Philosophy,
For Everyone
Public Philosophy Week brings people together to explore life’s biggest — and smallest — questions in familiar places. Each conversation centers on a chosen topic and invites participants to think, listen, and wonder together. It’s philosophy outside the academy, in the middle of everyday life. No background needed. Just curiosity.
How the Week Takes Shape
The full schedule unfolds in real time. As new hosts and presenters come on board, events are added across towns and venues throughout Vermont. Keep an eye on the calendar — conversations are added frequently.
Philosophy,
For Everyone
Public Philosophy Week brings people together to explore life’s biggest — and smallest — questions in familiar places. Each conversation centers on a chosen topic and invites participants to think, listen, and wonder together. It’s philosophy outside the academy, in the middle of everyday life. No background needed. Just curiosity.
How the Week Takes Shape
The full schedule unfolds in real time. As new hosts and presenters come on board, events are added across towns and venues throughout Vermont. Keep an eye on the calendar — conversations are added frequently.
April 18
SAT
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 18 : 1pm-2pmwith Andrew Wild
Join Andrew Wild for a discussion about games, why we love them, and why they are important. We will pay special attention to the role of scoring systems in games, and then consider the use of scoring systems in society.
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 18 : 6pm-7pmwith Terence Cuneo
Join Professor Terence Cuneo in discussing the idea of moral intuition. Ordinary people often appeal to ‘moral intuition’ when explaining why they acted in a certain way. There is also a long tradition in ethics of appealing to intuitions in order to justify certain moral verdicts—for example, why it’s not okay to save five innocent lives by harvesting the organs of a sixth. But what exactly are moral intuitions? Are they special sorts of feelings? Hunches? Something else?
-
⫸ ST. JOHNSBURY
April 18 : 7pm-8pmwith Garret Keizer
Michel de Montaigne has been called the first moral philosopher to “put cruelty first” in the catalog of human wrongs. In this session, Garret Keizer will provide a brief and decidedly personal introduction to his work considers it as a useful guide for any thinking person—and as a no less useful goad to our national conscience..
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 18 : 7pm-8pmwith Juniper Lovato and Kate Mays
This talk with Juniper Lovato and Kate Mays explores robot and AI rights, drawing on how we've approached rights for other non-human entities, corporations, animals, and even nature itself. Robots are no longer science fiction; they play a part in our everyday lives. But as machines become more capable, more social, and more woven into our daily lives, we need to ask if they, too, deserve rights. We'll examine what it would mean for a machine to have moral status, which frameworks might apply, and why public attitudes about these questions matter more than you might think. Along the way, you'll be invited to form and defend your own judgments, because how we answer these questions says as much about us as it does about the machines.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine St #122, Burlington, VT, 05401
April 19
SUN
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 19 : 5pm-6pmwith Rachelle Gould
Join Rachelle Gould for an exploration of why nature matters. In our modern age, many philosophers believe it is because nature provides for human needs or because nature matters in and of itself (regardless of humans). Recently, a new reason is on the scene: that nature matters because of the relationships people have with it. In this session, we will review these reasons, then engage in a simple activity to help think through which make most sense to those in attendance.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine St #122, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 19 : 4pm-5pmwith Erin Long and Finley Selzer
Sometimes we don't get to be the people that we take ourselves to be. In this session, Erin Long and Finley Selzer will examine a case where a gay person is surrounded by homophobic people and can't be the gay person they take themself to be. In this discussion of identity, Finley and Erin will share their differing views to decipher what's really going on here.
April 20
MON
-
⫸ BRATTLEBORO
April 20 : 2:30pm - 4pmwith Everywhere Philosophy
Join Dr. Mike & Bethany for an interactive, philosophical exploration at the intersection of truth, power, and obsolescence in The Twilight Zone. This program includes a full screening of Season 2, Episode 29 "The Obsolete Man," showcasing librarian Rodney Wordsworth's dramatic resistance to a totalitarian state that has, "like every one of the super-states that preceded it...one iron rule: Logic is an enemy and truth is a menace."
