Simone Weil’s Philosophical Reading of Homer’s Iliad

Thursday, September 21, 2023, 7-9 PM

In Summer, 1940, Hitler’s Wehrmacht overwhelmed French and British armies and occupied France.  The brilliant, intense philosopher, Simone Weil, responded by writing a short essay purportedly on Homer’s Iliad.  Her essay, “The Iliad: Poem of Force,” is actually a philosophical reflection on the nature of war.  Weil reduces the Iliad to a stunning formula: “Force is the x that reduces a person to a thing.”  Behind this formula lies her deep study of Kant and Hegel.

Interestingly, another female French intellectual, Rachel Bespaloff, simultaneously published her own essay on the Iliad, reading it through the lens of Nietzsche.  Our focus will be on Weil, but we will spend some time comparing Bespaloff’s discussion of the Iliad to Weil’s.

Spinoza as a Guide to Life

Thursday, August 17, 2023, 7-9 PM

If you’ve ever wanted a complete scientific roadmap for how to live, a modern philosophy to go by, a lens through which to understand a complex world, a foundation, the 17th century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza is as good as you’ll find. He asked questions like: why are we so dogmatic? What makes us irrational? Why do we live as slaves to our emotions and others opinions. He was one of the first Enlightenment advocates for real democracy, and was the first to really criticise the bible as just a text. He was vilified for his perceived atheism and excommunicated from the Jewish community where he lived.

We’ll watch segments of this video and discuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leoBccWOZfo 

Harm Reduction and Other Approaches to Substance Abuse Disorder

Thursday, July 20, 2023, 7–9 PM

The history of the approaches to Substance Abuse Disorder has been varied and often controversial. We will explore some of these approaches, past and present, and discuss their efficacy and what values and rationale underly each approach. We will pay special attention to contemporary methods such as Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment, which seem at odds with more traditional models which tend towards an “abstinence only” perspective on success.

Jeremy Traen has a Bachelor of Social Work and an MBA. He is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor and has been with Sharehouse of Fargo for 17 years, currently in the role of CEO.

Socrates Café

Thursday, June 15, 2023, 7–9 PM

Join us for a spirited philosophical discussion on whatever topic is selected by the attendees of the meeting. No particular background is needed, just an interest in rational discussions about interesting topics. (We chose “Is there a right to die? If so, what are the conditions?” Also, “Why are some people so interested in philosophy?”)

Ancient Therapy for Modern Problems: Stoic Philosophy Explained

Thursday, May 18, 2023

We will watch selections from the video, followed by discussion. The video covers basic concepts of Stoicism, then looks at whether Stoicism can be helpful today. We’ll meet in the 2nd floor Board Room. The video is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvKNNtkUSU

Socrates Café

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Join us for a spirited philosophical discussion on whatever topic is selected by the attendees of the meeting. No particular background is needed, just an interest in rational discussions about interesting topics.

The Transcendentals: Are They Still Relevant?

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Suggested by Ancient Greek philosophers and meticulously developed by Medieval thinkers, the Transcendentals are the properties found in all things that exist. While the list of these properties varies, the three most common are being as one, true, and good. “Thing,” “something,” and “beauty,” usually are listed as well. In this presentation, I will first explain what is even meant by saying that “all being is such and such,” and then turn to a description of the “one,” “true,” and “good.” The purpose of this talk is to raise questions concerning each of these statements and ideas that we can then use as starting points for the group discussion to follow.

Presentation by Anthony T. Flood, Professor of Philosophy, NDSU

The Good Place – Everything is Fine.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

This month, Philosophy for All will be discussing philosophical questions and theories presented in the NBC television show The Good Place. The show emphasizes philosophical ideas, including one episode dedicated to the famous “Trolley Problem” about consequentialism. The Good Place ran for four seasons and is currently available on Netflix (warning – there will be spoilers about the Season One Finale in our presentation). NBC has a YouTube page with a multitude of clips, including input by philosopher and show advisor, Dr. Todd May. We will begin by watching a 15 minute recap of the show, featuring sketches of the main characters, and continue to view and discuss the show’s presentation of the Trolley Problem, alongside what the show advisor and other ethicists have to say about it.

Presentation by Richard Hoberg and Paul Sanford

It’s Because No One Likes You

Thursday, January 19, 2023

“How experts can destroy credibility and how to rebuild trust in expert opinions that no longer seem to have the respect they once enjoyed.”

Presentation by Dr. Dennis Cooley of NDSU. Dennis Cooley received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Rochester in 1995. His teaching and research interests include theoretical and applied ethics with a focus on pragmatism, bioethics, business ethics, personhood, and death and dying.

He is the author of Technology, Transgenics, and a Practical Moral Code (Springer, 2009), Death’s Values and Obligations: A Pragmatic Framework (Springer, 2015), and co-edited Passing/Out: Identity Veiled and Revealed (Ashgate, 2012). He is editor of Springer’s International Library of Bioethics, interim-head of NDSU’s Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, and Director of the Northern Plains Ethics Institute, which focuses on applied ethical and social issues affecting the Northern Plains and beyond.