The College of Southern Nevada’s philosophy club has been active since 2016. Professor John Min served as the faculty advisor during the first year, and I have been the advisor for the past five. The club was also active at some point before 2016, but was inactive until Professor Min revived it.
In addition to the faculty advisor, the club requires at least three student officers. The club meets weekly during the semesters. Meeting length varies. Some semesters we meet for an hour. Some semesters we meet for ninety minutes or even two hours. Recently, the president created a Discord account for the philosophy club, so that interested members can discuss philosophy outside of club and during school breaks. They also use Discord to arrange gatherings, which provides more privacy for sharing things like phone numbers than other platforms. The account administrator also has the power to monitor and make changes to a Discord chat, which other platforms do not allow.
Most decisions about the club are made during meetings by a vote taken from the members present. Club officers and members lead and make decisions about most club matters, such as meeting days and times, meeting format, and topics covered. Sometimes the officers and members aren’t comfortable taking on a lot of responsibility, so I lead for them, but when they are proactive and motivated to take the helm, they do a great job. The club just had a great president in Jessica Bright, for example. From Spring 2021 through Spring 2022, Jessica effectively ran the club along with the other officers. She led meetings and discussions, put on events, and was actively involved in all facets of club life. After her stint as president, Jessica turned her attention to transferring to a four-year institution, where she will complete her B.A. in Psychology before embarking on a Master’s program.
The club also has several officers and members (for example, Sabrina Lopez, Justin Kobrin, and Joshua Astle) who have played an active role in our club, such as leading club discussion and participating in club debates. To lead a discussion session, a student must research a topic, make information on the topic available to club members ahead of time (a link to an article or video), present an introduction to the topic in the club meeting, then lead a discussion.
On one occasion, Sabrina Lopez gave a talk on whether corporations can be held morally responsible for their actions. Her presentation was well-researched and led to lots of interesting questions from the club members. On another occasion, Justin Kobrin and Joshua Astle debated free will. Kobrin presented the case for hard determinism, while Astle presented the case for compatibilism. Each researched his position ahead of time and prepared his comments beforehand. After the debate, Jessica Bright led the club in a Q&A.
Club meetings are diverse in content and activities. For example, we host guest speakers, watch and discuss TV shows and movies (The Good Place, Star Trek, Black Mirror, and The Twilight Zone are excellent sources), and we play board games. (We also go out to eat after club meetings whenever we can.) Meeting discussion topics have included vegetarianism, AI as it relates to ethics and philosophy of mind, the ethics of self-driving vehicles, the implications of quantum mechanics on the origin of the universe, the philosophical implications of augmented and virtual realities, and the philosophy of love.
The guest speakers are mainly CSN faculty, though we have also hosted outside speakers. For example, Dr. Beth Seacord (CSN) spoke on philosophical issues related to unidentified aerial phenomena. This led to some really engaging discussion. Additionally, Dr. Mike Austin (Eastern Kentucky University) spoke on friendly dialogue in a polarized age. Students recognized the importance of this topic and appreciated Dr. Austin’s proposed solutions.
Some of the club’s special events have included a field trip to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to attend a public philosophy lecture. In 2019, the club president assisted with organizing a professional philosophy conference at the college (a regional meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers), which some club members attended. More informal events include club hikes, during which members can connect with each other in a peripatetic activity.
The club members really enjoy the club. Many who are tentative about attending end up being involved for a semester or more. Students make lasting friendships in the club. They get a chance to practice philosophy in a low pressure and friendly environment. They can explore topics not typically covered in a philosophy course. I’ve been able to write many letters of recommendation for club members as well. I also maintain relationships with some of the members after they graduate.
The club benefits the department, since it draws majors. To maintain its status as a program at the College of Southern Nevada, the Philosophy Program needs a certain number of graduates over each three-year period. Many students declare the philosophy major as a result of their involvement in the club, which helps the Philosophy Program maintain its status. The College of Southern Nevada is a commuter college, so many students aren’t involved in extracurricular activities. But the philosophy club gives students a way to get involved and to foster community on campus. Having such a supportive community helps students persevere in their education.
Keith Hess
Keith Hess is Professor of Philosophy at the College of Southern Nevada. He earned a PhD in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MA in philosophy of religion from Biola University, and a BA in biblical studies from The Masters University. He researches and publishes on philosophy of religion.
