Thinking Out Loud: A Philosophical Perspective on Today's Issues

Are you tired of just replying to texts and emails and refreshing your newsfeed? Do you have a gnawing sense that life should be about more than just earning money and then relaxing at the end of the day? If so, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 23 at 7:00 pm to hear how philosophy can help us think about ourselves, our relationships, and the contemporary world in a new program series led by Bernardsville resident Dr. Philip Walsh. Dr. Walsh has a PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Irvine and is a faculty member of the philosophy department at Fordham University. No prior experience or background necessary!

Philosophy is both a historical tradition and a method of rational inquiry. It begins with the idea that “the unexamined life is not worth living." The philosopher is one who examines why we think the way we do about issues that are central to the human condition. But philosophical debates can start to sound very abstract and disconnected from our everyday lives. This lecture series aims to bring philosophy back to the public square by illuminating the continued relevance of philosophical thinking to contemporary issues that matter to us.

The first topic, on January 23rd, will be "Yoga, Mindfulness, and the Mind-Body Problem." Subsequent topics will be "What’s the Point of College? How To Balance Different Educational Goals" (February 20); "Smart-Phones, Social Media, And Our Hyper-Connected World" (March 13) and "Colin Kaepernick and Role of Rituals in Secular Society" (April 3).

Dr. Walsh graduated from Villanova University and received his PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Irvine. His published work focuses on philosophy of mind and consciousness. He teaches a wide variety of courses, including “Human Nature,” “Philosophy and Popular Culture,” “Chinese Philosophy,” and “Philosophy of Technology.” Dr. Walsh actually believes that philosophy can save the world, and he is on a mission to bring philosophy out of the classroom and into the public eye. His motto comes from the great American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: “A friend is one before whom I may think aloud.”

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.