Philosophy is about universally interesting questions: What makes a life good? How should we pursue wisdom? What is it to be human? However, people are rarely supported in thinking about philosophical questions outside college classrooms. Philosophy Outreach Program of Colorado (POPCO) aims to change this by building bridges between academic philosophy and other communities.

All POPCO visits are free to the host institutions. POPCO has operated since 1995 and is supported by the Department of Philosophy and CU Boulder’s Office for Outreach and Engagement.

Current POPCO Programing

K-12 classroom visits

Through POPCO, philosophy graduate students visit Colorado K-12 classrooms to conduct custom-tailored philosophical discussions about a variety of topics. These discussions encourage students to think carefully and creatively about challenging questions such as the following:

• What makes something science as opposed to pseudo-science?
• Do the laws of physics and biology allow for free will?
• Under what conditions is war ethically acceptable?
• Do minds require brains?
• What are the limits of civil disobedience?
• Could robots have rights?

A POPCO discussion can also support teaching critical thinking skills, by challenging students to comprehend new ideas, analyze cause and effect relationships, and differentiate facts from emotional appeals.

Support for National High School Ethics Bowl teams

National High School Ethics Bowl invites students to engage in thoughtful, collaborative discussion on ethically complex cases. The regional competition takes place at CU Boulder during winter, before successful teams advance to the spring national competition. Area high schools interested in fielding an Ethics Bowl team can receive startup guidance and coaching assistance from POPCO.

Check out our website to learn more about POPCO or the annual Ethics Bowl.

Public reading groups in collaboration with local libraries

In partnership with Boulder Public Library and Longmont Public Library, POPCO instructors facilitate monthly philosophy reading groups for the public. Participants read a short work of philosophy, then meet to discuss it with one another. Facilitators gently guide the discussion, encouraging participants to think through the ideas raised in the text and consider their import. New participants are always welcome. Recommended for ages 16 and older.

The Boulder Public Library group meets the 2nd Monday of each month, 7pm-8:30pm (Mountain).  More information can be found at https://bit.ly/classics-phil

The Longmont Public Library group meets the 4th Monday of each month, 7pm-8:30pm (Mountain).  More information can be found at https://bit.ly/phil-reading-group

“Act Ethically”

Communities of practice with area middle school teachers that equip teachers with skills for leading ethical discussions in their classrooms on a variety of topics. (https://actethically.com)

• K-12 classroom visits

  Additional Info

  Through POPCO, philosophy graduate students visit Colorado K-12 classrooms to conduct custom-tailored philosophical discussions on a variety of topics. These discussions encourage students to think carefully and creatively about challenging questions. Visits are free to partner schools/teachers.

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  Location 1

  in colorado

  Greeley

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 2

  in colorado

  Boulder

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 3

  in colorado

  Arvada

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 4

  in colorado

  Fort Collins

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 5

  in colorado

  Greenwood Village

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 6

  in colorado

  Lafayette

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 7

  in colorado

  Broomfield

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

• Community Reading Group - Boulder Public Library

  Additional Info

  This is a monthly reading group sponsored by Boulder Public Library. Registration is open to the public at https://sites.google.com/colorado.edu/classics-phil-reading-group

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  Location

  in colorado

  Broomfield

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  Event URL

  https://sites.google.com/colorado.edu/classics-phil-reading-group

• Community Reading Group - Longmont Public Library

  Additional Info

  This reading group meets monthly with the sponsorship of Longmont Public Library. Registration is through the library website. Details an be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/phil-reading-group/home

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  Location

  in colorado

  Lafayette

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  Event URL

  https://sites.google.com/view/phil-reading-group/home

• Guest Coaching and Startup Advice for National High School Ethics Bowl teams

  Additional Info

  National High School Ethics Bowl invites students to engage in thoughtful, collaborative discussion on ethically complex cases. The regional competition takes place at CU Boulder in winter before successful teams advance to the spring national competition. Area high schools interested in fielding an Ethics Bowl team can receive startup guidance and coaching assistance from POPCO.

  ---

  Location 1

  in colorado

  Parker

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 2

  in colorado

  Boulder

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 3

  in colorado

  Lafayette

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  ---

  Location 4

  in colorado

  Lakewood

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

• "Act Ethically" commumnity of practice for area middle school teachers

  Additional Info

  We develop and offer resources to help K-12 teachers engage their students in thoughtful ethical discussions that are grounded in philosophical methods and theories.
  
  Teacher training is offered in a community of practice format that brings together teachers from different schools and subject areas with a trained philosopher who specializes in ethics and philosophical pedagogy.

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  Location 1

  in colorado

  Greenwood Village

  Dates

  1/16/2023 - 8/1/2023

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

  Event URL

  https://actethically.com

  ---

  Location 2

  in colorado

  Longmont

  Dates

  1/16/2023 - 8/1/2023

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program