Philosophy and Religion Colloquium Series: Paula Smithka

The Colloquium Series features relatively informal presentations of current research by Philosophy and Religion faculty and occasional guest speakers. Paula Smithka will present on "The Collectivist-Realist Pacifism of the Doctor in Doctor Who and the Quest for Social Justice." Students, colleagues, and the public are welcome.

Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction series in history. Its protagonist, the Doctor, is a time-traveling alien in a ship called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space). The Doctor protects the planet Earth and its human inhabitants from alien threats but also responds to the needs of other beings elsewhere in the universe. Frequently these altercations with alien threats require force, sometimes even lethal force; yet the Doctor is a pacifist. Smithka explores in what sense the Doctor can be considered a pacifist and what sort of pacifist the Doctor is.