Philosopy
Philosophical Considerations Amidst Climate Chaos
It's public philosophy week and to honor it, we're gathering to ponder our philosophical positions around climate change, a feature of the Anthropocene which presents a host of unique challenges for conscientious people. This casual yet timely conversation seeks to explore the what-to-do's and should-we-do-anything's around this very important matter. Informal conversation to be led…
Philosophy Book Club: Timaeus
There's a new book club in town. In Philosophy Book Club, our aim is to examine the nature of thought itself. We'll investigate both classic and contemporary philosophical and essayistic works flitting into and out of the established western canon at whim to cultivate a myriad of perspectives. And what better place to start than…
Public Philosophy Week: The Ethics of Housing
Public Philosophy Week is upon us once again, a time for lively discussions that encourage collective reflection on life's most pressing questions throughout Chittenden County. This year, the Pierson Library is proud to partner in hosting two thought-provoking conversations. The first event features the return of Mike Ashooh, Selectboard chair, UVM professor, and rugby enthusiast,…
Public Philosophy Week: The Tao of Ethics
We will explore the "easy" Taoist approach to natural ethics—an elegant morality without supernatural authority. Taoist “worship of nature” is really veneration of the natural way of things and emphasizes living in harmony with the flow of existence. In our discussion, we will start to uncover an ethical system that is intuitive, adaptive, and rooted…
Philosophy Book Club: S.S.O.T.B.M.E.
From Plato to Ta-Nehisi Coates, and now a foundational text of chaos magick whose intellectual (and perhaps cosmic) depth is matched only by its accessibility. S.S.O.T.B.M.E. by Ramsey Dukes, AKA Lemuel Johnstone, AKA Lionel Snell, may find fault lines in consensus reality but (as opposed to more pointedly woo woo texts of mysticism) requires no…
Philosophy Book Club: The Analects
This month, Philosophy Book Club is going old school with a classic text of ancient Chinese philosophy The Analects. Composed during the Warring States period (475–221 BC) and finalized during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), this wisdom attributed to Confucius by his followers remains an important work of thought and ethics today.…
Philosophy Book Club: Last Days at Hot Slit: The Radical Feminism of Andrea Dworkin
Join us this month as the Philosophy Book Club reads Last Days at Hot Slit: The Radical Feminism of Andrea Dworkin, a bold collection from one of the most controversial figures in modern feminist thought. Dworkin was a radical feminist writer and activist, best known for her opposition to pornography and her unflinching critiques of…
Philosophy Book Club: Plato’s Apology
By popular demand, the next book that our coterie of armchair philosophers is set to read is an oldie and a goodie. It's Plato's Apology! And we may forgive him. Copies are available at the front desk.