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Dr. Christopher Phillips to lead next Philosophy Slam

How many times have you been told to act your age but you’re not really sure what that means?

Best-selling author and scholar Dr. Christopher Phillips might be able to help answer the question when he is guest speaker at the next Philosophy Slam entitled, “What Does It Mean To Act Your Age?’’

chris-phillips-2011_largeDr. Phillips, whose latest book is the popular The Philosophy of Childing: Unlocking Creativity, Curiosity and Reason through the Wisdom of Our Youngest, will lead the discussion Tues., Oct. 11, at the River House at 7:30 p.m.

A specialist in the Socratic Method, he reminds us that we ought to ask questions – “not about any chance question,” as Socrates put it in Plato’s Republic, “but about the way one should live.” He encourages us to roll up our mental sleeves, turn on our childlike questioning lenses, and become our own best thinkers, askers, doers. In a nutshell, Christopher helps people discover their unique stores of wisdom and talents so they can make the most of their mortal moment, and achieve what the Greeks of old called arête, all-around excellence

Dr. Phillips, a Network Fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, 2012 recipient of the Distinguished American Leadership Award and recently a Senior Education Fellow at the National Constitution Center as well as senior writing and research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, is a roving ambassador for spearheading initiatives that create more open, inclusive and connected societies. As such, he travels the world over holding dialogues with people of all walks of life. He believes that the process of dialogue and the space of human interaction are good for us as individuals and essential for us as a society. A primary goal of the noted author, educator and consultant, who is a popular presenter and public speaker and who blogs at Childing.org, SocratesCafe.com, and Huffington Post, among others — is to inspire curiosity and wonder, to nurture self-discovery, openness and empathy.

Christopher helps people discover their unique stores of wisdom and talents so they can make the most of their mortal moment, and achieve what the Greeks of old called arête, all-around excellence.

“JU is very fortunate to host Christopher Phillips,’’ said JU Professor of Philosophy and chair of the Division of Humanities, Dr. Scott Kimbrough. “A true Socratic, he travels the world engaging ordinary people in philosophical discussion about issues of importance to their lives.”

– Jim Nasella