Ethics is the study of right and wrong and as such, it means different things to different people. In a recent small group meeting for Berkeley Connect in Philosophy, some of those differences were discussed and debated. Berkeley Connect mentor Erica Klempner, who recently received her PhD in Philosophy, studies ethics extensively. She challenged students … Continue Reading »
Recently, the Bancroft Library here on the Cal campus held an open day for multiple Berkeley Connect programs to view some of the amazing items in the library’s collection that can’t be checked out by anyone. Students had the opportunity to examine volumes by some of the most influential authors in history. The Bancroft is … Continue Reading »
Some may think that the field of philosophy is inaccessible, full of larger-than-life ideas that seem difficult to comprehend. From this point of view, the prospect of writing about philosophy can be daunting. However, in his recent talk to Berkeley Connect students on “How To Write a Paper for a Philosophy Course,” Professor Niko Kolodny … Continue Reading »
We invited students participating in Berkeley Connect in Spring 2018 to enter our Student Voice Contest and share with us a memorable experience they had in Berkeley Connect. The winning entry below was written by Mindy Dai, who participated in Berkeley Connect in Philosophy. Mindy is pictured here with the blue floor tile that provoked … Continue Reading »
Berkeley Connect in Philosophy mentor Austin Andrews began a small-group discussion on objective truth with the question: Are there blergs? For a moment, I suspected this could be an insider’s jargon, popularized by a famous Aristotle essay I’d never read. I half-expected another student to answer, but from the muttered whats? and furrowed brows, I … Continue Reading »
We invited students participating in Berkeley Connect in Fall 2017 to enter our Student Voice Contest and share with us a memorable experience they had in Berkeley Connect. The winning entry below was written by senior Danny Hutto, who participated in Berkeley Connect in Philosophy. Danny (left) is pictured here with his Berkeley Connect mentor Richard Lawrence. … Continue Reading »
Often the first question on anyone’s mind is a deceptively simple one: “Why?” Why do I have to go to class today? Why do cicadas emerge only once every 17 years? Why am I here? Philosophy Berkeley Connect invited faculty to entertain some of these “Why” questions. Of course, they were not able to address … Continue Reading »
We invited students participating in Berkeley Connect in Spring 2016 to enter our Berkeley Connect Student Voice Contest and share with us a memorable experience they had in Berkeley Connect. The third of three winning entries was written by Myron Liu, who participated in Berkeley Connect in Philosophy. My favorite Berkeley Connect moment was a discussion that began … Continue Reading »
Philosophy tends to make its way into popular culture in relatively limited ways – take the wise words of Yoda in Star Wars, for example. At a recent Berkeley Connect Philosophy small-group discussion, graduate student mentor Eugene Chislenko asked students to consider how philosophy is represented in pop culture. “Popular culture characterizes philosophy as useless,” … Continue Reading »
When you are an undergraduate stressing out about the future, one way to relieve your stress is to hear about all the different career paths that alumni in your major have taken. Fortunately for Berkeley Connect Philosophy students, a panel of UC Berkeley Philosophy alumni were willing to share their experiences of life after graduation. … Continue Reading »