[Music] I am a philosopher how many of you have
I am a philosopher how many of you have
I am a philosopher how many of you have ever met a philosopher
ever met a philosopher
ever met a philosopher and if you live in Sedona and you know
and if you live in Sedona and you know
and if you live in Sedona and you know me that doesn’t count okay a few of you
me that doesn’t count okay a few of you
me that doesn’t count okay a few of you but not very many there aren’t a lot of
but not very many there aren’t a lot of
but not very many there aren’t a lot of philosophers and maybe because of that a
philosophers and maybe because of that a
philosophers and maybe because of that a lot of people don’t understand
lot of people don’t understand
lot of people don’t understand philosophy some people think that
philosophy some people think that
philosophy some people think that philosophy is just a cliche like early
philosophy is just a cliche like early
philosophy is just a cliche like early to bed early to rise or work hard play
to bed early to rise or work hard play
to bed early to rise or work hard play hard but philosophy isn’t a saying and
hard but philosophy isn’t a saying and
hard but philosophy isn’t a saying and it’s not something you have philosophy
it’s not something you have philosophy
it’s not something you have philosophy is something that you do philosophy is
is something that you do philosophy is
is something that you do philosophy is an activity it’s a practice where we ask
an activity it’s a practice where we ask
an activity it’s a practice where we ask and we try to answer questions about
and we try to answer questions about
and we try to answer questions about ourselves and about other people and
ourselves and about other people and
ourselves and about other people and about the world and doing philosophy is
about the world and doing philosophy is
about the world and doing philosophy is really a lot of fun because it can be
really a lot of fun because it can be
really a lot of fun because it can be interesting to learn about ourselves and
interesting to learn about ourselves and
interesting to learn about ourselves and other people in the world it’s often
other people in the world it’s often
other people in the world it’s often fascinating and there is no better place
fascinating and there is no better place
fascinating and there is no better place to do philosophy than outside you see
to do philosophy than outside you see
to do philosophy than outside you see I’m just not unusual because I’m a
I’m just not unusual because I’m a
I’m just not unusual because I’m a philosopher I’m really unusual because I
philosopher I’m really unusual because I
philosopher I’m really unusual because I take people outdoors to do philosophy so
take people outdoors to do philosophy so
take people outdoors to do philosophy so I’m going to tell you a little bit about
I’m going to tell you a little bit about
I’m going to tell you a little bit about how I got started I always loved my
how I got started I always loved my
how I got started I always loved my philosophy classes in college but I
philosophy classes in college but I
philosophy classes in college but I never thought that I could make a career
never thought that I could make a career
never thought that I could make a career out of being a philosopher and in fact
out of being a philosopher and in fact
out of being a philosopher and in fact some people and my family told me that I
some people and my family told me that I
some people and my family told me that I couldn’t so I started out working for
couldn’t so I started out working for
couldn’t so I started out working for nonprofits and in higher ed and I got a
nonprofits and in higher ed and I got a
nonprofits and in higher ed and I got a promotion at work and they wanted me to
promotion at work and they wanted me to
promotion at work and they wanted me to get a master’s degree and it could be in
get a master’s degree and it could be in
get a master’s degree and it could be in anything so I picked philosophy and then
anything so I picked philosophy and then
anything so I picked philosophy and then I just kept going and what I really
I just kept going and what I really
I just kept going and what I really loved about philosophy which was a
loved about philosophy which was a
loved about philosophy which was a little out of step with the profession
little out of step with the profession
little out of step with the profession was how it helped me understand my own
was how it helped me understand my own
was how it helped me understand my own life and because I had worked in
life and because I had worked in
life and because I had worked in communities I really felt like
communities I really felt like
communities I really felt like philosophy could be a resource to build
philosophy could be a resource to build
philosophy could be a resource to build in to strengthen communities and because
in to strengthen communities and because
in to strengthen communities and because I believe this I started experimenting
I believe this I started experimenting
I believe this I started experimenting with ways to make this happen and I’ve
with ways to make this happen and I’ve
with ways to make this happen and I’ve been curating public
been curating public
been curating public la sofy programs for about seven years
la sofy programs for about seven years
la sofy programs for about seven years now and I’ve been nationally recognized
now and I’ve been nationally recognized
now and I’ve been nationally recognized for that work but it was only recently
