Story Archives of 'philosophy'

British-born painter Roy Adzak said “good art is not what it looks like but what it does for us”. French painter Paul Cezanne suggests “that a work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art”, while American poet Ezra Pound demands that “Good art can not be immoral. That’s the question that we’re asking in our next The Socrates Cafe – “What is good art”. How do you define good art? What does it include, or not include? Post your comments, then respond to others on this page.

Guest

• Chris Phillips, author of several books on philosophy including “Socrates in Love”, “Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy” and “Six Questions of Socrates: A Modern-Day Journey of Discovery through World Philosophy”. Chris Phillips also leads “Socrates Cafes” across the country which engages groups by using the methods of the ancient Greek philosopher.

What does it mean to love one’s country? Does it mean that you’d make the ultimate sacrifice for it? Serving in the government or volunteering for your fellow citizens? To criticize your country when you think its heading in the wrong direction? Nationalism? Patriotism? Today we kick off our monthly series we are calling “The Socrates Café”. where we use the Socratic method of inquiry to gain better understanding.

Guest

• Chris Phillips, author of several books on philosophy including “Socrates in Love”, “Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy” and “Six Questions of Socrates: A Modern-Day Journey of Discovery through World Philosophy”. Chris Phillips also leads “Socrates Cafes” across the country which engages groups by using the methods of the ancient Greek philosopher.

Professors from Saint Anselm College are bringing the ancient Greek philosopher's lessons to the Goffstown Women's Prison. The goal: using philosophy to explain how we make choices. We'll explore how Plato's work can still apply to all areas of our lives, from politics to love. Laura's guests are Edward McGushin, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. Anselm College, and Elaine Rizzo, Professor of Criminal Justice and Co-Director of the Consortium of Justice and Society at St. Anselm College.

Transcendentalism was the first intellectual movement in US history to achieve a lasting impact on American thoughts, literature and philosophy. Its basis was around the belief of nature being a source of human inspiration and many of its leaders were New Englanders by birth... Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. Although the movement itself was relatively short, peaking from the mid 1830's to mid 1840's, its impact was long and still can even be heard today. This book looks at the leaders of this influential movement and those that responded to it… Hawthorne, Melville, Whitman and Dickenson. Laura's guest is Lawrence Buell.

We ponder one question for the hour, but, we need your help. What question do you think we should ponder? Submit your ideas to exchange@nhpr.org. Laura's guest is Chris Phillips, author of "Socrates Cafe" and "The Philosopher's Club," and man on a mission to revive the Socratic method of asking questions www.philosopher.org.