In this philosophy workshop led by student scholar fellow Julianna Breit, we’ll explore our roles in empathy, questioning the aim of empathetic interactions, and analyzing what empathy looks like when it’s done well. After looking at the aesthetic foundations of empathy, we’ll consider the interplay between savoring the other’s emotion and mitigating our own emotional overload. Learn more & RSVP here!
For thousands of years, people seeking after wisdom have approached important texts as invitations for meditation, whose treasures can be uncovered through careful, deliberate practices of attention. In this workshop, we explored some of these techniques, combining practical instruction with reflections on the theoretical and conceptual background needed to make sense of the practices. Access photos & resources here!
In this installment of “How Did We Get Here?”, 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 in western scientific thought, reflect on the search for stability in a changing world, as a unifying thread from Plato to Darwin, and beyond, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the ways that we, and our predecessors, strive to classify and categorize — both in the natural world, and in human society and culture. Learn more & RSVP here.
Thank you so much to the Helena Area Community Foundation for their support of our philosophy in the community program, home to numerous free activities that get us thinking together and learning from and with one another! Learn more here!
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. Learn more & RSVP here!
This workshop will explore the role of myth within philosophy, the life dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom. What kinds of myths are there? (We’ll consider specific examples of myths: both the traditional Greek myths which Plato and his tradition examined, and myths from other times and places). When & how can myths be used effectively and appropriately? What does it mean to engage with myth in a specifically philosophical mode? How do mythic modes of understanding enrich, complement, or complete other ways of thinking and knowing, like the logical or analytical? Learn more & RSVP here.
In this walk led by philosopher David Nowakowski, we explored what it means for us to strive for excellence in our own lives and to appreciate the excellence of others. Access audio recordings and photos here!
In this walk featuring Dennis McCahon and Patrick Judge, we’ll explore the connections between Helena’s “sense of place,” climate change, and urban design. Access info and photos here!
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Learn more about our 2024-2025 special public philosophy project on homelessness.
Want to help bring a new program to the Helena & Mountain West communities? Our Community Hubs project is an innovative vision for public humanities that re-centers community as a place of learning. Learn more about our vision & how you can help support it here!
Think philosophy is impractical, pointless, out-of-reach, or irrelevant? Think again! Want to know more about what philosophy involves
(or what it doesn't) and how it can help you find your way?
