Engaged Philosophy and the Public Philosophy Network are partnering to present a special interview series that highlights the work of public philosophers who will be presenting at the 2019 PPN Conference Oct 17-19, 2019.
Andrea Christelle, PhD, founder of Sedona Philosophy, based in Arizona’s Verde Valley, specializes in bringing philosophy into people’s everyday lives. Her favorite place to do philosophy is in nature—on a hike, a river, or just relaxing on the red rocks.
What type(s) of public philosophy do you do?
At Sedona Philosophy, we combine philosophical reflection with an exploration of the natural world. Our programming is designed for Sedona visitors, and offers a way to explore the amazing natural environment in a way that leads to personal growth and insight. Together, Matthew Goodwin and I design programs that take philosophical reflection into the natural world. Sedona is a place that is known for its inspiring beauty and for being metaphysically mysterious. It is a generative place, both in terms of inspiration and ideas. As we discuss the nature, culture, and history of Sedona, we also draw on philosophical literature and practices that are relevant to what is happening in people’s lives. One theme that comes up regularly is diversity. We talk a lot about diversity in society, but typically it just means a more varied demographic profile. In nature, we have an opportunity to witness genuine diversity. The trees and desert plants are not uniform, and their juxtaposition is beautiful, surprising, and enterprising. Seeing the beauty of genuine individuality is often a very freeing experience for people, because even our social institutions that claim to honor diversity tend to simultaneously pressure people toward conformity.
We also offer community-based programs in group settings and have collaborated with the Ben Franklin Circles and started a local SOPHIA chapter. We also organized a quarterly “philosophy and politics” series for the League of Women Voters. What ties these together is a connection to our local Verde Valley community. In addition to offering programs for Sedona visitors, we also create dialogue opportunities for residents that are connected to issues of general human interest, as well as local and national politics.
Give an example of a successful project.
Whenever we take someone out on a tour and they have the opportunity to reflect on their life in a new and meaningful way, that is a successful project. When it is relevant, we share ideas from the history of philosophy. For example, if someone thinks she is too impatient, we might talk about Aristotle’s ethics to illustrate how a virtue can be located along a spectrum that is relative to the person, and to the issue at hand. This model gives her a new way to imagine patience, and she might reflect on ways that it has actually served her. Rather than viewing it as a static trait, she now understands it contextually. She can apply this framework to other virtues as well, such as kindness or courage.
On another outing, we might experiment with phenomenology. We call attention to experience itself, and notice our reliance on language as we practice noticing experience with and without language. This gives people an opportunity to reflect on the enormous influence language has in our lives, which is something people don’t usually do. They find it intriguing. And fun. Of course, you could do this anywhere, but it is delightful in Sedona, especially if you connect the reflection with a meditation exercise, or with taking your shoes off and grounding with the earth. We are especially interested in helping people discover and rediscover a connection to the natural world.
What benefits does doing public philosophy offer to the public(s) you engage? What benefits does it offer you?
The easiest way to say how it benefits other people is to let you know what they say: “We came away from our time with a heightened awareness of self and the motivation to appreciate life in a new way.” In our individual tours we focus a lot on self-understanding and how to consciously cultivate that.
It benefits us by reminding us of the versatility of philosophy and drawing on a repertoire of literature with diverse applications. It provides a unique way to use our philosophical skill set that is practical and enriches people’s everyday lives.
What role does the PPN play in your philosophical work? What role do you play in the PPN?
I decided to reengage with the PPN when I saw that they were focusing on the work of Grace Lee Boggs, and in particular her emphasis on place. I think that a sense of place is important in human life, and should be a more prominent consideration in our culture. Place locates us in space and time, and the more deeply connected we are to place the closer we can be to nature, and, I believe, to our nature.
In what ways does public philosophy inform your teaching (or vice-versa)?
I still teach a course on wealth, inequality, and global citizenship. In that course students learn basic principles of economic theory and policy, but they also learn how to build deliberative skill and engage as political actors. My teaching includes skill-building that prepares students to advocate for policies and candidates that support the ideas they favor. My work is about making philosophy relevant to life, whether that is the personal life of someone visiting Sedona, or the political life of a student. I also think it is important to highlight the many ethical issues embedded in economic policy that might appear to be merely technical. Thomas Piketty, Robert Reich, and John Broome have all been very helpful in highlighting the ethical issues in economics.
What’s the philosophical grounding of your public philosophy?
I believe that we truly are holistic beings, with mind, body, and spirit united. We think differently when we are outdoors and when we are moving. There are historical examples of this from Aristotle’s peripatetic tradition to Thoreau’s Walking, but it is largely ignored, and philosophy mainly takes place in buildings. To practice dialogue in nature is stimulating, inspiring, and regularly inspires courage, creativity, and honesty.
To what larger justice issues do you connect your public philosophy?
Economic policy, environmental policy, and civic engagement. Being in a beautiful natural setting is an ideal place to talk about the value of public lands, and how individual and collective advocacy have shaped public land holdings. Red Rock State Park (which has only been a public park since 1991), was strategically acquired through the efforts of former Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt. It involved public/private partnerships, land swaps, state legislative action, federal designations, and a host of other technical, bureaucratic issues that were necessary in order for people to have access to the Environmental Education Center and Nature Preserve that they currently enjoy.
What has been your biggest obstacle in doing public philosophy?
Getting past the word philosophy. I have been advised to drop it over and over again. People love what we do. They are regularly turned off by the world philosophy. Awareness, reflection, and wisdom are all words that have been suggested as alternatives.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“The tao that can be spoken is not the eternal tao.” This reminds us that the way of nature is dynamic, and I think this is a good guide for the practice of philosophy.
EngagedPhilosophy readers: If you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else for an interview, email us at info@engagedphilosophy.com.
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