In this outdoor workshop led by Ed Glowienka we explored the idea of justice as fairness — a position advanced by the late philosopher John Rawls.  The workshop was introductory and discussed justice through the lens of equity and fairness — two critical features of Rawls’ theory of justice.  We also looked at some of the dynamics of Rawls’ arguments and their implications, as well as the intellectual climate within which Rawls’ contributions to philosophy arose.   Finally, some competing perspectives and modern day comparisons on justice were touched upon.

Ed Glowienka is a Professor of Philosophy at Carroll College.  Ed grew up in Philadelphia, the son of parents who never attended college and who sacrificed significantly for his education. He went to the University of Scranton to study biochemistry, but left with a degree in philosophy with minors in German and theology. He then spent two years working with Spiritan missionaries, teaching philosophy to students from six African nations at the Spiritan Missionary Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. Ed earned his Ph.D. from Emory University in 2013. His research is in early modern philosophy, with projects in both metaphysics and moral philosophy.

In addition to teaching and research, Ed chairs the committee at Carroll College responsible for implementing the new core curriculum that the institutions will launch in the Fall. He is the author of Leibniz’s Metaphysics of Harmony and has twice co-directed a seminar for teachers funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities called “Re-Enchanting Nature,” which  explores how the humanities can deepen our understanding of nature in a way that complements the sciences.

Thank you to Humanities Montana and P.L.A.T.O. (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization) for helping support our philosophy in the community programs and making events like this possible!  This workshop was part of our “Thinking as a Community” project.