Reflections on A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula Le Guin

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Please note earlier, 10:30 am, start time With Hugh Taft-Morales, Leader, Phila. Ethical Soc. Margaret Atwood called A Wizard of Earthsea one of the “wellsprings of fantasy literature." Originally conceived as a children’s book, it has become a favorite of many sci-fans. Hugh will reflect on the creativity, philosophy, and ethics offered in this work. [...]

Planting Our Future: Seeding Ethical Culture in a Rural Valley

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Pattie Arduini President, Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society The Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society is located in Lewisburg, PA, a picturesque rural community situated along the Susquehanna River and home to Bucknell University. Learn how SVES came to be, its struggles and successes, and what the future holds for this Society in Central Pennsylvania. Join here online [...]

Truth and Healing through Poetry by Black Authors

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Ending Racism Task Force of the Philadelphia Ethical Society Poems by Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, Jerico Brown and others.  How can poetry serve to enlighten us and move us to heal racial trauma? Join here online at the scheduled time.

Calling Out Outrageous Lies

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Joe Biden won the 2020 election fair and square, but the outrageous lie that the election was rigged fueled the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Though lying has long been used as a tool to gain political power, normalizing blatant lying threatens our democracy. Hugh Taft-Morales explores this [...]

Peacebuilding

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Since the Department of War’s creation in 1789, the United States has followed an all-too-familiar strategy: prepare for war to keep the peace. The painstaking, crucial work of peacebuilding has not received equal federal attention and resources. As weapons become more deadly and expensive, isn’t it time the federal [...]

People and Planet Before Profit

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Nora Elmarzouky POWER, Climate Justice and Jobs Nora Elmarzouky, a Climate Justice organizer at POWER, will discuss POWER’s campaign to pressure elected state leaders to appoint Public Utility Commissioners who will represent people and the planet rather than profits for the fossil fuel industry. Join here online at the scheduled time.

Celebrating Courage

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Courage often is exemplified by acts of physical bravery. Other times it is described as the absence of fear. But courage, particularly moral courage, need not involve overcoming bodily risk and suffering. And as Mark Twain put it, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear.” [...]

The Social Impact of Genetic Ancestry Testing

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Wendy Roth Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania An estimated 15% of all U.S. adults—approximately 30 million people—have taken genetic ancestry tests. Roth, author of Race Migrations: Latinos and the Cultural Transformation of Race, explains how such tests influence people’s perceptions of their ethnic and racial identities. Research demonstrates that people pick and choose new [...]

The Persistence of Ghosts

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society From ancient Egypt to modern Halloween, humans have told stories about spirits that haunt our houses and fill our imaginations. Some, like Casper, are friendly and fun. Others threaten and terrorize. Why are ghosts so ubiquitous in culture? What purpose do they serve in our society and in our [...]

Why Doesn’t Everyone Have a Bank Account?

Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Lisa Servon University of Pennsylvania Nearly 28% of Americans have no bank account or use services such as payday lenders, pawn shops and check cashers, in addition to banks. Much energy has been expended trying to get these people to use banks exclusively without first understanding why they make the choices they do. Servon, chair [...]