A delightfully inspiring On Being podcast discussion between Krista Tippett and Nobel physicist Frank Wilczek about beauty and truth….and how beauty might be a compass for us all in the scientific and moral realms. Listen here!
In this2½-hour ZOOM philosophy workshop led by philosopher David Nowakowski, we investigated the philosophy of evil — both at the level of abstract concepts, and at the level of practical, everyday action. Access resources and reading recommendations here!
We had a great time at our December Think & Drink! Our group explored the good ol’ is-ought conundrum. Check out some of the questions and ideas that came up in the process here!
Our November Think & Drink was lovely! Our group explored the relationship between emotions and morality. Check out some of the questions and ideas that came up in the process here!
Our October Think & Drink was great fun! We started with play, moved to responsibilities & obligations, and then onto a discussion about morality. Check out details here!
This article, written by Merlin volunteer and scholar Jonathan Drake, explores the work of Theodor W. Adorno and offers an analysis of his philosophical reflections on the “culture industry,” Marx’s commodity fetishism, mass media, and the liberating potential of art.
A founding member of the Frankfurt School and the philosophical style known as critical theory, Theodor W. Adorno’s contributions continue to have an impact on philosophical, sociological, and aesthetic thought. This article, written by Merlin volunteer and scholar Jonathan Drake, offers an introduction to his works and influence, as well as some important clarifications about his critique of western philosophy and the enlightenment.
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a ubiquitous feature of popular culture, continuously adapted and revisited. Dr. Raymond Boisvert, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, argues that Frankenstein endures because of its sophisticated treatment of morality. Victor, a brilliant thinker who sees science as a means of transcending natural limits, creates life (Frankenstein’s “monster”) only to demean and abandon his creation. But Boisvert argues that Victor is a complex figure — neither inherently evil, nor the product of a corrupt or evil society. Instead Victor’s failings can better be understood by examining two different ethical models: Evil as Absence & Evil as Banal.
