What Does Public Philosophy Do? (Hint: It Does Not Make Better Citizens)

In this article, I examine the purpose of public philosophy, challenging the claim that its goal is to create better citizens. I define public philosophy narrowly as the act of professional philosophers engaging with non-professionals, in a non-academic setting, with the specific aim of exploring issues philosophically. The paper is divided into three sections. The first contrasts professional and public philosophy with special attention to the assessment mechanism in each. The second examines the relationship between public philosophy and citizenship, calling into question the effect public philosophy has on political reasoning. The third focuses on the practice of public philosophy, describing actual events to investigate the nature and limits of their outcomes. I conclude that public philosophy aims at future philosophical inquiry but is best considered a form of entertainment

The Logic of Jazz

This episode celebrates Why? Radio’s tenth birthday with a musical exploration of the origins, meaning, experience, and, of course, music of jazz. How do newcomers start listening to the music? How do musicians discover new ways to play? And, what makes the best jazz tracks important and enjoyable? Join us as Mark Weinstein, jazz flutist, philosopher, and our host’s father, explores America’s music, explaining music theory, improvisation, and whether music is discovered or invented. This episode was recorded before a live audience at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks, ND. Mark Weinstein is a Professor of Education at Montclair State University, in New Jersey. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy and is the author of the book Logic, Truth, and Inquiry.. He is also an award-winning jazz flutist with 19 albums to his name. He plays World Jazz and Straight-Ahead with world-class musicians rooted in the music of Cuba, Brazil, Africa, Argentina and his Jewish heritage. A Latin-jazz innovator, Mark was among the first jazz musicians to record with traditional Cuban rhythm sections in the epic album, Cuban Roots, released in 1967.https://commons.und.edu/why-radio-archive/1013/thumbnail.jp

Requiem for a Philosophy Professor: Remembering David N. Mowry

Host Jack Russell Weinstein remembers his professor and mentor, David N. Mowry who passed away on April 23, 2019. In a powerful and emotional tribute to their relationship, Jack reflects both on David’s career and his own life. David was a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh, and the founding director of their university’s honors program. Jack graduated from Plattsburgh State in 1991, with a B.A. in philosophy. The full text of this tribute can be found at the Why? Radio blog www.PQED.org, along with pictures of David and Jack. The tribute first appeared on the blog on April 24.https://commons.und.edu/why-radio-archive/1011/thumbnail.jp