for that work but it was only recently
for that work but it was only recently that I discovered I didn’t just want to
that I discovered I didn’t just want to
that I discovered I didn’t just want to take philosophy out of the classroom and
take philosophy out of the classroom and
take philosophy out of the classroom and into the community I wanted to take
into the community I wanted to take
into the community I wanted to take philosophy out into the natural world on
philosophy out into the natural world on
philosophy out into the natural world on trails and on rivers and under the stars
trails and on rivers and under the stars
trails and on rivers and under the stars you see I am lucky enough to live here
you see I am lucky enough to live here
you see I am lucky enough to live here in Sedona Arizona and it is one of the
in Sedona Arizona and it is one of the
in Sedona Arizona and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world and I
most beautiful places in the world and I
most beautiful places in the world and I had known for a while that Sedona was a
had known for a while that Sedona was a
had known for a while that Sedona was a perfect place to connect with nature but
perfect place to connect with nature but
perfect place to connect with nature but it was only later that I realized it was
it was only later that I realized it was
it was only later that I realized it was also the perfect place for reflection
also the perfect place for reflection
also the perfect place for reflection and discussion so now I was not just
and discussion so now I was not just
and discussion so now I was not just creating new ways to do philosophy I was
creating new ways to do philosophy I was
creating new ways to do philosophy I was finding new places to do philosophy and
finding new places to do philosophy and
finding new places to do philosophy and when we’re thinking about things I think
when we’re thinking about things I think
when we’re thinking about things I think that place is actually a very important
that place is actually a very important
that place is actually a very important and an often overlooked consideration we
and an often overlooked consideration we
and an often overlooked consideration we do most of our thinking in places that
do most of our thinking in places that
do most of our thinking in places that are kind of like this they’re usually
are kind of like this they’re usually
are kind of like this they’re usually rectangular interiors and they’re flat
rectangular interiors and they’re flat
rectangular interiors and they’re flat and we often find ourselves at straight
and we often find ourselves at straight
and we often find ourselves at straight desks and in front of screens and
desks and in front of screens and
desks and in front of screens and there’s usually artificial lighting
there’s usually artificial lighting
there’s usually artificial lighting lots of artificial lighting in here
lots of artificial lighting in here
lots of artificial lighting in here right now right and a lot of times
right now right and a lot of times
right now right and a lot of times that’s unavoidable I do a lot of
that’s unavoidable I do a lot of
that’s unavoidable I do a lot of thinking like that myself but when we go
thinking like that myself but when we go
thinking like that myself but when we go outside into the natural world our mind
outside into the natural world our mind
outside into the natural world our mind and our body and all of our senses are
and our body and all of our senses are
and our body and all of our senses are activated and our creativity and our
activated and our creativity and our
activated and our creativity and our imagination expands in nature and when
imagination expands in nature and when
imagination expands in nature and when people are climbing to the top of eagles
people are climbing to the top of eagles
people are climbing to the top of eagles nest the challenge of that climb can
nest the challenge of that climb can
nest the challenge of that climb can actually reframe challenges in your life
actually reframe challenges in your life
actually reframe challenges in your life and people have ideas on the trails that
and people have ideas on the trails that
and people have ideas on the trails that they do not get at their desk or on the
they do not get at their desk or on the
they do not get at their desk or on the couch so whether you’re looking at a
couch so whether you’re looking at a
couch so whether you’re looking at a majestic view of cathedral rock or just
majestic view of cathedral rock or just
majestic view of cathedral rock or just a tiny Mariposa flower these are more
a tiny Mariposa flower these are more
a tiny Mariposa flower these are more than pleasant things to see they can
than pleasant things to see they can
than pleasant things to see they can spark ideas about things in your life
spark ideas about things in your life
spark ideas about things in your life like your relationship with your
like your relationship with your
like your relationship with your daughter or how to deal with a divorce
daughter or how to deal with a divorce
daughter or how to deal with a divorce or just where you are with your career
or just where you are with your career
or just where you are with your career or where you’re living and just as much
or where you’re living and just as much
or where you’re living and just as much as being out in nature is important so
as being out in nature is important so
as being out in nature is important so is the conversational exchange the
is the conversational exchange the
