This talk will have two parts. The first will be a reflection on the importance of everyday philosophy and the urgent need for everyone to think critically and reflectively. The second part will draw upon the first to focus on challenges that humanity faces today, in the third decade of the 21st century, especially whether our continued existence is not only viable but also worth fighting for. The lecture will explore these challenges through discussion of what addressing them entails for anyone committed to equality, freedom, justice, and lives worth living.

Gordon is professor and department head of  Philosophy at the University of Connecticut, a political thinker, educator, and musician. His books include Freedom, Justice, and Decolonization and Fear of Black Consciousness. Gordon is the 2022 recipient of the Eminent Scholar Award from the Global Development Studies division of the International Studies Association.

Lewis Gordon, From Kitchens and Pubs to the World: Philosophy for Humanity Today and Beyond