Upcoming Events

Philosophy Study Group

We will finish discussing Simone de Beauvoir’s attempt to build an ethical system for existentialist philosophy, The Ethics of Ambiguity. Not a few people didn’t think it was possible. Did she succeed? This is for you to decide, and we’re very interested in what you think. We’re even more interested in how this might fit into your own personal ethical system and how you justify that. If it’s just that you think you deserve more than everyone else, we have some work to do.
Curt

Religion As A Resource for Peace And A Justification For Violence.

Peace is a shared aspiration and value in all of our religious traditions. Peace, however, remains an ever-receding goal in our world. Speaking of peace as a shared value is important, but it does not bring about peace. Our traditions offer us transformative peace-making teachings, but these traditions are located in historical and socio-political contexts. They become intertwined and associated, often willingly, with forces and movements that promote violence by privileging one group and marginalizing others.

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When Minnehaha Flowed With Whiskey: A Spirited History Of The Falls

Drunks, criminals, and rowdies went to Minnehaha Falls to raise a ruckus, dance, and have fun.  From the 1860s until the early 20th century, Minnehaha Falls was not a family-oriented destination.  Rather, it was a scene of scandal and disreputable behavior.  By 1891, things had gotten so bad that “Father of the Parks” Charles Loring said, “Minnehaha had become the rendezvous of the most depraved of both sexes.”  Find out what the heck was going on at the falls, and how all was eventually redeemed.
Karen E. Cooper is an author, historian, and researcher who uncovered the lost disgraceful past at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis.  Her work reveals the power structures in the city that allowed Minnehaha to become a criminal haven, and battle with those who wanted Minnehaha to be a place where families felt safe and welcome.  Her first book, “When Minnehaha Flowed With Whiskey: A Spirited History Of The Falls” won the Emile Buchwald Award for Minnesota Non-Fiction in 2023.

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New Issue of The Minnesota Scholar!


The Winter issue of The Minnesota Scholar