is the conversational exchange the collaborative inquiry where we ask
collaborative inquiry where we ask
collaborative inquiry where we ask questions and more questions and
questions and more questions and
questions and more questions and sometimes people get outside and they
sometimes people get outside and they
sometimes people get outside and they ask questions they never thought of
ask questions they never thought of
ask questions they never thought of before and this can lead to insight and
before and this can lead to insight and
before and this can lead to insight and people understanding their lives in
people understanding their lives in
people understanding their lives in brand-new ways so I was telling a
brand-new ways so I was telling a
brand-new ways so I was telling a respected colleague about the programs I
respected colleague about the programs I
respected colleague about the programs I created and how people were sending me
created and how people were sending me
created and how people were sending me notes and writing me emails and how much
notes and writing me emails and how much
notes and writing me emails and how much it meant to them and he just sat there
it meant to them and he just sat there
it meant to them and he just sat there and he said well that’s all very nice
and he said well that’s all very nice
and he said well that’s all very nice Andrea but that’s not what philosophers
Andrea but that’s not what philosophers
Andrea but that’s not what philosophers do I know I didn’t think that there was
do I know I didn’t think that there was
do I know I didn’t think that there was a universal job description for a
a universal job description for a
a universal job description for a philosopher I mean it’s true that I
philosopher I mean it’s true that I
philosopher I mean it’s true that I wasn’t writing journal articles or
wasn’t writing journal articles or
wasn’t writing journal articles or teaching undergraduates about Plato but
teaching undergraduates about Plato but
teaching undergraduates about Plato but I thought that there was enough of that
I thought that there was enough of that
I thought that there was enough of that going on already and you know I’d had
going on already and you know I’d had
going on already and you know I’d had enough success over the last few years
enough success over the last few years
enough success over the last few years to realize that philosophy really can be
to realize that philosophy really can be
to realize that philosophy really can be a real-world resource in a personal
a real-world resource in a personal
a real-world resource in a personal resource especially when it’s
resource especially when it’s
resource especially when it’s intentionally deployed that way I’ve had
intentionally deployed that way I’ve had
intentionally deployed that way I’ve had clients in Sedona who have traveled all
clients in Sedona who have traveled all
clients in Sedona who have traveled all over the world and talked with very
over the world and talked with very
over the world and talked with very accomplished people but they’ve had
accomplished people but they’ve had
accomplished people but they’ve had sometimes those conversations were trite
sometimes those conversations were trite
sometimes those conversations were trite and sort of empty and they really
and sort of empty and they really
and sort of empty and they really appreciate it having the opportunity to
appreciate it having the opportunity to
appreciate it having the opportunity to reflect on their lives in a meaningful
reflect on their lives in a meaningful
reflect on their lives in a meaningful way so I thought again about my friends
way so I thought again about my friends
way so I thought again about my friends saying that’s not what philosophers do
saying that’s not what philosophers do
saying that’s not what philosophers do as if it just was the case and then I
as if it just was the case and then I
as if it just was the case and then I remembered the philosopher David Hume
remembered the philosopher David Hume
remembered the philosopher David Hume and the is ought fallacy you see just
and the is ought fallacy you see just
and the is ought fallacy you see just because something is the case doesn’t
because something is the case doesn’t
because something is the case doesn’t mean that it ought to be the case and
mean that it ought to be the case and
mean that it ought to be the case and this is connected to the fact value
this is connected to the fact value
this is connected to the fact value distinction now most of us are used to
distinction now most of us are used to
distinction now most of us are used to distinguishing between facts and values
distinguishing between facts and values
distinguishing between facts and values that’s been around for a while after all
that’s been around for a while after all
that’s been around for a while after all David Hume was an 18th century Scottish
David Hume was an 18th century Scottish
David Hume was an 18th century Scottish Enlightenment philosopher but it got me
Enlightenment philosopher but it got me
Enlightenment philosopher but it got me thinking about how stem
thinking about how stem
thinking about how stem so often we try to settle questions of
so often we try to settle questions of
so often we try to settle questions of value by stating matters of fact and
value by stating matters of fact and
value by stating matters of fact and we’ve been doing this for a long time
we’ve been doing this for a long time
we’ve been doing this for a long time there’s actually an iconic figure in
there’s actually an iconic figure in