⚑ Brooks Memorial Library, Mezzanine Room B, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 20 : 5pm-6pmwith Sarah Adams-Kollitz and Erinn Simon
When the world seems very unsteady and deeply divided, friendship may be the medicine we need. What is it about friendship that soothes and strengthens us? Is it an antidote to despair and constant activation? A sweet place of rest and acceptance? Accompaniment while we practice being with all the things that would be hard to hold alone? Or is it a selfish indulgence you only get after all the work is done? Help us contemplate the many kinds of friendship and what they offer when the world seems uncertain.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine St #122, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 20 : 5:30pm - 6:30pmwith Crystal L'Hote
In this session, Crystal L'Hote will consider the philosophical concept of “wondering.” What is wondering, and what is it good for? Further topics will include whether it is politically responsible to wonder, what happens if we wonder together, and the consequences of choosing not to wonder at all.
⚑ Downtown City Market, 82 S. Winooski, Burlington, VT 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 20 : 6pm-7pmwith Kathy Fox and Mairead O'Reilly
Join Kathy Fox and Mairead O'Reilly, a professor and lawyer, as they converse about whether punishment is the same as accountability. Can we we can hold people accountable for wrongdoing without punishment, and what even is accountability anyway?
“
There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
— Margaret J. Wheatley
April 21
TUE
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 21 : 5pm-6pmwith Holly Painter
As we face tumultuous times on Earth, space exploration and settlement has become increasingly appealing. In this discussion, Holly Painter will examine our planet’s billionaires plans for exploration, space colonization, and whether we have really thought space exploration through. Join us for a presentation and conversation on the ethics of space settlement.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine Street, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 21 : 6pm-7pmwith Tessa Lawler
Homer's epic poems have captivated audiences for millennia. While the poem's continued relevance is reliant on their translation into modern languages, audiences often discount the impact of these translations. Join Tessa Lawler in learning how the translations we choose influence our understanding of these ancient stories. We'll examine different philosophies of translation and put them to the test as we tackle some of the most controversial elements of the Homeric epics.
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 21 : 6pm-7pmwith Patrick Standen
This talk with Patrick Standen explores the philosophy of sport to show what play reveals about being human. Before there were scoreboards, trophies, or billion-dollar stadiums, humans were running, wrestling, and inventing games purely for fun. From backyard matches to global spectacles, sport energizes us, frustrates us, unites us, and somehow reveals who we are. From backyard pickup games to the Olympics or Paralympics, we will examine what sport is, why it captivates us, challenges us, and sometimes even transforms us. Come prepared to rethink what counts as “a game”—and why it matters more than we admit.
⚑ Greater Burlington YMCA, 298 College St, Burlington, VT 05401
-
⫸ MIDDLEBURY
April 21 : 7pm-8pmwith Lorraine Besser
In a world where technology threatens to eclipse human beings’ rational capacities, it’s more important than ever to articulate what is special about the human experience. Join Lorraine Besser and share your ideas as we talk about what it means to live like a human being.
⚑ Jessica's at Swift House Inn, 25 Stewart Lane, Middlebury, VT 05753
April 22
WED
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 22 : 5pm-6pmwith Kate Cruetzinger
Animal food production relies on the use of animals for their end products, which creates concerns about the treatment of animals in agriculture. Join Kate Creutzinger for a presentation that explores the ethical complexities of dairy production, focusing on the balance between animal welfare, economic sustainability, and societal expectations. We will examine key issues such as cow–calf separation, surplus calves, and the use of emerging management practices aimed at improving welfare outcomes. By integrating scientific research with ethical frameworks, the talk invites discussion on how the dairy industry can evolve to better align with public values and responsible food production.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine Street, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ WINOOSKI
April 22 : 5:30pm-6:30pmwith Jess Kell and Staff from Mercy Connections, DIVAS, Vermont Works for Women, and Lund
In this discussion, a multi-disciplinary team will come to gether to consider the idea of trauma informed, gender responsive services within correctional facilities. Join members of DIVAS, Vermont Works for Women, Lund, and Jess Kell and Staff from Mercy Connections to discuss possible approaches to this.
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 22 : 6pm-7pmwith Sheila Liming
Join Sheila Liming for a talk about changes to literacy and knowledge in the age of AI. We will be adressing questions questions like, what are books for, and what is the future of books?
