Gaurav Vazirani initiates online introductory videos to philosophy

June 20, 2013

Graduate student Gaurav Vazirani has started the website Wi-Phi, whose mission ”is to introduce people to the practice of philosophy by making videos that are freely available in a form that is entertaining, interesting and accessible to people with no background in the subject.” The aim is “for people to learn how to do philosophy rather than for them to simply learn what philosophers have thought,” and the group behind Wi-Phi sees it “as equally important to develop the critical thinking skills that are core to the methodology of philosophy. We see this as a part of a larger mission: building our collective capacity to engage in rational thought and discourse.  By providing the toolkit for building better minds, we hope that Wi-Phi plays some small role in realizing that goal.” Among others, the philosophy department’s Steve Darwall, Greg Ganssle, Geoff Pynn, Kelley Schiffman and Tim Yenter have contributed to the website so far.