there’s actually an iconic figure in American culture who reminds us of this
American culture who reminds us of this
American culture who reminds us of this it’s Joe Friday of the dragnet TV series
just the facts ma’am is Joe Friday is
just the facts ma’am is Joe Friday is signature line I think it’s worth noting
signature line I think it’s worth noting
signature line I think it’s worth noting that Friday says this to women and then
that Friday says this to women and then
that Friday says this to women and then the non-factual gets feminized it gets
the non-factual gets feminized it gets
the non-factual gets feminized it gets trivialized I call this dragnet
trivialized I call this dragnet
trivialized I call this dragnet deception because it assumes that facts
deception because it assumes that facts
deception because it assumes that facts matter most when actually in any given
matter most when actually in any given
matter most when actually in any given scenario it is our values that determine
scenario it is our values that determine
scenario it is our values that determine which facts are even relevant as much as
which facts are even relevant as much as
which facts are even relevant as much as we might like to put facts first our
we might like to put facts first our
we might like to put facts first our values are always prior and they are
values are always prior and they are
values are always prior and they are always in play now one reason people
always in play now one reason people
always in play now one reason people like to talk about the facts is that
like to talk about the facts is that
like to talk about the facts is that facts are firm you get the facts right
facts are firm you get the facts right
facts are firm you get the facts right or you don’t
or you don’t
or you don’t and with values we always have to make a
and with values we always have to make a
and with values we always have to make a case and even if you make a really good
case and even if you make a really good
case and even if you make a really good case you can’t prove it now that’s not
case you can’t prove it now that’s not
case you can’t prove it now that’s not to say that reasonable people can’t
to say that reasonable people can’t
to say that reasonable people can’t agree that some values are important or
agree that some values are important or
agree that some values are important or appropriate in one context and not
appropriate in one context and not
appropriate in one context and not another but even if you get overwhelming
another but even if you get overwhelming
another but even if you get overwhelming consensus that kindness is good and it
consensus that kindness is good and it
consensus that kindness is good and it is you can’t prove it
is you can’t prove it
is you can’t prove it and people like proof just compare these
and people like proof just compare these
and people like proof just compare these two statements I based my decision on
two statements I based my decision on
two statements I based my decision on the facts that seems responsible and
the facts that seems responsible and
the facts that seems responsible and sensible now consider I base my decision
sensible now consider I base my decision
sensible now consider I base my decision on my values well that seems subjective
on my values well that seems subjective
on my values well that seems subjective and maybe the basis is in his firm
and maybe the basis is in his firm
and maybe the basis is in his firm except that
except that
except that nearly all decisions are based on both
nearly all decisions are based on both
nearly all decisions are based on both objective facts and personal values as
objective facts and personal values as
objective facts and personal values as much and we just get comfortable talking
much and we just get comfortable talking
much and we just get comfortable talking about facts and citing statistics so
about facts and citing statistics so
about facts and citing statistics so oftentimes we can forget this but after
oftentimes we can forget this but after
oftentimes we can forget this but after all Friday only wanted facts about crime
all Friday only wanted facts about crime
all Friday only wanted facts about crime because he valued justice and putting
because he valued justice and putting
because he valued justice and putting criminals away it was his values of
criminals away it was his values of
criminals away it was his values of justice and law abiding this that
justice and law abiding this that
justice and law abiding this that determined the facts that he cared about
determined the facts that he cared about
determined the facts that he cared about and you know maybe his job would have
and you know maybe his job would have
and you know maybe his job would have been easier if he would have listened to
been easier if he would have listened to
been easier if he would have listened to the women and learned about their values
the women and learned about their values
the women and learned about their values and what those women understood about
and what those women understood about
and what those women understood about the values of other people because after
the values of other people because after
the values of other people because after all when you’re trying to solve crimes
all when you’re trying to solve crimes
all when you’re trying to solve crimes it’s helpful to know not just the facts
it’s helpful to know not just the facts
it’s helpful to know not just the facts about what happened or didn’t but what
about what happened or didn’t but what
