Evelyn Brister to dialogue with high school students, community

Evelyn Brister, a 1988 graduate of San Marcos High School, will return to her hometown to participate in the Philosophy Dialogue Series at the San Marcos Public Library on Wednesday, March 23 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. on the topic “Democracy and the Promise of the Future.”

Regarding this topic, Brister writes:

“Every generation faces both promise and peril. In the last century, Americans faced the challenge of the Cold War and the excitement of space exploration; we confronted fears of terrorism and the opportunities of information technology. Today’s young people are entering a world of COVID and climate change at the same time that we benefit from global prosperity and connectedness. This dialogue spans the generations to consider how democratic action is both boosted and challenged by social media, and how biotechnology and information technology can address environmental problems and increase social connection when used responsibly.”

Using an interview technique, participants will press their understanding of democratic engagement, technology, and sustainability to uncover our worst fears and discover what everyone can do to prevent those fears from coming true.

Following her graduation from SMHS, Brister earned her undergraduate degree from Austin College and her Ph. D. from Northwestern University. She is currently Professor of Philosophy at Rochester Institute of Technology, where her research is in philosophy of science with a focus on values in environmental decision-making. She also works with the Public Philosophy Net work to support philosophers who are pursuing engaged scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Texas State Department of Philosophy and its sponsors invite all interested persons to participate in this important and timely dialogue, which is free and open to the public.

Submitted by the Texas State Department of Philosophy