The Value of Studying Philosophy

In an older (but not outdated) article in the Atlantic,  Hope Reese interviews Rebecca Newberger Goldstein — philosopher and author of Plato at the Googleplex — who discusses the value of studying philosophy and why it is critical to our lives.  From helping us increase our humanity to becoming responsible…

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The Impact of Surveillance on Moral Growth

Does surveillance contribute or detract from our moral growth?  Alfred University Professor of Philosophy Emrys Westacott discusses the complicated relationship between surveillance and moral edification by exploring the following questions: What is the impact of ubiquitous surveillance on our moral character? How might the advent of a surveillance society affect…

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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…

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Boys Can Be Boys & Still Have Feelings

Feeling is human!  And that goes for boys just as much as girls.    Being able to embrace and express your feelings is an important part of experiencing life to its fullest.  It is also intimately connected to our mental, physical, and emotional health. Lena Aburdene Derhally, psychotherapist at Washington D.C.’s…

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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…

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Empathy v. Sympathy

Merlin | 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…

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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…

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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…

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