This reading & discussion series will be guided by the following central question: What wisdom might Jewish traditions offer for our current environmental crises? Philosophy, as the love of wisdom, should be open to wisdom wherever it embeds itself. The Tanakh, the textual source of Judaism, arose from within a largely agrarian society with deep […]
Philosophy Think & Drinks are casual and informal, community-oriented, intellectually stimulating, and fun. You do not need a background in philosophy to enjoy & participate in these gatherings. An open mind & desire to engage in thoughtful dialogue (whether from a listening or contribution standpoint) is all that’s needed! For those who love philosophy but prefer not to partake in the libations side […]
Until roughly the 16th century, nearly everyone in Western Europe — from common farmers and laborers, to highly educated scholars and clerics — took for granted that they lived in a cosmos teeming with a wide range of spiritual beings: living yet discarnate powers who occupied various intermediate positions between God and human beings, and […]
Philosophy Think & Drinks are casual and informal, community-oriented, intellectually stimulating, and fun. You do not need a background in philosophy to enjoy & participate in these gatherings. An open mind & desire to engage in thoughtful dialogue (whether from a listening or contribution standpoint) is all that’s needed! For those who love philosophy but prefer not to partake in the libations side […]
“…democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” – Winston Churchill Is democracy new or old? Does it deserve the reverence that modern Western society has ascribed to it? How did we get to where it is the form of government par […]
Why is it worthwhile to act justly, even if we could “get away” with injustice? Doesn’t the successful thief or tyrant have a life that’s attractive and enviable? How does the kind of society that we live in shape our character, values, and attitudes as individuals? Is it even possible to be a healthy person, […]
A fun community philosophy gathering exploring some paradigm shifts on planet earth….and aliens! Featuring guest scholar Stephen Maly, our night will involve a combination of presentation and Q & A and conversation. For the first part of our gathering, we’ll explore diverse ways of perceiving our worldly existence through a series of slides, images, quotes, […]
What is (a) religion? What are religions for? Whom are they for? And conversely, if someone is “spiritual but not religious” (or simply not religious), what exactly is it that they aren’t?
Debates about “free will” crop up in a wide, wide variety of areas: In discussing law and punishment, we ask whether the defendant acted “of his own free will.” In physics and metaphysics, we wonder whether the future is fully deterministic, or whether our choices might affect the course of things. Theologians of various religious […]
Our Think & Drink gatherings are monthly (dojo) sessions that consist of a “meeting of the minds” over libations. An open mind & desire to engage in thoughtful dialogue (whether from a listening or contribution standpoint) is all that’s needed! Learn more here: https://merlinccc.org/.../philosophy-think-drink.../
In this final installment of our loss & legacy series we’ll reflect upon our military and the ways in which we think about ancestors in service, as prompted by the WW1 memorial film “They Shall Not Grow Old.” Our film & community conversation will be held on Thursday, November 2nd from 6pm-8:30pm in Reeder’s […]
Early in the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, his teacher Seneca composed a short treatise, addressed to the emperor, on the subject of mercy or clemency. While none of us is likely ever to be the sole ruler of the civilized world, we might find analogues to some of these concerns for people in […]
Myths—inspired stories which relate “things which never happened at any particular time, but which always are,” in one ancient author’s memorable phrase—have played an important role in wisdom traditions around the world. But the role of myth is often woefully misunderstood in our contemporary society, where myths are seen as mere fiction, falsehood, or silly […]
When we act unjustly (in whatever large or small ways), will we be happier and better off if we manage to escape from any punishment, or if we pay the penalty for our misdeeds? Our “Short Reads” evenings explore a focused philosophical argument or theme, by way of a short (4–6 page) paper. During this […]
Our “Short Reads” evenings explore a focused philosophical argument or theme, by way of a short (4–6 page) paper. During the evening, we’ll step through the paper together, using it as the focal point for a lively and interactive conversation. Papers are short and compact, and we’ll read many of the longer quotes aloud together […]
We often take “labor” and “work” as synonyms, describing an often-difficult process that’s required to “get by” in life, or even to “make our living.” Yet there’s also a strong contrast between the demanding-yet-fulfilling “work” of an artist, and the drudgery of someone laboring in a factory. Then there are other complicated dances — both […]
In this installment of “How Did We Get Here?” we’ll consider the idea of “planet” throughout the history of astronomy starting with the ancient Greeks who identified seven, planetes asteres (or wandering stars). This included the Moon and Sun, but not the Earth. Then came Copernicus who changed our view, identifying planets as bodies which […]
Philosophical and spiritual texts from India, like the Bhagavad Gita, often present a choice — or even a conflict — between three lives, or three different ways that we humans might organize and structure our lives. We see the life of action, focused on “getting stuff done,” particularly in the political, economic, or domestic realms. […]
In this installment of “How Did We Get Here?” led by philosopher David Nowakowski we’ll consider the idea of “species,” from Plato and Aristotle, through the Middle Ages, to Charles Darwin (of course!), and down to the present. Along the way, we’ll gain some useful insights into the role of ideas and abstraction […]
“Anyone writing about empathy is trying to hit a moving target,” said empathy scholar, Lou Agosta – highlighting the term’s confusion in both common conversation and academic literature. When we are talking about empathy, what exactly are we talking about – shared feelings, care for someone else, or perhaps a more telepathic “mind-reading” grounded in […]
This workshop led by philosopher David Nowakowski will explore the role of myth within philosophy, the life dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom. Taking Plato as our starting point, this workshop will explore the role of myth within philosophy, the life dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom. We’ll get clear how myths comprise a special […]
In this first installment of our new “How Did We Get Here?” series led by philosopher & student scholar fellow Julianna Breit we’ll consider the concept of empathy. We’ll start in the 16th century with David Hume and explore onward. By tracing the evolution of empathy, we’ll learn how each thinker contributes to our understanding […]
