The Philosophy Membership on the University of North Alabama started assembly in Spring 2016. Previous to the pandemic, the membership’s common membership consisted of about thirty college students. This quantity was vital given the dimensions of our program: we at the moment provide a minor in philosophy however no main. Membership actions ceased in Spring 2020, and makes an attempt to reinstate the membership in 2021 and 2022 have been largely unsuccessful. A small group of scholars remained inquisitive about philosophy, however that curiosity didn’t translate into operating a membership.
In Fall 2023, throughout my first semester at UNA, I carried out a survey of my college students to gauge curiosity in restarting the membership. I used to be pleasantly stunned to seek out that there was substantial want to have such a company on campus. My college students’ responses offered some useful takeaways about what they worth in campus life, and what wants philosophy may assist meet.
First, I discovered that my college students have been most inquisitive about having an area to work by their very own concepts. Out of a number of proposed membership actions, college students indicated that “huge thought dialogue teams” appealed to them probably the most. Just a few particularly expressed curiosity in discussing faith, noting that they’d by no means had a spot the place they may query the topic earlier than. In distinction, they have been least inquisitive about studying teams or prolonged research of a single textual content or historic determine.
Second, college students clearly needed alternatives for social connection. A number of famous that they have been inquisitive about listening to a number of views on numerous matters, and discussing their variations respectfully with others—even when nobody’s thoughts was modified on the finish of the day.
Lastly, college students expressed curiosity find philosophy in non-traditional locations. There was overwhelming help for the concept of “philosophy film nights,” and several other prompt that the membership attend native occasions that is perhaps of philosophical curiosity.
The membership held its first assembly of Spring 2024 in late January. Twenty college students got here to seize some free pizza and share concepts for the membership’s future conferences. With steerage from our school, they established dialogue floor guidelines and a membership structure. Additionally they designated 5 officer positions—President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Advertising and marketing Director—and people inquisitive about operating for these positions started engaged on campaigns. At the very least two college students have been inquisitive about every place, additional highlighting the sturdy want for a sturdy philosophy membership at UNA.
Our present mannequin is to fulfill as soon as per week. Our subsequent assembly will probably be a film evening, the place we’ll watch the movie Spirited Away. The next week we are going to talk about the film’s philosophical themes.
Kayla Bohannon
Kayla Bohannon is Assistant Professor of Philosophy on the College of North Alabama. Her main analysis pursuits are in social philosophy, and he or she regularly teaches undergraduate programs in ethics and political philosophy.
