Sterling Professor of the Humanities & Director of
the Whitney Humanities Center.
Minnis, Alastair. Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of English.
Nalebuff, Barry. Milton Steinbach Professor of Management, School of
Management & Economics & Political Science.
Prochaska, Alice. University Librarian, Yale University; Principal of
Somerville College, Oxford University (Sept. 2010).
Salovey, Peter. Provost & Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology.
Schenker, Mark. Associate Dean of Yale College, Dean of Academic Affairs.
Thompson, Norma. Associate Director of the Whitney Humanities Center &
Senior Lecturer in the Humanities.

Contact and Location:
Christina Andriotis
Whitney Humanities Center
53 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Phone: (203) 432-0670
Email: christina.andriotisyale.edu