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 22 : 6:30pm-7:30pmwith Abbie Kopelowitz
Join Abbie Kopelowitz for a philosophical discussion of Tabletop Role-Playing Games, such as Dungeons and Dragons. Embracing the spirit of these games, we will roll the dice to determine which subjects to discuss. Topics may include phenomenology & immersion, the ethics of gameplay, the nature of PCs & NPCs, randomness, game philosophy, and collaborative storytelling. Everyone is welcome, regardless of gaming or philosophical experience.
April 23
THU
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 23 : 5pm-6pmwith Andy Barker
Join Andy Barker, Senior Program Officer at the Vermont Community Foundation, for a discussion about philanthropy. We will consider questions such as: Should you give your money away? If so, to what or whom? How should you decide? Or should you let others decide? Does philanthropy alleviate inequality or reinforce it?
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine Street, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 23 : 6pm-7pmwith Tom Pashby
In this session, Tom Pashby will consider whether computers have the ability to think. Nearly 50 years ago, philosopher John Searle argued that computers cannot think because they don't understand. However, the recent success of Large Language Models (LLMs), like Claude or ChatGPT, shows that he was wrong. Though computers aren't conscious, they can think.
April 24
FRI
-
⫸ WINOOSKI
April 24 : 11am-12pmwith Sarra Talib and Aaron Josinsky
Join Aaron Josinsky, a chef/restaurateur, and Sarra Talib, a food systems scholar, in a conversation about the intersection of nostalgia and sustainable food systems. In our rapidly changing world, many of us find ourselves yearning for some version of the past when things may have felt just a bit sweeter and a bit simpler. In this discussion, we will explore the role that nostalgia may play in generating collective visions for circular, and socially sustainable, local food system futures.
⚑ Onion City Chicken & Oyster, 3 E. Allen St, Winooski, VT 05404
-
⫸ CASTLETON
April 24 : 12pm-1:30pmwith Brendan Lalor
In this discussion, Brendan Lalor will consider the use of AI in our daily lives and by people in power. Topics will include the use of AI by individuals versus the miliatry in times of war, as well as what happens to companies and states that set AI regulations. How should we make these life altering desisions about AI, and who should make them?
⚑ Herrick Auditorium, Jeffords, Vermont State University - Castleton campus
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 24 : 3:30pm-4:30pmwith Matthew Halteman
Matt Halteman, a professor at Calvin University, will lead a discussion of some pros and cons of veganism and the idea that we can create a food system that works for everyone.
⚑ UVM Philosophy Department, 70 S. Williams St, Burlington, VT 05405
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 24 : 5pm-6pmwith Brian Glenney
In this session, Brian Glenney will consider the current period on Earth that has been dominated by human activity, and what it means to live a polluted, but good, life. Life in the Anthropocene is paradoxical. Pollution is an existential threat to the long-term survival of our planet, yet simultaneously makes life possible, even pleasurable, for humans and animals alike.
⚑ Vivid Coffee Roasters, 150 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 24 : 6pm-7pmwith Jack McCormick
Join Jack McCormick for a discussion of fable interpretations and how they shape our view of what we ought to do. We read stories by ourselves and we read stories to our children. There is a literal sense in which we are really good at reading stories, though "reading" a story is more than just reading a sequence of words. How should we interpret fables in particular? How does reading, in both senses of the word, with others change the normative landscape?
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 5pm-6pmwith Kristian Brevik and Taylor Smith
You probably believe that your own welfare matters, as well as the welfare of other humans. You might believe that the welfare of domestic animals matters - but what about wild animals? Do we humans have a responsibility for their ability to live a good life? And does this extend to animals we have conflict with, such as mosquitoes and ticks? Do the tools of (effective) altruism apply when we think about other species? In this debate/discussion, we will engage each other (and you, the audience) on questions about whose welfare matters when it comes to our relationships with other beings.
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine Street, Burlington, VT, 05401
April 25
SAT
-
⫸ ADAMANT
April 25 : 1pm-2:30with Gary Scudder
The ancient Greek historian Thucydides wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War in the fifth century BCE, yet it remains one of the greatest works of history in our modern world. In this discussion, Gary Scudder will look at his accounts of Pericles’s Funeral Oration and the Melian Dialogue to better understand Athens during a time of tension and decline. We will also assess what these stories might reveal about the United States during this turbulent age.
