Innovation Springs Interview 7: Jen Kling (Part 2)

• DH Center: https://labs.uccs.edu/crefdh/ 
• Legal Center: https://centerforlegalstudies.uccs.edu/
• Philosophy Dept: https://philosophy.uccs.edu/ 
• Ethics Bowl: https://philosophy.uccs.edu/ethics-bowl
• Hotel Bar Session Podcast: https://hotelbarpodcast.com/ 

📺 Viewers can access the full transcript or captions on the YouTube video for a deeper dive into the conversation.

https://youtu.be/VHnWYf7bIns 

🎧 Philosophy, Ethics & Conflict: Rethinking War, Resistance & Human Morality

How do philosophy and ethics help us understand war, resistance, morality, and human behavior in today’s world?

In this episode of Innovation Springs, host Hayley Blackburn welcomes back Dr. Jen Kling for a deeper conversation exploring philosophy, conflict, ethics, and political violence through both academic research and public dialogue.

Building on themes introduced in her earlier episode, Dr. Kling dives further into how philosophy can challenge assumptions about power, resistance, justice, and the systems that shape society. The conversation explores how philosophical thinking helps people question accepted norms, imagine alternatives, and critically engage with difficult global issues.

The episode also highlights the role of public philosophy through the Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, where complex philosophical ideas become accessible, conversational, and collaborative. From discussions of quiet resistance and oppression to the importance of dialogue and intellectual play, Dr. Kling emphasizes that philosophy is not confined to academia—it’s something people engage with every day.

Whether you're interested in ethics, political philosophy, digital humanities, or how philosophical thinking applies to real-world issues, this episode offers an engaging look at how ideas shape the way we understand conflict, community, and humanity itself.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How philosophy helps us rethink systems, conflict, and morality
• What “quiet resistance” means in political philosophy
• How philosophy intersects with ethics, war studies, and digital humanities

🔑 Key Quotes

“The world is this way… but it doesn’t have to be.”

“You can love things, and that itself can become resistance.”

“The good philosophy happens at the hotel bar after the conference.”

🎯 Why Students & Faculty Should Listen

This episode answers questions like “How does philosophy apply to real-world conflict and ethics?” and “How can public conversations make difficult ideas more accessible?”—making it especially valuable for students, faculty, and anyone interested in critical thinking, ethics, and interdisciplinary dialogue.

It also highlights how philosophy can foster collaboration, curiosity, and deeper engagement with social and political issues beyond the classroom.