Our Mission
Grey Havens Philosophy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches people of all generations to think critically and creatively through philosophy. Thinking together makes our community better!
Our Approach
Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle - that’s Greek philosophy. But Doctor Who, Princess Leia, and Gandalf? That’s Geek Philosophy! For many of us, it’s hard enough figuring out what we think - much less why we think it. Yet, everyone from children as young as three to senior adults asks themselves the big questions of philosophy every day, often without realizing it. Questions like, “Is it okay if I don’t go the speed limit?” actually touch on concepts of justice. “What will make me happy today?” delves into the pursuit of a good life. And “What’s the point of all of this?” ultimately explores the essence of being human. This process of wrestling with abstract concepts and pursuing truths about ourselves and the world around us helps us shape our identities, lead intentional lives, and build connections with others.
This way of thinking, which is generally called philosophical thinking, often goes unrecognized because we associate philosophy with big, academic words like utilitarianism, epistemology, and metaphysics (huh?!) and with intimidating settings like university lecture halls. At Grey Havens Philosophy, we’ve found that thinking deeply about life’s big questions is easier when it’s grounded in things we know and love - like books, shows, games, music, and movies. That’s why, in 2010, our co-founders Kelly Cowling and Robyn Bosica coined the term Geek Philosophy to describe a way of thinking that uses themes from popular culture and the community of fandom to start discussions about the big questions of life, the universe, and everything (and, yes, we know from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy that the answer is 42. But why is the answer 42?!).
Our Impact
Grey Havens Philosophy is part of a movement known as Philosophy for Children and Communities, or P4C, which is practiced in over 60 countries. The idea is simple. Everyone asks themselves the big questions of philosophy, but often without realizing it. P4C teaches people to focus on and think about these ideas critically, creatively, and collaboratively. Central to the P4C approach is the group of individuals that come together to explore these topics, which is called a Community of Inquiry. Exploring ideas in a safe space that is focused on caring about oneself, each other, and each person’s opinions bonds the group together. Over time, a Community of Inquiry allows individuals to become more tentative in their own convictions, more accepting of other perspectives, and more willing to confront deeper and deeper philosophical questions.
Five decades of research and our own evaluations show that participating in philosophy discussions helps children and adults to:
Achieve more in every academic subject, including science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
Improve social skills
Form lasting, meaningful friendships
Make better, more informed decisions
Practice respect and empathy for others and their views
Crucially, we have observed - and research supports - that the highest gains are experienced by those individuals with the fewest advantages. Grey Havens is proud to support a disproportionately large LGBTQ+ community, who find acceptance, understanding, and the freedom to be themselves in the Communities of Inquiry that we organize.
Thinking deeply together is a profoundly humanizing experience even for those who appear to have stark differences. It teaches people to engage in civil discourse rather than harmful rhetoric. It helps us all to not only examine and articulate our own views but to use reason and empathy to understand the views of others. Thinking together turns a group of disparate people into a supportive community, the kind of community in which anyone would want to grow up and grow old.