philosophical thinking Archives

Posts tagged "philosophical thinking"

Science on Tap: Three Thought Experiments that Revolutionized Science

Most people can identify the ideas that have revolutionized science as we know it. But what about the thought experiments behind those ideas? The ideas behind the ideas that gave rise to our vision of the world today? This free interactive & theatrical presentation was held on January 31st at ExplorationWorks as part of their Science on Tap project and explored three thought experiments that revolutionized science. Guest speakers Marisa Diaz-Waian (who played the role of the student), Martin Richard (the mad scientist) & Michael Chapman (the philosopher) examined the role of imagination and wonder in scientific and philosophical thinking and invited audience members to share in the fun!

A Crash Course on ‘What Is Philosophy?’

At our Beat the Heat Philosophy Party in August, one of our presentations explored what philosophy is, what it isn’t, and why we should care. This fun video from the Crash Course series provides some additional insight about the matter, including a brief history of philosophy (primarily from a western…

Can Kids Benefit from Philosophy in the Classroom?

Can bringing philosophy into the classroom yield benefits for kids? Yes. There have been numerous studies supporting the claim that philosophy for kids is a worthwhile venture, including a recent study conducted by the Education Endowment Foundation in the UK and reported by Peter Dockrill of Science Alert. With over…

Can David Hume Help You With a Mid-Life Crisis?

Who says philosophy can’t help you with major life issues? Author and Professor of Philosophy and Psychology at U.C. Berkeley, Alison Gopnik, talks about how mid-century philosopher David Hume (coupled with a healthy does of Buddhism) helped her solve her mid-life crisis. Read more…

Empathy v. Sympathy

On a recent ‘Little Philosopher’s Walk’, one of our fun ‘Merlin Meanderings’ that we held here at Merlin Nature Preserve, we discussed & explored the importance and value of imagination. In the course of our conversation, the work of Dr. Brené Brown, Research Professor at the University of Houston Graduate…

Practical Guidelines for Empathy

Think empathy is overrated? Think again! Empathy is crucial to our and others’ well-being in countless ways. In this article, Dr. Elliot D. Cohen, one of the principal founders of philosophical counseling in the United States & Executive Director of the National Philosophical Counseling Association, helps to clarify the nature…

Philosophy is For Everyone

Should philosophy be confined to the walls of academia or accessible to everyone? Scott Samuelson, Professor of Philosophy at Kirkwood Community College, explores this topic and discusses how philosophy is more than just “the stuff of ivory towers” and why it is so important. In a nutshell, he claims that…