Today’s burning questions on the quality of education, the value of meaningful employment and the role of civil disobedience in society are fundamentally philosophical.
“These are things philosophers have worked on, things that philosophers can help with, but things that people wouldn’t know philosophers work on and help with,” says Tyler Doggett, professor of philosophy at UVM and principal organizer of the Third Annual Public Philosophy Week Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, March 31.
The event is designed to bring discussions out of the academy and into the public square. The first Public Philosophy Week in 2017 featured eight discussions held in the greater Burlington area. This year the event truly goes statewide, with 45 conversations in Peacham, Greensboro, Bennington, Newport, Poultney, Northfield Falls and Rutland, as well as Chittenden County. Topics range from death and dying, to animal ethics, to the philosophy of brewing.
The list of presenters includes Doggett’s philosophy colleagues at UVM and other Vermont colleges, non-academics who bring thoughtful perspectives to their daily lives and work, and students, including members of the UVM philosophy club A Different Voice. High schools including Burr and Burton, CVU High School, and Milton are hosting events. New this year is a session in American Sign Language: “Learning from Deaf People will Elevate Humanity” will be presented by John Pirone at Expressive Arts, Burlington, from 5-6 p.m. on March 25.
Also new in 2019 is a series of discussions on death and coping with grief, organized by UVM alumnus Alexandria Kerrigan. On March 25 Krista Beth Atwood, pastor of the Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington, leads the discussion “Is there Life Without Death?” “On The Art and Ornamentation of Grief” is presented by Erin Ostreicher of Erin Ostreicher Designs. Betsey Walkerman, president of Patient Choices Vermont, which advocated for the passage of Vermont’s End-of-Life Choice Law, leads the discussion “ACT 39 and Death with Dignity.”
Public Philosophy Week 2019 is sponsored by the University of Vermont, Middlebury College, St. Michael's College, the Vermont Humanities Council and Ommegang Brewery. For more information, visit the Public Philosophy Week Facebook page.
All programs are free and open to the public. Preregistration is not required. Sample programs include:
Small Town Ethics
Presenter: Mike Ashooh, philosophy lecturer at UVM and Shelburne, Vt., Selectboard member
Venue: Shelburne Vinyard, Shelburne Vt.
Date & Time: Sat., March 23, 6:30 p.m.
Confucius, Zhuangzi, and Han Feizi: Exploring three Chinese philosophers through Tsai Chih Chung’s cartoons
Presenter: Ben Wang
Venue: Vermont Commons School, S. Burlington, Vt.
Date & Time: Sun., March 24, 4 p.m.
The Obsolete Jobs Project
Presenter: Holly Painter, UVM English lecturer
Venue: Deli/126, Burlington
Date & Time: Mon., March 25, 6 p.m.
Science and Religion: A Philosophical Perspective
Presenter: UVM Professor of Philosophy Terence Cuneo
Venue: St. Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Church, Northfield Falls, Vt.
Date & Time: Tues., March 26, 6 p.m.
Funny or Not
Presenter: Saint Michael’s College Professor of Philosophy Crystal L’Hote and Natalie Miller, co-owner, Vermont Comedy Club
Venue: Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington
Date & Time: Wed., March 27, 5:30 p.m.
How Far Should we Go in Local Eating?
Presenters: PhD candidate in Food Systems Caitlin Morgan and Real Food Working Group Student co-Chair Katie Horner
Venue: Peacham Café, Peacham, Vt.
Date & Time: Thurs., March 28, evening (time TBD)
Are Students Customers?
Presenter: Green Mountain College Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Steven Fesmire
Venue: Taps Tavern, Poultney, Vt.
Date & Time: Thurs., March 28, 5 p.m.
No Country for Old Women: Daring to maintain a creative practice even though you’re a lady, a mother, and getting older by the minute
Presenters: Author and writer Kimberly Harrington and UVM TEFL/TESOL InstructorAmanda Gustafson
Venue: Maglianero, Burlington
Date & Time: Fri., March 29, 7 p.m.
Who “Chooses” Homelessness?
Presenters: Executive Director of the Committee on Temporary Shelter Rita Markley and Middlebury Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Adam Wager
Venue: COTS Daystation, Burlington
Date & Time: Sat., March 30, 5 p.m.