CU Philosophy

2001
July 15-21, 2001

Participants for the seventh session of SPICO will be registering on July 15, 2001 starting at 3pm.  We will adjourn at 5:00pm to the dining hall for our first dinner meal, which will be followed by an orientation session at 6pm. Important dates and other information Application deadline - May 16, 2001 Deposit deadline - June 22, 2001 SPICO 2001 - General Information for Participants Please feel free to contact us with any questions/concerns:  Prof. Claudia Mills, 303-492-8386,  cmills@spot.colorado.edu Liz Slokar, 303-735-3760,  slokare@spot.colorado.edu Getting Here From the east: take I-70 westbound to I-25 northbound, exit to HWY 36 westbound to Boulder, take the Baseline exit in Boulder and turn left onto Baseline, turn right onto Broadway, turn right onto 18th St., take your first right, Cheyenne Arapaho Hall is the second building on the right.. From the west: take I-70 eastbound to I-25 northbound, exit to HWY 36 westbound to Boulder, take the Baseline exit in Boulder and turn left onto Baseline, turn right onto Broadway, turn right onto 18th St., take your first right, Cheyenne Arapaho Hall is the second building on the right. From the south: take I-25 northbound, exit to HWY 36 westbound to Boulder, take the Baseline exit in Boulder and turn left onto Baseline, turn right onto Broadway, turn right onto Regent Drive, turn right onto 18th St., take your first right, Cheyenne Arapaho Hall is the second building on the right. From the north: take I-25 southbound, exit to HWY 52 westbound, take a left onto HWY 119 southbound into Boulder, turn right onto Colorado Avenue, turn left onto Regent Drive, turn right onto 18th St., take your first right, Cheyenne Arapaho Hall is the second building on the right.  Boulder Vicinity Map CU Main Campus Map

2000

Twenty-seven students checked-in at Cheyenne-Arapaho Hall on July 16th for the sixth annual Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado.  The attendees were a geographically diverse group representing the eastern plains (Wiggins), the western slope (Grand Junction and Cedaredge), southern Colorado (Colorado Springs, Divide, and Woodland Park), northern Colorado (Berthoud and Ft. Collins), and the central region (Denver metro area). This year, we also hosted a student from Lakeland, Florida.   We continue to use a framework for the Institute that has proved successful in previous years.  The week's classes were 2-hour long sessions modeled on a college introductory philosophy class.  The evening sessions were more informal and usually incorporated film or theater media to illustrate philosophical topics and to show how pervasive philosophy is in our daily lives.  Favorite topics this year included perennial questions such as the mind-body problem, free will and determinism, and existentialism, as well as more recent discussions in the philosophy of science, social and political philosophy, and feminism.  Other highlights included two well-presented student debates on topics in applied ethics (animal rights and capital punishment), a picnic in Chautauqua Park, and a highly enjoyable performance of Twelfth Night at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. As in years past, philosophical discussion outside of the scheduled class sessions provided some of the most memorable experiences of the week.   Students' evaluations of their experiences continue to be positive.  Barring a couple disruptions in group dynamics, students felt that the week was fun and educational.  "I thought that it was really great that we could all talk and, for the most part, discuss our views openly without being insulted.  Everyone had such a wonderful amount of respect for everyone else," wrote one student.  Another said, "My expectations were far exceeded...  I can't express how much I loved the people here and it gives me hope that my backwards fundamentalist town is indeed unique.  I feel like I have made some lasting friends this week, and for that I am grateful."  Other positive comments included: "This is by far the best camp I've been to.  It's practically everything I ever wanted in a summer camp"; "I really appreciated the respect and freedom that was given to us, and I would also like to say that this week has been worth every penny that I spent to be here"; "SPICO far exceeded my expectations of it.  The lectures and readings were fascinating, the discussions lively, and the freedom given to us remarkable"; and "I expected the program to challenge my intellect and convictions.  It did that and more.  The dynamics of the group were wonderful.  I never imagined so many teenagers could have so many intelligent conversations."  Given such enthusiastic responses, we are satisfied with the knowledge that they are leaving campus with the experiences we envisioned.

