On most weeknights, Eagle Creek Brewing Company is filled with the lively chatter of the usual crowd– friends catching up, locals unwinding with craft beers. But once a week, something different happens—a gathering that transforms the brewery's upstairs patio into a space for deep thought, debate, and philosophical exploration.
This weekly gathering, "Philosophy After Dark," has become a fixture organized by Georgia Southern University's Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
The story of Philosophy After Dark stretches back to Dr. Dan Larkin's days at Villanova University around 2005, where it began as "Tapping Philosophy."
"It started when I was at Villanova," Larkin recalls. "My best friends and I would meet with two professors, Dr. David Schindler and Michael Proche, at the same bar each week."
What made those gatherings formative was the dynamic between his mentors. "One was a Catholic Plato scholar, the other an atheist Marxist philosophy scholar. They disagreed on everything, but it was always in a way that was charitable and constructive," Larkin recalls.
This experience showed Larkin that "you could have fundamental disagreements yet talk about them charitably, always seeking some consensus or shared truth."
The tradition followed Larkin to the University of Memphis from 2010 to 2017, where Dr. Tailor Ransom, now a colleague at Georgia Southern, first joined these philosophical gatherings around 2014.
The Core Philosophy Professors
Today, three professors form the backbone of Philosophy After Dark: Dr. Larkin, Dr. Tailor Ransom, and Dr. Bill Eaton. Their consistent presence every Thursday creates continuity crucial to the program's success.
"It's really important that it's consistent," Larkin emphasizes. "Always Thursdays, always Eagle Creek Brewery, always 6:30 PM. We've had the same three professors showing up pretty much every single week since 2018."
Dr. Paul Tubig, another faculty member involved with the program, explains the significance of these gatherings: "Philosophy After Dark is a weekly gathering where students, faculty, and community members meet to discuss interesting philosophical questions that are both timely and timeless. To me, these events are valuable, both to the students and to the community."
The professors' occasional disagreements create powerful teaching moments. "Last week, Bill and Taylor were going back and forth clarifying something," Larkin remembers. "I was watching students' faces – they had that same look I had years ago watching my professors debate. It's eye-opening for them to see that intellectual disagreement is okay."
Creating a Space for Difficult Conversations
The gathering's first rule is straightforward: never yell at anyone, regardless of what they say.
"If someone says something truly offensive, I'll talk privately with them," Larkin explains. "But we never yell because we want to create a space where people feel encouraged to speak. If someone gets shouted at, not only will that student likely not return, but others who haven't yet found the courage to speak up will be afraid to share their thoughts."
The professors often deliberately take contrary positions to spark debate. During a discussion about censorship, Larkin spent the entire evening advocating for censorship restrictions – only to reveal later that he personally opposes most censorship. "I was trying to get students to fight back, to defend their beliefs and then hear criticisms of those beliefs," he explains.
His approach stems from observation: "I can't think of a single time when someone insulted me for my beliefs and that convinced me I was wrong," he says. "If the goal is to persuade others, that requires actually listening to them, understanding their perspective, and then calmly explaining why you see things differently."
Philosophy After Dark covers remarkably diverse ground. "Sometimes the topics are just silly," Larkin shares. "Like, are holes things? You dig a hole – is that absence of something actually a thing itself?"
The group follows a deliberate rotation: "We alternate between ethical/political topics, metaphysical or theological questions, and religious subjects," Larkin explains. "Ethical and political discussions tend to draw bigger crowds because they connect directly to people's lives, but we want to expose everyone to the full spectrum of philosophical inquiry."
The professors witness remarkable transformations through these discussions. Larkin recalls a student raised in a fundamentalist religious environment who attended a discussion about same-sex marriage with distinct views. Rather than shutting her down, other students asked thoughtful questions and offered alternative perspectives. "By the end, she had moved from sitting on the outskirts to joining the main table," Larkin remembers. "That's the goal – not necessarily changing minds, but encouraging communal learning."
Hot Ones: Philosophy With a little Fire
A special event known as "Philosophy After Dark: Hot Ones Edition" adds literal heat to intellectual discourse. Inspired by the popular YouTube show, this event places faculty members center stage as they tackle progressively spicier chicken wings while answering philosophical questions submitted by students.
"I was watching an episode with Pedro Pascal and thought, 'This is brilliant. We should do this,'" Larkin recalls. He convinced his colleagues to join him, purchased the actual hot sauces used on the show, and partnered with Eagle Creek Brewery to provide wings.
Unlike their Thursday gatherings, professors cannot prepare for questions in advance. "We eat increasingly hot wings while trying to answer philosophical questions," Larkin explains.
The format produces unexpected authenticity. "It's impossible to lie when you're that uncomfortable," Larkin laughs. "You can't think straight, so whatever comes out is your honest thought in that moment."
The success of Philosophy After Dark inspired another initiative called Religion on Tap, which bridges philosophical and theological discussions in a similarly accessible environment.
Religion on Tap brings together a philosophy professor, a religious studies professor, and a local religious leader for panel discussions on topics like death and the afterlife. "Each panelist gives a short talk, and then there's 45 minutes of Q&A from the audience," Larkin explains. "It's always packed."
The Value of Philosophical Dialogue
These various initiatives share a common purpose: building intellectual community. "The main reason I do all of this is because having a philosophical community was so important to me as a student," Larkin reflects.
"These events are valuable because critical thinking is valuable, and these events model, foster, and celebrate critical thinking in our students," Dr. Tubig emphasizes. "They also allow us to engage with the broader Statesboro community. We believe that philosophy offers something valuable to the world, but the goods of philosophy are usually confined in classrooms. These events allow us to do public outreach and extend philosophical education and engagement to the broader public."
Eagle Creek Brewery has proven an ideal partner, providing the upstairs patio space each week. The brewery setting contributes significantly to the event's appeal – comfortable, relaxed, and distinctly different from academic environments.
"We always have a core group of about 15 students who come every single week, and sometimes it grows to around 30," Larkin notes. "When it gets that large, we break into smaller groups and take over the entire balcony."
For many participants, Philosophy After Dark provides something rare: structured space for meaningful conversation with diverse perspectives. "One participant told me, 'It's different than anything else in town. You're sitting with a beer, talking about things that actually matter – things you don't always get to reflect on in your daily routine,'" Larkin shares.
As Philosophy After Dark continues to grow, Larkin sees it as more than just an extracurricular activity – it's a model for how meaningful dialogue can happen in polarized times.
"At a time when it's easy to feel disconnected or caught in our bubbles, these conversations remind us how valuable engaging with different perspectives truly is," he reflects. "Philosophy isn't just about abstract theories – it's about how we live, make decisions, and relate to one another."
For the professors, watching students develop their philosophical muscles brings particular satisfaction. "We don't dumb things down," Larkin emphasizes. "If someone mentions Nietzsche, we ask them to explain his ideas so everyone understands, even if they've never read him. When you simplify too much, you don't give people anything to aspire to."
This approach creates an inclusive yet intellectually rigorous environment for people of all backgrounds and knowledge bases. "You don't have to have read Kant to join the conversation," Larkin shared. "Because if someone mentions Kant, we'll explain his ideas to you right there."
Next time life's big questions start nagging at you – about morality, existence, or what it means to be human – consider grabbing a pint and some wings (hot or not) at Eagle Creek. The conversation awaits, and your voice belongs in it.
Philosophy After Dark welcomes newcomers every Thursday during Georgia Southern's academic semesters at 6:30 PM, with the special Hot Ones Edition typically happening once yearly at Eagle Creek Brewing Company. Religion on Tap events occur during the semester. Check with the GS Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies for specific dates and topics.