⚑ Adamant Community Club, 1161 Martin Road, Adamant, VT 05640
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 3pm-4:30pmwith Faith Ingulsrud
Join Faith Ingulsrud for a discussion and movement experience centered on Thomas Hanna’s exploration of Somatics and conscious movement. In this session, we will use a recording of Hanna’s Somatics workshop from the 1980’s to provide a movement experience and will follow with a philosophical discussion. Through the recordings, participants will be guided through gentle movements lying on their backs on the floor with eyes closed.
⚑ GROW Pretnatal and Family Center, 696 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 4pm-5pmwith Randall Szott and Selene Colburn
In this discussion, Randall Szott and Selene Colburn will explore the true meaning of public art. A variety of gestures, actions, events, and objects are codified under the term “art.” In addition to multiple meanings and definitions, art has multiple notions of “public.” Who or what is art’s public(s)? And where do we locate it? Join us for a wide ranging discussion on aesthetics, politics, performance, and beyond.
⚑ Fletcher Free Library, 235 College St, Burlington, VT 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 5pm-6pmwith Rory Stein
Join Rory Stein, a UVM philosophy student, for an investigation of holes, such as those in Swiss cheese or donuts. We will discuss questions such as: where exactly is a hole, can absences really cause things, and are holes like dragons and leprechauns?
⚑ Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine Street, Burlington, VT, 05401
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 6pm - 7pmwith Caroline Coussoule
Come for a brief presentation on farmworkers' rights, solidarity, and the Milk With Dignity program. Stay for a conversation about solidarity vs charity, community building, and the intersection of human and animal rights.
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 25 : 7pm - 8:30pmwith Matthew Halteman
Chat with author Matt Halteman about his Hungry Beautiful Animals, a celebrated book about human-animal relationships. Book talk and then Q&A to follow.
April 26
SUN
-
⫸ WINOOSKI
April 26 : 11am-12pmwith Abbey B.K.
Music serves as a creative outlet and a powerful medium to inspire community building and change. In this session, Abbey B.K. will discuss why music is so effective at bringing people together, whether through collective activism, shared moments of reflection, or live music experiences. We will reflect on the music scene in Burlington and discuss why bringing music to local spaces is important to the culture and community of our city.
⚑ Autumn Records, 11 E. Allen St, Suite 2, Winooski, VT 05404
-
⫸ NORTHFIELD
April 26 : 1:30-2:30pmwith Clare LaFrance and Jeanne Bright
Jeanne Bright, teacher of a popular watercolor class at the Brown Public Library, will guide a talk on the philosophy of art. Instead of discussing painting techniques, please join us for a philosophical exploration of art.
⚑ Brown Public Library, Community Room, 93 South Main Street, Northfield VT 05663
-
⫸ MIDDLEBURY
April 26 : 2pm-4pmwith Martha Woodruff
To understand the challenges facing democracies around the world today, we should reexamine the origin of European democracy in ancient Athens, of demokratia, “rule by the people” or demos. But the meanings of “rule by the people” are disputed; after all, the word “demagoguery,” as “misleading the people,” also comes from the word demos. Ancient Greek philosophers explored the varieties of democracy and other forms of government; they debated the strengths and weaknesses of each and raised critical questions which still speak to us. What can we learn from the thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle about democracies today and the risks of demagoguery?
-
⫸ BURLINGTON
April 26 : 4pm-5pmwith Sophia Balunek
What makes Gen Z distinctive? Let’s discuss the core tenets of our generation. What is unique about the ways we communicate, what we find funny, how we dress? Only prerequisite knowledge is your experience and observations of being a young person or around young people in the world today.
The People Behind Public Philosophy Week
THE COMMUNITY
Bring Your Ideas
Public Philosophy Week is built by those who take part. Whether you have a topic you'd like to present or a space you'd like to offer, we welcome your ideas. Reach us at:
THE DONORS
Keep The Conversation Going
Public Philosophy Week is made possible through the generous support of our donors and sponsors. Their contributions help create spaces where philosophical ideas can be shared in the community.
• UVM Humanities Center
• UVM Office of the President
• UVM Office of the Provost
• UVM Philosophy Department
• UVM College of Arts and Sciences
• UVM Center for Research on Vermont
• Middlebury College
• Middlebury College Philosophy Department
• Axinn Center for the Humanities at Middlebury College
• Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge
• Onyx Tonics