1999

The fifth session of SPICO was held July 25-31, 1999. This year, we welcomed twenty-six students from across the state to Baker Hall.  During the day, class sessions consisted of hour-long lectures (modeled on college introductory course structure) in Duane G1B31.  Sessions were immediately followed by small group discussions, which were often held on the grass of Duane field.  This permitted a more informal discussion of the topic and allowed each student to raise questions and further develop their philosophical skills.  The evening sessions were less formal and were often accompanied by a video presentation.  This provided a chance for the students to see how philosophical ideas have been incorporated into media more familiar in their daily lives.  SPICO also provided several events to introduce the students to the college atmosphere and, for most, to the Boulder area.  During our orientation program on Sunday evening, students were taken on a tour of campus to familiarize them with facilities such as Wardenburg Health Center, Norlin Library, the UMC, Sibell Wolle Art Gallery, and the Henderson Museum. Students were given the opportunity to purchase Recreation Center passes for the week, where they could experience another of the many benefits of a college campus.  A hike in the Boulder Mountain Parks or an excursion to the Pearl Street Mall gave the students a chance to interact outside of the academic environment.  Taken in the middle of the week, this provided a good break from our concentrated intellectual activities.  We ask students to evaluate SPICO at the end of the week in order to know what aspects of the program to retain and to address any issues that may be detracting from their experiences.  We continue to be encouraged by the enthusiasm of students for this program.  ãI particularly enjoyed the discussions more than anything else,ä said one student, ãI am confident that I will be able to apply it to my future studies.  The teachersâ knowledge and love for their prospective subjects was inspiring and caused a greater interest.ä  Another said, ãmy expectation was that it would be a complete bore, and even though I would benefit from it, I would not like it.  It proved me wrong.  It was excellent...and was done in a way that included everyone.ä  Many indicated that they enjoyed the small group size, as it allowed for more interactions between students.  ãIt was great getting to know people who are interested in the same things as you,ä said a student, echoing the sentiments of many.  Asked to list what they liked most, a student responded, "I enjoyed the environment we were in.  No one rejected your ideas, and you made it easy to speak our minds."  Finally, as if we needed more inspiration, one student remarked, ãthe whole experience just made me more motivated to go to college.ä

1998

Forty students attended the fourth annual Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado. Attendees came from all areas of the state: from the western slope (Grand Junction, Eagle, and Montose), the eastern plains (Kirk, Limon, and Ft. Morgan), northern Colorado (Ft. Collins, Meeker, and Granby), and southern Colorado (Ouray, Colorado Springs, Gunnison, and Pueblo). We also had a student from Tennessee (thanks to a thoughtful Colorado relative). The two one-week sessions ran consecutively; July 19-25, 1998 and July 26 - August 1, 1998. Both sessions were housed in Cheyenne Arapahoe Hall on the central Boulder campus.  Each week covered a wide array of philosopical topics: political obligation and the state, logic, free will vs. determinism, ethics, the mind/body problem, the problem of the external world, social/political freedom, personal identity, the existence of god, environmental ethics, ancient philosophy, feminist philosophy, existentialism, philosophy and film, the meaning of life, and practical applications of philosophy. Three times each day, students met for two-hour class sessions consisting of an hour of lecture and group discussion on the topic, immediately followed by an hour of small group discussion designed to delve more deeply into the topic. The evening sessions usually took place in the dorm lounge or conference room to permit a more informal setting for larger discussion involving the whole group. Wednesday and Friday both had special activities that replaced one of the classroom sessions - a hike in the foothills or a stroll down the Pearl Street Mall and a performance at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival - to provide students with a taste of what the University and the City of Boulder have to offer students. We continue to be encouraged by the interest in and commitment to SPI-CO shown by the University of Colorado, the Philosophy Department, and secondary school teachers and students. Student evaluations of this summer's SPI-CO sessions share our excitement for and commitment to this program: "I was surprised to see such a diversity in people and topics." "...the balance between learning and pleasure was quite well thought-out..." "I expected to be challenged intellectually, have fun, and meet new friends, and all three of these expectations were fulfilled." "This has been an excellent experience and very promising about the possibilities for higher education." "I was very changed by this experience -- it really broadened my horizons and opened my mind to new data. This will stay with me and I hope this program will flourish throughout the decades." "Thank you for providing a great place to experience thoughtful answers to questions not addressed in out schools."

