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Philosophy Think & Drink

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!

Community Workshop: “Thinking About Place”

Gertrude Stein’s “there is no there there” has been used as a description for placeless spaces. But what exactly is “place”? There are lots of ways to think about it. In this workshop led by Dennis McCahon we’ll be thinking about “place” in terms of our urban outdoors. When we get that Helena “sense of place” out there, what’s going on? What are we sensing? Is it urban design — deliberate “place-making” on somebody’s part? Is it a lucky accident? Something else? If it’s a mix of those, what’s the ratio? When can urban design be called “place-making” at all? This is an unruly bunch of questions. Unruly questions, though, can be fun, and even if they don’t lead to a hard-set definition, they can, in the case of Helena’s urban outdoors, lead to something useful — a shared, or at least better clarified and articulated vision and use of a Helena-specific, vocabulary and frame of reference — a basis, maybe, for practical understanding. Learn more, download the preparatory material & RSVP here!

Philosophy Workshop: “Justice as Fairness – An Introduction to Rawls”

In this outdoor workshop we explored the idea of justice through the lens of equity and fairness as advanced by philosopher John Rawls. The workshop was introductory in nature explored the dynamics of Rawls’ arguments and their implications, as well as the intellectual climate within which his philosophical contributions arose. Competing perspectives and modern day comparisons on justice were also be touched upon. Access resources, watch the intro video, and view pictures here!

Philosophy Think & Drink

Philosophy Workshop: “Beyond Mindfulness – Western Meditation Techniques in Theory & Practice”

In this workshop, we’ll explore three techniques of meditation with deep roots in Western spiritual, religious, and philosophical life and practice. We’ll begin with two simple exercises, popular among the ancient Pythagoreans and Stoics, for developing the power of recollection and preparing ourselves for challenging circumstances. Then we’ll turn to a practice known as “discursive meditation,” where a particular sort of focused inner dialogue is used to unlock layers of meaning within a text, an image, or a conceptual system. Learn more & RSVP here!

Philosophy Walk: “From Ecology to Excellence”

In this walk led by philosopher David Nowakowski, we’ll explore how the ways that ecologists study and learn about wild nature, can also be used to study and learn about ourselves, as human beings in human communities. We’ll look at four ecological principles: whole systems, dynamic balance, resource flows, and limits. And we’ll explore together in dialogue, how we can apply them in our own lives. This is philosophy—the life of wisdom—in a raw, applied, down-to-earth form: Take a method of knowledge and exploration, use it to describe the key elements in the wider world (or in our own inner, private worlds), and then use that clear understanding to respond in the most effective ways, through our choices and actions. Learn more and RSVP here!

Philosophy Workshop: “Talking About Stoicism”

In this workshop we explored the philosophical & historical roots of Stoic philosophy, some of its central theses, its modern revival, and how it manifests as philosophy as a way of life. Access resources and sessions recordings here!

Grounded: A Live Theater & Community Discussion Series — The Military Experience and Culture & the Ethics of War and Autonomous Warfare

Our Winter symposia consists of two free community conversations about military life & the ethics of war. The discussions will take place at The Helena Avenue Theater, in conjunction with a live theater performance called “Grounded” by Raven’s Feather Productions (RFP).
Given the play’s focus & a shared interest in offering opportunities for the community to think together, we teamed up with its producer & director to offer discussions around some of the deeply human issues that the play presents. The result: two free symposia on the first and second weekends of the play’s launch. Learn more about the symposia topic and featured Humanities speakers here!