On
October 27th, Philip Cafaro gave an inspiring
talk at the Thoreau Institute titled Thoreau’s Living
Philosophy, based on his recently published book
Thoreau’s Living Ethics.
Dr. Cafaro
discussed Thoreau and the philosophical implications of his
writing. The audience was very involved, with the question and
answer session lasting almost an hour. The questions ranged from
the philosophical standing of Thoreau, to what his reaction to
today’s world would be, to personal conscience dilemmas of
everyday life. In the end, it was evident that the power of
Thoreau’s literature and ideas continue to challenge the way we
lead our lives today.
Philip Cafaro
is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State
University. His dissertation was titled "Thoreau's Vision of a
Good Life in Nature: Towards an Environmental Virtue Ethics." He
has worked as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in the
Pacific Northwest, and has lobbied Congress and three state
legislatures as a representative of the Sierra Club and the
Wilderness Society.
