Philosophers' Café
A Meeting of
Minds
Spring theme: The First Amendment & the Limits of Tolerance.
Enjoy lively discussion with community members. Philosophers Café brings together UW-Green Bay students and community members for open, friendly and respectful dialogue on important issues. Twice a month at the Mauthe Center, we'll explore what the First Amendment means today through moderated discussions led by faculty experts, including a constitutional law judge, philosophy professors, and scholars of democracy and justice studies. Join us for civil dialogue on freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to petition the government.
WHen?
Twice each month on Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. But dates vary so check the schedule.
Funding Thanks!
Thanks to funding from the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD), we're focusing on our spring theme
Current Schedule
Monday, February 9
Opinion, Truth and the Responsibility of Free Speech
- Led by: Robert Riordan, Lecturer in Philosophy, UW-Green Bay
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
Most people believe that free speech is not just a legal right, but a moral one. But why? This talk argues that our right to free speech is grounded in our rational capacities as human beings. If that's true, then the right comes with responsibilities. We have obligations to defend our opinions with reasons, engage seriously with others, and hold our views accountable to rational standards. The trouble is, we often claim the right while avoiding these responsibilities—demanding freedom to speak without doing the work that justifies it.
Monday, February 23
Tolerance, Acceptance and the First Amendment
- Led by: David Coury, Ph.D., Professor of Humanistic and International Studies, UW-Green Bay
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
Monday, March 9
Freedom of Speech
- Led by: Timothy Shiell, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, UW-Stout
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
Monday, March 23
Freedom of the Press
- Led by: Hon. Marc Hammer, Brown County Circuit Court Judge
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
Monday, April 6
Freedom of Religion
- Led by: Robert A. Pyne, Ph.D., Program Director, The Mauthe Center
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
Monday, April 27
Freedom of Assembly
- Led by: Jon Shelton, Ph.D., Professor of Democracy and Justice, UW-Green Bay
- Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Mauthe Center
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Reach Out
Does God exist? Do we survive our bodily death? Does life have a meaning? What is the best life a person can lead? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Professor and department-chair Hye-Kyung Kim, is available to ponder your philosophical questions both great and small.