Loki, the god of Mischief, has been detained by the Time Variance Association who employ him to catch a variant of himself to protect the sacred timeline and preserve the multiverse. Loki begrudgingly complies, all the while maintaining that he is destined to be King while also being completely free to choose his own [...]
Pop music is inescapable. We hear it in movies, in commercials, when shopping in stores, when we turn it on ourselves to enjoy it. And amidst the catchy melodies and insistent beats, quite often the lyrics sing about love. New love. Tragic love. Deep love. Unrequited love. Love that is so, so incredibly over. Frequently [...]
Behind a technological smokescreen hides the nation of Wakanda, earth's most powerful civilization. Wakanda's innovations put them leagues ahead of other nations and grants them the power to aid those in need. Yet, the Wakandans are reluctant to help. We might ask why? Is this reluctance just selfishness and fear, or are there hidden costs [...]
Religion plays a major role in the storylines of The Mandalorian. Din Djarin adheres to the way of the Mandalorians even when this is difficult. Grogu is forced to choose between the religions of the Jedi and the Mandalorians. Bo Katan ridicules the religiously observant Children of the Watch, who never let their faces [...]
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Silmarillion starts with a breathtaking introduction in which the world is created through song. The “Ainulindalë” and the “Valaquenta” preface and set the stage for the many tragic stories that follow. Within these two stories, Tolkien presents a theology of creation that informs all of his work. Join other young philosophers as [...]
We may be inclined to think of propaganda as "lies" fired between political parties during elections. But propaganda is much more pervasive, spilling over the boundaries of partisan politics into many aspects of our lives. What exactly is propaganda? How does it work? And, most importantly, what impact does propaganda have on our personal [...]
As we look over our cultural landscape, we encounter many different perspectives, some of which differ from our own. We all have a worldview. The question is this: Do we understand it? What exactly is a worldview, and why are there so many? How do we respond to and care for others whose worldviews might [...]
The term “freedom” is bandied about in all sectors of culture—from politics to religion to ethics. But what exactly is freedom? Is it an asset or a liability? How can we even tell if we are free? In this session of Young Philosophers, we will explore key questions and issues of freedom. Young Philosophers is an online [...]
As members of a mass society, we are daily inundated with information. This data overload can create a thick and complex soup of ideas and questions in our minds. Before we fully understand what we think about something, we may find ourselves (or others) reacting strongly to particular claims without fully understanding why. What [...]
The broader culture says that “love is love.” So, what does this tautology mean? If love is love, then what is love? Is it an emotion or a choice or a commitment? Is it temporary or lasting? Is it temporal or transcendent? When Jesus talks about love, is he saying, “love is love,” or [...]
