“Life has never been normal,” wrote C. S. Lewis in an address to students at the outset of World War II. If we are waiting for a better time to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty, we may never get started. In the Young Philosophers series, Gutenberg College opens its (virtual) doors to high-school-age participants [...]
In Avengers: Infinity War, the fate of half the universe is at stake. Thanos is intent on making the world better by eliminating fifty percent of all living things. By contrast, Captain America will not achieve his goal by sacrificing even one. This contrast raises many questions. Is there some merit to what Thanos is doing, [...]
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you run through waving fields of grass, climb frigid mountains, and cross expansive, sandy deserts. With its huge, open world to explore, it is no wonder that it has appeared on lists of the best video games of all time. But, of course, no matter [...]
In Avengers: Infinity War, the fate of half the universe is at stake. Thanos is intent on making the world better by eliminating fifty percent of all living things. By contrast, Captain America will not achieve his goal by sacrificing even one. This contrast raises many questions. Is there some merit to what Thanos is [...]
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 [...]