I . Organization

Phi Sigma Tau is the national honor society in philosophy. Its organization consists of the (1) National Office, (2) Local Campus Chapters, (3) Laureate Chapter, and (4) National Alumni Chapter.

Founded at Muhlenberg College in 1930, and subsequently incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in Washington, D.C., Phi Sigma Tau is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The central purpose of the Society is to promote ties among philosophy departments in accredited institutions and students interested in philosophy. Both at national and local levels, the organization of the Society is instrumental - a means for developing and honoring academic excellence and philosophical interest, and for popularizing philosophy among the general collegiate public.

A.  Government

The national officers of the society consist of a President, Vice-President, and Executive Secretary. General supervision of chapters is the responsibility of the Executive Secretary. The Executive Council consists of the three national officers plus four Area Council Representatives. All officers and representatives serve as unsalaried volunteers.

 

Local Chapters are located at private and public institutions in over thirty states. These chapters, which numbered 117 in September of 1983, constitute the focal point of PST activities. Their officers are students at the host institution, with a faculty advisor serving as institutional liaison; and each chapter retains a high degree of autonomy in its activities and by-laws.

 

The Laureate Chapter numbers the following 1983 members:

Alfred J. Ayer, Brand Blanchard, Etienne Gilson, Josef Pieper, Paul Ricoeur, Charles Hartshorne, and Edwin Burtt.

 

The National Alumni Chapter was founded in 1971 as a means for graduated PST alumni to retain contact with the Society. Membership is open to all initiated PST members, and to other qualified persons. Activities include an Alumni Bulletin (issued periodically) and a Careers Study in Philosophy (1983- 84). 1983 membership was 270 nationwide.

 

National Officers are: Dr. John Kozy, Jr., President (East Carolina University), Dr. Lee C. Rice, Executive Secretary (Marquette University), and the following Area Council Representatives: Dr. Hubert Alexander (Univ. of New Mexico), Dr. William Bonis (Cal. State Univ. at Long Beach), Dr. Stephen Skousgaard (College of the Holy Cross), and Dr. Sherman Stanage (Northern Illinois Univ.).

II.  Membership

There are three classes of membership in Phi Sigma Tau

(1) Active--Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, (2) Alumnus, (3) Laureate., Qualifications for active membership in the local chapter (Texas Zeta) are:

A.  Chapter membership is open to qualified undergraduate students, teachers of philosophy, and others who qualify as honorary chapter members.

B .  To be eligible for Active membership in Texas Zeta Chapter a student must be a declared major in philosophy and have either (1) completed at least 9 hours of Trinity philosophy courses and have a GPA of 3.5 or better in all philosophy courses or (2) completed at least 18 hours of Trinity philosophy courses and have a GPA of 3.15 or better in all philosophy courses.

III.  Phi Sigma Tau Aims, Ideals, and Symbols

 A.  Phi Sigma Tau

 

Considers its organization as instrumental: a means for developing and honoring academic excellence as well as philosophical interest. Its central purposes are those of serving as a means of awarding distinction to students with high scholarship and interest in philosophy, to popularize interest in philosophy among the general collegiate public, and to provide a forum for student communication and publication in philosophy.

 

B .  Insignia

 

The Society's emblem is a pentagon with the letters "Phi Sigma Tau" at the center. Each angle contains a word representing one of the five streams of world thought: Chinese, Indian, Islamic, Hebrew, and Greek. The seal of the Society is the reverse side of the Athenian silver tetradrachma (B.C. 480- 400), which bears the owl, olive spray, and small crescent. The margin of the seal carries the legend, "Phi Sigma Tau, 1930".

 

C .  Publications

 

Since 1956 the Society has published twice yearly an official journal, Dialogue, publication which is open to all students in philosophy. Dialogue appears in October and April:

Volume 26 was published in 1983-84.

 

The PST Newsletter contains news of the Society's activities at both local and national levels. 1984 saw the publication of Volume 51 of the PST Newsletter.

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