about what happened or didn’t but what motivates people what they care about
motivates people what they care about
motivates people what they care about and why so I was still thinking about my
and why so I was still thinking about my
and why so I was still thinking about my friend who said that’s not what
friend who said that’s not what
friend who said that’s not what philosophers do and while that was
philosophers do and while that was
philosophers do and while that was ostensibly a factual claim the real
ostensibly a factual claim the real
ostensibly a factual claim the real issue hanging in the air was whether my
issue hanging in the air was whether my
issue hanging in the air was whether my way of doing philosophy had any value
way of doing philosophy had any value
way of doing philosophy had any value and so at this point it was time for me
and so at this point it was time for me
and so at this point it was time for me to do some reflection outside of course
to do some reflection outside of course
to do some reflection outside of course with my friends so that I could get
with my friends so that I could get
with my friends so that I could get clear about the values that were
clear about the values that were
clear about the values that were grounding my work and grounding my life
grounding my work and grounding my life
grounding my work and grounding my life and while our values and what we value
and while our values and what we value
and while our values and what we value are not identical I’m going to use those
are not identical I’m going to use those
are not identical I’m going to use those terms somewhat interchangeably because I
terms somewhat interchangeably because I
terms somewhat interchangeably because I really think that in this fact focused
really think that in this fact focused
really think that in this fact focused world one of the most important things
world one of the most important things
world one of the most important things this sort of reflection can do is help
this sort of reflection can do is help
this sort of reflection can do is help us all get clear about our values and
us all get clear about our values and
us all get clear about our values and what we value so when I went outside I
what we value so when I went outside I
what we value so when I went outside I discovered four things nature judgment
discovered four things nature judgment
discovered four things nature judgment authenticity and love and I’m going to
authenticity and love and I’m going to
authenticity and love and I’m going to say just a little bit about each of
say just a little bit about each of
say just a little bit about each of those first I valued my connection to
those first I valued my connection to
those first I valued my connection to nature because in nature I found
nature because in nature I found
nature because in nature I found inspiration and creativity and vitality
inspiration and creativity and vitality
inspiration and creativity and vitality and in a world
and in a world
and in a world where it is so easy to become
where it is so easy to become
where it is so easy to become disconnected from nature I really wanted
disconnected from nature I really wanted
disconnected from nature I really wanted to honor that and I wanted to share it
to honor that and I wanted to share it
to honor that and I wanted to share it with others second I valued judgment or
with others second I valued judgment or
with others second I valued judgment or my ability to make considered decisions
my ability to make considered decisions
my ability to make considered decisions you see since I was creating new ways of
you see since I was creating new ways of
you see since I was creating new ways of doing philosophy I was going to have to
doing philosophy I was going to have to
doing philosophy I was going to have to rely on my own discernment
rely on my own discernment
rely on my own discernment and a friend reminded me of the stoic
and a friend reminded me of the stoic
and a friend reminded me of the stoic philosopher in Roman Emperor Marcus
philosopher in Roman Emperor Marcus
philosopher in Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who encourages us to venerate
Aurelius who encourages us to venerate
Aurelius who encourages us to venerate our Faculty of judgment to act in
our Faculty of judgment to act in
our Faculty of judgment to act in accordance with nature and our ruling
accordance with nature and our ruling
accordance with nature and our ruling center our intuition third and closely
center our intuition third and closely
center our intuition third and closely related to judgment is authenticity
related to judgment is authenticity
related to judgment is authenticity really being myself an authenticity has
really being myself an authenticity has
really being myself an authenticity has a lot to do with honesty and I had to be
a lot to do with honesty and I had to be
a lot to do with honesty and I had to be really honest with myself and other
really honest with myself and other
really honest with myself and other people about why I thought it was so
people about why I thought it was so
people about why I thought it was so beneficial to go outside and think and
beneficial to go outside and think and
beneficial to go outside and think and talk about things and forth and finally
talk about things and forth and finally
talk about things and forth and finally there was love and this began with
there was love and this began with
there was love and this began with self-love because even though I really
self-love because even though I really
