Many of us take for granted a clear divide between the animate and inanimate. For instance: I am alive, but the chair I sit in is not. My dog is probably alive, as is the oak tree just outside my window. I am somewhat less certain about grass. Or viruses. What does this distinction between the living and nonliving mean to us? Why do we care so deeply about finding a firm line between the two? What might we discover about our world, our own assumptions, and our own ethical action if we are willing to question these categories? Many cultures and peoples throughout the world have never bothered to make such clean distinctions, and even in our contemporary western culture, a movement of philosophers has been challenging this divide from within. In this ZOOM workshop led by philosophers Henry Kramer & David Nowakowski, we explored the philosophy of animism – an orientation toward the world where everything is encountered as meaningfully alive. Access the video and other resources here!
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Have you ever wondered about wonder? What exactly is the experience of wondering? Why do we feel it? When do we feel it? Why might it be valuable? And, most pressingly: how can wonder be cultivated to assist us in dealing with modern problems, both on a large scale and in our individual, personal lives? In this 2½-hour workshop led by 2019-2020 Student Scholar Fellow Henry Kramer we investigated the connections between wonder, nature, imagination, and play through lecture, discussion, and exercises. Access resources and photos here!
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Please join us for our evening philosophy walk on Sunday, August 4th from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Topic: Reconnecting with Nature. Special guest speakers/philosophers-on-trail — Ryan Aikin (Volunteer & Strategist, Merlin CCC, Grants Manager, Youth Homes & Humanitarian) & Henry Kramer (2019 Merlin Student Fellow & Philosopher, University of Montana Missoula). This walk will…
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Please join us for our mid-morning philosophy walk on Saturday, August 3rd from 9am-12pm. Topic: Reconnecting with Nature. Special guest speakers/philosophers-on-trail — Ryan Aikin (Grants Manager, Youth Homes & Humanitarian) & Henry Kramer (2019 Merlin Student Fellow & Philosopher, University of Montana Missoula). This walk will be a casual, free-flowing conversation about…
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Please join us for our philosophy walk on Saturday, November 2nd from 10am-1pm. Topic: Nature & the Humanities. Special guest speakers/philosophers-on-trail — Ed Glowienka (Associate Professor of Philosophy, Carroll College) & Henry Kramer (2019 Merlin Student Fellow, University of Montana Missoula). Some of the things we’ll be exploring along the…
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