Ethical Society of Philadelphia
Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia
1906 South Rittenhouse Square, (215) 735-3456, office@phillyethics.org
Classes

Ethical Society of Philadelphia classes Ethical development is a lifelong process. To support this development the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia offers courses for adults and children which help participants enhance their sense of meaning and purpose in life and to improve the ethical quality of their relationships with family, friends, co-workers and the larger community.

We offer the following classes. If you are interested or need more information, call the Society Office at 215-735-3456.

Introduction to Ethical Humanism
Sunday, May 5, 7:00 PM
Hosted by Leader Hugh Taft- Morales, this month’s focus will be “ethical relationships.” Members and first-time visitors will share questions and reflections. Wine and cheese will be served. Open to the public. Please RSVP to leaderhugh@phillyethics.org.

Constitution at Work
"Constitution at Work" examines current social debates in the context of the Constitution, law, and ethics. The series began in the fall and continued this spring with additional constitutional issues on April 8 and May 6. We will have additional special guests for our grand finale in May. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, April 8, at 7:00 PM - Capital Punishment
Our April installment considered the death penalty and questions including: what is the current legal status of capital punishment, and what does the future hold? Should we consider it “cruel and unusual punishment?”
Monday, May 6 at 7:00 PM - Reproductive Rights
Joining Hugh and our co-host for the season, Prof. Kim Roosevelt of the University of Pennsylvania Law School will be Prof. Dorothy Roberts, an acclaimed scholar of race, gender and the law who spoke at the Ethical Society platform last month. Her major books include Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twentyfirst Century; Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare; and Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty. In addition, we will be welcoming Prof. Kimberly Mutcherson who teaches courses on bioethics, torts, family law, South African constitutional law, and health law policy at the Rutgers School of Law. She has served as a board member for the Women’s Law Project in Philadelphia and is a faculty advisor for OutLaws, Rutgers' association for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender law students.
We will explore questions like: “What is the current status of a women’s right to choose to use contraception and abortion? Where are these rights in gravest danger? What does the future hold?” A panel discussion, Q & A session, and refreshments follow. Free and open to the public!

Democracy on Trial
In collaboration with the Ben Franklin Thinking Society, the Ethical Humanist Society will host events entitled Democracy on Trial. Our goal is to foster a more enlightened approach to social and political issues. At these forums/debates, groups representing various political philosophies will offer their positions on certain issues. The audience, acting as a jury, will judge the merits of the arguments. A moderator will offer guidelines to promote constructive exploration of the ethical implications and rational substantiation for all arguments. Come to these events prepared to contribute to democratic dialogue. The first installment began Sunday, September 16. It focused on “the role of government.”
Another forum in this series took place on Monday, April 22. It focused on “Social Evolution,” starting with the questions: “What is the best society? How do we build a society that is more harmonious, more successful, and, in short, works better?”
The final forum in this series, "Economics and Moral Philosophy," will be Sunday, May 19, at 2PM. This "Social Evolution"-themed meetup will explore how economic systems and issues impact a society's potential for long-term success and well-being. We will examine the tradeoffs between economic models in terms of their productiveness vs. how they affect relationships between individuals and social harmony. We will take up the question of how economic models can change and evolve to deliver a more successful, more harmoniously functioning society.

Fun with Western Philosophy
Western philosophy, particularly metaphysics and epistemology, can be esoteric and mind-numbing. But taught imaginatively and with a sense of humor, it can be enriching and even fun! Join Hugh Taft-Morales, Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, for a rigorous exploration of some of the major philosophical themes from Plato through Sartre. Other philosophers to be touched upon include Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Bradley, Bergson, James, and Camus.
Tuesday nights from 7:00-9:00PM - March 5, March 19, April 9 and April 23.
Next up: On April 9 we will explore “Questions of Mind,” including theories of truth, and the source and limits of knowledge.
On April 23 we will conclude with “Living Philosophically: Questions of Meaning” when we examine the philosophy of self and various themes in existentialism.

Affiliated with the American Ethical Union

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