In the hush of the Hull Auditorium Monday evening, Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. Mark Lukas, Associate Professor of English Dr. Derek Taylor and President of the Philosophy Club Jaclyn LeDoux led a discussion that asked students and faculty in attendance to consider what role philosophy plays in the world today.
With attention to the rapid standardization of education and rise of technology, all three panelists stressed the importance of abstract thought.
Particularly in an age that places the highest values on data and quantitative figures and often neglects analytical thinking.
Lukas opened the evening with a short lecture on the fundamental reasons philosophy should be studied by students, particularly at a university level.
He pointed to a mass of data collected from common standardized tests, including the LSATs, and demonstrated how philosophy majors consistently scored higher than any other major, even those who study pre-law as undergraduates.
Members of Longwood University’s NPHC greek organizations gathered in front of Lankford Student Union on Monday, Feb. 17 for their event “Activity Hour.” Senior and brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Chris Carter stated, “It’s where NPHC goes out on a common place on campus, has fun and plays music. While having fun, we are informing people about what NPHC is and the individual organizations.”
[Left] Savannah Ducri, Charity Smith and Taylor Sims represent Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority with their performance. [Right] Tristan Cunning- ham, Chris Carter and Steven Brown of Phi Beta Sigma perform on behalf of their fraternity.
Lukas continued to stress the importance of philosophy in its inherent ability to make people consider fundamental questions, including “Why does it matter?” and “What is life?”
Taylor and LeDoux built on these ideas, emphasizing the lack of abstract thought in today’s world.
Schools tend to teach strictly that which can be tested or what is definitively accurate or false.
They generally do not have discussions of what it means for things to be right or wrong, moral or immoral, or explore the meanings of words like “justice” or “freedom” that inspire deeper thinking.
LeDoux offered that students often aren't challenged to consider deeper levels of thought, and as such, it might not be a natural inclination to do so.
Lukas added how it’s important to spend time reading and exploring academic interests, and not to indulge too much in television.
Following the panelists’s presentations, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions.
The lecture was the fifth in a six-panel series that highlights the contributions of the humanities and explores the different disciplines within the broad scope of the humanities.
The final panel will take place in Hull Auditorium at 7 p.m. on March 10 and will answer the question “Why do World Languages Matter?”
