by Cheryl Smithem

Jennifer Baker, an associate professor of philosophy at the College of Charleston, is one of fourteen presenters recently announced for TEDxCharleston. Though Baker’s specific presentation title hasn’t been announced, her core area of interest and study is applying ancient ethical standard to modern day life. TEDxCharleston will be held at PURE Theater in downtown Charleston on May 15, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Watch Baker’s presentation.

Jennifer Baker is a graduate of Brown University (B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science, 1995) and the University of Arizona (Ph.D., 2003). Her research is on virtue ethics, and she looks to ancient ethical theories as positive examples of how ethics ought to be done today. She teaches courses on ethical and political theory, environmental ethics and philosophy, business ethics, bioethics, and American philosophy. She is also the author of the blog, “For the Love of Wisdom: The logic of iambic half-lines” on Psychology Today.

Rachel Hutchisson, chair of the TEDxCharleston speakers’ committee said, “We are very excited to have Jennifer Baker speak. She absolutely fit the bill re: our goal of securing passionate, articulate presenters with ideas connected to the core of the theme of reinvention. Jennifer will have a great story to tell.”

According to the organization’s press release, “Focused on the theme of “Reinvent,” this independently produced event, operated under a license from TED, is an all-day immersion experience at the intersection of science, art, performance and business.”

Specific topics and titles for each speaker’s presentation will be announced at a later date.

About TEDxCharleston, where x = independently organized event

In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxCharleston, where x = independently organized TED event. At TEDxCharleston, TEDTalks videos and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

*This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Edinburgh, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, and on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

For information about TED’s upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration.