Comparative Philosophy Department hosting ‘Dare To Think’ panel discussion

Alessandro Moscarítolo Palacio talks to the students who organized the panel discussion.

At Randolph College, philosophy isn’t just an academic discipline—it’s a call to action.

Through the new Public Philosophy Initiative, students and faculty members are taking philosophical discussions beyond the classroom, hoping to tackle real-world challenges and engage with diverse communities.

The initiative—a project of the comparative philosophy department and led by professor Alessandro Moscarítolo Palacio—includes a series of events, from panel discussions organized by students to service-learning courses to a podcast to ensure the work they’re doing is accessible to all.

“The initiative is aimed at applying philosophy to challenging social realities,” Moscarítolo Palacio said. “I know there’s hunger in this community among our students for these sorts of initiatives. Amongst humanities students and philosophy students, in particular, they want to do something that brings about actual change.”

The project’s first event, “Dare To Think: How to Have Effective Conversations About Polarizing Topics,” is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Houston Memorial Chapel.

The panel will feature Moscarítolo Palacio, Randolph students, and Liberty University School of Law professor Tory L. Lucas discussing how to engage in meaningful, respectful conversations about polarizing issues.

“The hope is that this will be an ongoing effort, bringing people over from Liberty University and, to the extent that I have a say in the matter, vice versa,” Moscarítolo Palacio said.

Students play an active role in shaping the discussions, setting panel rules, and engaging in philosophy beyond the classroom.

“The concept was one that spoke to me and my fellow classmates on a fundamental level,” said Logan Burley ’26, a history major who is one of the student organizers. “With rising political tension, the thought of compromise or mutual respect seems to be pushed further to the wayside.

“I know, personally, I see people who look at others of differing beliefs, and they are struck with what can only be called disgust,” he added. “This panel acts as a way for us to speak out against that kind of division while still showing that constructive dialogue can be achieved. I’m hoping we can foster an atmosphere that encourages that constructive dialogue. I also hope my fellow students use this event as a chance to shed our preconceptions on those of differing beliefs and backgrounds so that way we can grow closer as a community.”

Moscarítolo Palacio also wants to take their work into the larger community, teaching philosophy to incarcerated and other underserved populations. He has done similar work in both New York and Chicago.

Kaija Mortensen, chair of the comparative philosophy department, said the new initiative builds on their previous work to engage students in public philosophy through activities like the Ethics Bowl.

“We were moving in that direction, and Alessandro has super-charged us in terms of his commitment and dedication to this work,” she said. “We’re excited to take it to a much broader, more energetic level for our students.”