self-love because even though I really wanted my colleague to respect my work I
wanted my colleague to respect my work I
wanted my colleague to respect my work I finally realized that it was going to
finally realized that it was going to
finally realized that it was going to have to be enough for me to respect my
have to be enough for me to respect my
have to be enough for me to respect my work and once I could do that which
work and once I could do that which
work and once I could do that which wasn’t quite as easy maybe as it sounds
wasn’t quite as easy maybe as it sounds
wasn’t quite as easy maybe as it sounds I could then let my resentment of other
I could then let my resentment of other
I could then let my resentment of other people go and there’s a real peace and a
people go and there’s a real peace and a
people go and there’s a real peace and a real power if we can love not just the
real power if we can love not just the
real power if we can love not just the people that we adore but those who bring
people that we adore but those who bring
people that we adore but those who bring challenges and criticisms into our life
challenges and criticisms into our life
challenges and criticisms into our life but if you can do that it really changes
but if you can do that it really changes
but if you can do that it really changes the way that you view and that you move
the way that you view and that you move
the way that you view and that you move through this world and I certainly
through this world and I certainly
through this world and I certainly hadn’t always done that but it was
hadn’t always done that but it was
hadn’t always done that but it was important to me now and so that’s an
important to me now and so that’s an
important to me now and so that’s an example of what you can discover what I
example of what you can discover what I
example of what you can discover what I discovered by going out in nature on
discovered by going out in nature on
discovered by going out in nature on trails and talking to people right about
trails and talking to people right about
trails and talking to people right about my own values and why am i for grounding
my own values and why am i for grounding
my own values and why am i for grounding values our nature judgment authenticity
values our nature judgment authenticity
values our nature judgment authenticity of love
of love
of love now you may notice that I didn’t try to
now you may notice that I didn’t try to
now you may notice that I didn’t try to give a general account of values that I
give a general account of values that I
give a general account of values that I think are appropriate for everybody
think are appropriate for everybody
think are appropriate for everybody general accounts have certainly been
general accounts have certainly been
general accounts have certainly been given they’ve been given by all major
given they’ve been given by all major
given they’ve been given by all major religious traditions and many
religious traditions and many
religious traditions and many philosophical ones but I didn’t give a
philosophical ones but I didn’t give a
philosophical ones but I didn’t give a general account because I’m not living a
general account because I’m not living a
general account because I’m not living a general life I’m living my own
general life I’m living my own
general life I’m living my own particular life and just like you are
particular life and just like you are
particular life and just like you are all living your own particular lives you
all living your own particular lives you
all living your own particular lives you can choose you can really decide on and
can choose you can really decide on and
can choose you can really decide on and you can honor your own particular values
you can honor your own particular values
you can honor your own particular values because unlike the facts our values are
because unlike the facts our values are
because unlike the facts our values are entirely up to us and we can change them
entirely up to us and we can change them
entirely up to us and we can change them and we usually do change them and it
and we usually do change them and it
and we usually do change them and it makes sense that we would change them
makes sense that we would change them
makes sense that we would change them over the course of our lives and this
over the course of our lives and this
over the course of our lives and this can happen consciously or unconsciously
can happen consciously or unconsciously
can happen consciously or unconsciously but consciously is better so I invite
but consciously is better so I invite
but consciously is better so I invite you to consciously decide on your values
you to consciously decide on your values
you to consciously decide on your values and I recommend going outside get out of
and I recommend going outside get out of
and I recommend going outside get out of buildings look at landscapes and talk to
buildings look at landscapes and talk to
buildings look at landscapes and talk to someone you really respect because if
someone you really respect because if
someone you really respect because if you get clear about your values it will
you get clear about your values it will
you get clear about your values it will help you understand yourself and other
help you understand yourself and other
help you understand yourself and other people and the world thank you
people and the world thank you
people and the world thank you you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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