Some ideas are meant to be challenged, and some histories demand to be uncovered. At Rowan University, the Philosophy Club tackled both on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with the discussion on “Knowledge: Colonization and Epistemicide.”

37 students, both philosophy majors and non-philosophy majors, joined together shortly before 6:30 p.m. for the meeting. Prior to the group discussion members of Phi Sigma Tau, Rowan University’s Philosophy Honor Society Lambda Chapter, gathered in a half circle to be inducted into the international honors society.

Shortly after the induction students in the honors society were invited to stay for the discussion and grab a slice of cheese pizza. Yuval Saar, president of the Philosophy Club opened the general meeting by going over the club’s basic community rules for the discussion.

“Our main mission is really just to create a safe environment for people to think about topics they probably wouldn’t have already and to engage with them using new methods,” said Saar who is also a philosophy and sociology double major, with a certificate of undergraduate studies in queer theory.

“Being a philosophy student isn’t just about learning different philosophical theories and frameworks– it’s about learning different ways to engage with knowledge and information,” said Saar.

Recognized by both Rowan’s Philosophy and World Religions Department and the Student Government Association (SGA), the student run club serves as a bridge between formal academic study and informal intellectual discussion. Members of the club aim to break down the misconceptions about philosophy and make it widely accessible to students of all majors and backgrounds.

Students including Molly Concannon, a senior psychology major who found out about the meeting via an email sent by Dr. Nathan Bauer, department chair and assistant professor of philosophy. He notified Concannon that she had been admitted into the Philosophy National Honors Society.

“I had never been to a club meeting before, but since I was being inducted into Phi Sigma Tau, I decided to stay and check it out,” said Concannon. “I figured it would be a good way to have deeper conversations and maybe make a friend or two before I graduate.”

Concannon felt nervous at first but quickly found the group to be open and welcoming to her and the insights she had to share on epistemicide.

“There were definitely a lot of people who knew each other already, and that made me feel a little bit anxious, but then I realized that everyone in the room had to have been the ‘new person’ at some point. The Philosophy Club members were really interested in hearing different ideas, and by the end of the meeting, I felt much more comfortable participating,” said Concannon.

The club meets biweekly for their general meeting discussions which they hold every other Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in room 411 at Discovery Hall. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic, ensuring that there’s something for everyone by the end of the semester. Previous topics of discussion have included altered states of consciousness, reproductive justice, and ethics with artificial intelligence.

“Well, the discussions tend to be more passionate when they involve deeply held beliefs. So, topics on religion and politics can get pretty lively. But the student leaders of the club do an amazing job of moderating these discussions. And, over time, they’ve cultivated an atmosphere of respecting different views and perspectives. They deserve a lot of credit for that,” Bauer said.

Beyond the debates, Bauer sees the club as an essential part of campus life.

“Every university should have a philosophy club. Students need a chance to explore their own intellectual views in a less formal setting outside the classroom. It’s a big part of the college experience, and it’s a chance to meet friends who also enjoy philosophizing. We get great turnout at our club events, which shows how much students crave these kinds of experiences,” said Bauer.

Whether students are passionate about philosophy or they are simply curious and want to expand their existing knowledge on a wide variety of topics with new concepts, members of the Philosophy Club welcome students of all majors and backgrounds to join the conversation, challenge their perspectives, and discover the power of philosophical thinking.

The club’s next two general meetings will be “Philosophy of the Cosmos” held on Tuesday, March 25, and “AI: Friend or Foe?” on Tuesday, April 8, both at 6:30 p.m. in room 411 at Discovery Hall.

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