Club shows a passion for philosophy
Utah State University’s philosophy club became official last October after Jeff Dorst, a senior and now president of the club, asked Diane P. Michelfelder, head of the Philosophy department, if there was a philosophy club. Dorst was asked to start one.
“One of the reasons why we started was to dispel myths about what philosophy really is,” Dorst said. “We have accretion of technology but you don’t really have an increase in what we call the humor factor that corresponds with the increase of technology and an increase of humanities so to speak.”
One of the myths about philosophy it that it is a matter of opinion, Dorst said.
“It doesn’t mean opinion at all; it has to do moreso with a quest for truth – a universal truth, so to speak,” Dorst said.
There are four members of the presidency; Dorst, Justin Carter, vice president; Brad Koffer, historian and Amy Soph, secretary.
The club holds activities twice a month, usually with guest speakers and movies. Membership to the philosophy club is not required to attend.
“Philosophy is for everyone,” Dorst said. “We don’t charge for it.”
“Our goal is to make a better people in the long run,” Dorst said. “Philosophy itself means love of wisdom, and one of the main reasons we do philosophy is we do provide a love or passion for the subject.”
Philosophy has the ability to make one go within one’s self and determine what kind of person they are and who they want to become and what they have to do to change, he said.
“I think what philosophy does is makes you start questioning yourself, your beliefs,” Carter said.
“We’re mostly into just having fun, and philosophy is fun,” Koffer said.
On Feb. 21, the Philosophy Club will sponsor an activity focusing on nihilism – a lack of values – and will show “American Psycho” in Widtsoe, Room 7.