1997, session a

July 20 - July 26, 1997 (Session 1) The Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado's third year saw the arrival of our largest group yet. In fact, to keep the sessions small enough for detailed discussion and critical reflection, we moved to a two week format with the addition of three new staff, Luc Bovens, Liz Slokar and Dan Sturgis.  Several general features were part of both weeks. First, the tone of SPI-CO was one of solidarity and respect. The students were delighted to find others who think like they do and value ideas. There was a unified attitude that this was the first place they could explore philosophical ideas at length with their own peers. They also appreciated the opportunity to explore their ideas together in a collegiate environment. It served as a good introduction to the elements of college life: the overall experience of independent thought, time management, and taking responsibility for oneself. Finally, the philosophical energy of the students was incredible. The students were philosophically charged; even during meals, they would carry a philosophical topic over from an earlier session or begin a new one. These discussions proved crucial to bringing the philosophical process into the daily intellectual concerns of these students.  Both weeks ran two-hour classroom sessions three times a day. Each day-session consisted of an hour-long lecture/discussion led by a staff member or guest lecturer, followed by small group discussions held on the grass of Duane field. Wednesday and Friday were the exceptions, with two special events each replacing one classroom session. More details about each week follow. The first session began on Sunday, July 20 and ran through Saturday, July 26. The session leaders were Luc Bovens, Director and Professor of Philosophy; Rich Cameron, returning staff and graduate student; Liz Slokar, graduate student; and Shelley Wilcox, returning staff and graduate student.  Twelve students from all over the state of Colorado (La Veta to Paonia and Ignacio to Idalia), a student from Pasadena, CA, and a student studying abroad from Lyon, France explored various topics in philosophy including: political obligation and the state (exploring issues of civil disobedience), the free will vs. determinism debate, the mind/body problem, the problem of the external world (employing the brain-in-a-vat thought experiment), the existentialism of Jean Paul Sartre, exploring philosophy in film by watching Before the Rain, the existence of god and the problem of evil, feminist philosophy, logic, environmental philosophy, ethics, and other topics. Discussions of these issues was not limited to the two-hour class sessions as we overheard many conversations and debates continue into mealtimes and other unstructured free time (e.g., some students were found exercising their existential freedom on the Pearl Street Mall!). Guest speakers for the week included Graham Oddie, Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy; Christopher Shields, Professor in the Department of Philosophy; Lisa Bates, graduate student at the City University of New York; and graduate students at the University of Colorado, Steve Kramer and Paul Studtmann. The time outside of classroom sessions provided a taste of college experience as the students had several hours of unstructured free time in which to explore the city of Boulder and the campus of the University of Colorado, including the Pearl Street Mall, the University Hill shopping area, the University Memorial Center (the student union), and the student Recreation Center (with exercise rooms, pool, tennis courts, etc.). We were also able to enjoy the surrounding area of Boulder with a visit to Chautauqua Park for a hike and a picnic. The week drew to a close with the students attending a Friday evening performance of Troilus and Cressida at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and with a farewell brunch on Saturday morning.

1997, session b

July 27 - August 2, 1997 The second session ran from July 27 through August 2. Session leaders were Claudia Mills, Director, Co-Founder, and Professor of Philosophy; Robert Figueroa, Co-Founder and graduate student; Sara Goering, Co-Founder and graduate student; and Dan Sturgis, graduate student.  Twenty-two students arrived from all over Colorado (Aspen to Vernon and Fort Collins to Colorado Springs) to discuss ancient philosophy, ethics, philosophy in film, social/political freedom, personal identity, art and interpretation, the existence of god, the mind/body debate, feminist philosophy, logic, and environmental philosophy. Guest speakers for this week included Carol Cleland, Professor in the Department of Philosophy; and Shelley Wilcox and Steve Kramer, graduate students in the Department of Philosophy.  Some students in this session were particularly interested in the sciences so we arranged a unique opportunity to visit one of the laboratories of JILA (Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics). Dr. Timothy Gfroerer gave them tours of his lab and discussed his research project involving lasers for cooling. Students visisted the lab during their free time and found the interaction lively and insightful. Other free time during the week gave the students the opportunity to visit and familiarize themselves with the University of Colorado campus and the city of Boulder. Other events included two visits to Chautauqua Park for a hike and a picnic and a Friday evening performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. On Saturday morning, students, friends, parents and SPI-CO staff shared their opinions about the week at the farewell brunch.

1996

July 28 - August 3, 1996 The second annual session of the Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado started on Sunday, July 28, 1996. The students were greeted by Robert Figueroa, Sara Goering, Claudia Mills and two new members of the SPICO staff, Shelley Wilcox and Rich Cameron.  The 1996 program nearly doubled in size from the 1995 pilot program. Twenty-nine students attended the program from all areas of the state and discussed a wide array of philosophical topics: political obligation and the state, logic, the free will debate, ethics, the mind/body debate, the problem of the external world, social/political freedom, art and interpretation, personal identity, the existence of god, the meaning of life, feminist philosophy, and environmental ethics.  The students were delighted with the discovery of philosophy and impressed by the level of individual freedom and intellectual stimulation the college environment offered. Some of the activities outside of formal classroom time included a mountain hike, a picnic at Chautauqua, and a trip to see Othello at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

1995

July 30 - August 5, 1995. Students arrived at the University of Colorado-Boulder campus on July 30, 1995 to begin the first annual session of the Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado. They were welcomed by Directors and Co-Founders Robert Figueroa, Sara Goering, and Claudia Mills. The students week-long introduction to philosophy included lectures and small group discussions on political obligation and the state, free will and determinism, logic, the existence of God, personal identity, knowledge of the external world, the nature of morality and ethics, aesthetics, and questions about the meaning of life. In addition, students went hiking and picnicked at Chautauqua Park and attended a performance of Hamlet at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. There was some scheduled free time so that students could get an idea of the level of freedom a college environment offers. The philosophical energy of the students was incredible. From the morning until the late evening students were philosophically engaged. Whether in a classroom, during small group discussions, or during meals, students would carry a philosphical topic over from an earlier session or begin a new issue. Favorite topics of the students varied from the ethical theory of egoism to affirmative action to problems with the current educational system to theories of time.

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