Internationally recognized scholar and former UA dean Gary Fenstermacher will kick off his four-part course on philosophy at 2:30 p.m. today at Academy Village.
Fenstermacher has taken on the task of highlighting the practical application of philosophical thought.
His thesis: philosophical processes in the form of well-developed critical thinking skills and reasoning can be helpful in everyday life.
In today's session, Fenstermacher will cover general concepts, providing examples of actually practicing philosophy and defining what it means to be human. He will talk about capitalizing on our uniquely human features and what can happen if you ignore them.
Next Thursday's session focuses on epistemology - the study of knowledge. The issues here include what knowledge is, what kind of knowledge is most worthwhile, how we know we know anything, and how truth and belief are related to knowledge.
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In addition to exploring these classic philosophical queries, attendees will examine how knowledge theory applies to science, religion and education.
Fenstermacher will discuss some of the connections between epistemology, neuroscience, cognitive science and everyday thinking. He will cover links between philosophical notions of practical reason and the kinds of thought discussed by Daniel Kahneman in his recent landmark work, "Thinking Fast and Slow."
In the third week Fenstermacher will turn to ethics, primarily notions of "the good" and "the right."
The fourth and final week will tackle political philosophy. Discussion will focus on the meaning, promise and challenges of democracy.
The Arizona Senior Academy Building is in Academy Village, 13715 E. Langtry Lane. The active-adult community is just off Old Spanish Trail six miles southeast of Saguaro National Park East.
If you go
• What: Philosophy lecture and discussion by Gary Fenstermacher
• When: 2:30 p.m. today and the next three Thursdays - Jan. 17, 24 and 31
• Where: Arizona Senior Academy Building at Academy Village, 13715 E. Langtry Lane
• Admission: Free; donations accepted
• Reservations: Recommended; email info@arizonasenioracademy.org or call 647-0980
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