Day One: February 24, 2005

2–3 p.m. | Location TBD

Dewey's approach to democracy emphasizes the importance of viewpoint diversity and collective intelligence, but notions of virtue as an enabler of good democratic outcomes are less talked about and discussed in the literature. How do moral values, democratic virtues, and diversity in all its dimensions interact to strengthen democratic life and produce beneficial states of affairs for the polity and for its citizens? This panel discusses these and related issues about democracy, morality, and tolerance for difference.

Panel Facilitator: Eric Smaw | Rollins College

Panelists:

• Joseph Pettit | Morgan State University | “In Praise of the Boring Political Virtues”
• Deron Boyles | Georgia State University | “Dewey’s Critical Ethics for Higher Education: Democracy, Economics, and the Liberal Arts”
• Megan Halteman Zwart | Saint Mary’s College | “Dialogue Skill Building to Promote Viewpoint Diversity and Belonging on Campus”
• Kenneth Shockley | Colorado State University | “Sharing Perspective, Lived Experience, and the Pedagogies of Field Environmental Ethics”
• Joshua Brown and Kiran Ellis | Rollins College | “Liberal Education, Democracy, and the Challenge of Hypocrisy”

2–3 p.m. | Location TBD

We live in a highly polarized and divided democratic era, and we face new threats related to the nature of distinctively modern mechanisms for the dissemination and creation of knowledge in society. The dangers germane to these new ways of communication and information affect how we conceive of others and their claims and rights. Can the liberal arts rescue democracy from the ills of division, fake news, and hatred? Can philosophy as a public endeavor help achieve this goal? What strategies in the classroom are best to encourage the good of democracy? This panel will deal with these issues and similar others.

Panel Facilitators: H. James McLaughlin and Blake Robinson | Rollins College

Panelists:

• L. Ryan Musgrave | Rollins College | “Re-centering Florida's *Other* Higher Education Story: American Pragmatic Liberal Arts at Rollins College, Then and Now”
• Chris Voparil | Lynn University | “Building Democratic Relations as a Remedy for Post-Truth Polarization: Dewey and Addams on Educating for Sympathetic Knowledge”
• Nancy Arden McHugh | University of Dayton | “Pragmatic Principles to Move Higher Education from Extractive Engagement with Communities to Transformative Engagement”
• Noëlle McAfee | Emory University | “The Riddle of Pedagogy in Dark Times”
• Mark Hopwood | The University of the South | “What is ‘Public Philosophy’?”

6:15–7:45 p.m. | Bush Auditorium

In higher education, we organize ourselves into associations, powerful collectives for advancing a shared purpose. Focused as we are at this convening on the roles for higher education in advancing democracy and preparing students for citizenship, how are higher education associations addressing the challenges we face? How can associations optimize influence and impact?

Facilitator: Grant Cornwell | President, Rollins College

Participants:

• Mike Gavin | Founder, Education for All; President, Delta College
• Marjorie Hass | President, The Council of Independent Colleges
• Bobbie Laur | President, Campus Contact
• Lynn Pasquerella | President, American Association of Colleges and Universities
• Carol Schneider | Senior Advisor, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition; President Emerita, American Association of Colleges and Universities
• Rajiv Vinnakota | President, The Institute for Citizens & Scholars