The Center for Public Philosophy at UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA (2026)

Everyone thinks about philosophy—about fairness, freedom, or friendship; obligation, family, and the environment; objectivity, taste, and facts vs. opinions; God, purpose, and what it is to live a meaningful life. Today, however, sustained philosophical thinking is practiced mostly in universities. Its benefits are bestowed only on the select few who enroll in a philosophy course. Founded in Novem

ber 2015, the Center for Public Philosophy trying to change this. Some of our initiatives engage the public directly in philosophical activities while others apply insights from the history of philosophy to urgent problems of current public concern. Our projects include:

High School Ethics Bowl: Teams from high schools across Northern California travel to UC Santa Cruz to debate a wide range of contemporary ethical questions. Philosophy for Children: Faculty and graduate students from UC Santa Cruz bring philosophy to children at local elementary and middle schools, engaging them in sustained discussions of philosophical questions. Philosophy in Jail: Inmates at local correctional facilities strengthen skills of reason, deliberation, and communication through supervised discussion of contemporary ethical questions. The Language of Conservation: A UC Santa Cruz initiative that seeks a radical change in how we think and talk about the value of life in all its diverse, natural forms. It envisions a transformation in humanity’s ethical relationship to nature through discovery and development of what Aldo Leopold called “values as yet uncaptured by language.”

Contemplative Pedagogy and Practices: Faculty and graduate students in the humanities and social sciences at UC Santa Cruz investigate the promise of the contemplative traditions for navigating an array of persistent challenges in public education.

04/04/2025

Join us tonight for our Night of Ideas, 5-9PM at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences!

04/01/2025

Join us for a nocturnal celebration of art, philosophy, and activism! From solar energy and housing justice to communal music and movement, Night of Ideas – Santa Cruz invites you to explore interactive sessions on democracy, environmental solutions, and housing rights, as well as immersive experiences fostering embodied connection.

With a Capoeira opening, sculptural performances, and live piano meditations, come create, move, and reflect on our shared future! Check out the program schedule and here: https://ias.ucsc.edu/event/night-of-ideas-2025/

🗓️ When: Friday, April 4, 2025
📍Where: Institute of the Arts and Sciences, 100 Panetta Avenue
⏱️Time: 5:00pm-9:00pm
✒️RSVP: Required

This event is brought to you by the Center for Public Philosophy, with support from the Institute of the Arts and Sciences, The Humanities Institute, Cowell College, Humanities West, The Marc Sanders Foundation, Villa Albertine, and Institut français.

03/28/2025

Listen to our Night of Ideas lead organizer, Jeanne Proust, about our event on KSQD: https://ksqd.org/jeanne-proust-of-ucscs-center-for-public-philosophy-explores-the-philosophical-and-ethical-questions-behind-technology-politics-and-social-change

Please join our Night of Ideas next Friday, April 4th 5-9PM at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences. From solar energy and housing justice to communal music and movement, our Night of Ideas invites you to explore interactive sessions on democracy, environmental solutions, and housing rights, as well as immersive experiences fostering collective connection. With a Capoeira opening, sculptural performances, and live piano meditations, come create, move, and reflect on our shared future! Check out the program and RSVP here: https://ias.ucsc.edu/event/night-of-ideas-2025/

03/25/2025

Please join the Center for Public Philosophy for an electrifying evening of art, philosophy, and activism at Night of Ideas – Santa Cruz on April 4th, at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences!

This year’s international theme, “Common Ground”, will be explored in our local event about The Future We Share: Activism, Creativity, and Collective Imagination.

From solar energy and housing justice to communal music and movement, our Night of Ideas invites you to explore interactive sessions on democracy, environmental solutions, and housing rights, as well as immersive experiences fostering collective connection. With a Capoeira opening, sculptural performances, and live piano meditations, come create, move, and reflect on our shared future!

Find our program and RSVP here: https://ias.ucsc.edu/event/night-of-ideas-2025/

All Night of Ideas events are free and open to the public.

Listen to our Night of Ideas lead organizer, Jeanne Proust, about our event on KSQD:
https://ksqd.org/jeanne-proust-of-ucscs-center-for-public-philosophy-explores-the-philosophical-and-ethical-questions-behind-technology-politics-and-social-change/

Presented by the Center for Public Philosophy, with support from the Institute of the Arts and Sciences, The Humanities Institute, Cowell College, Humanities West, The Marc Sanders Foundation, Villa Albertine, and the Institut français.

11/21/2024

Donate $5 to the CPP on UCSC’s Giving Day. A little bit goes a long way! Share with your friends and family!

Donate $5 to CPP's programs, like Ethics Bowl! A little goes a long way for UCSC Giving Day! Repost!

Address

1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Website

https://publicphilosophy.ucsc.edu/about-the-center/

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