27th Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below Read the 2019 Honorable Mention Essays Below, OR you can: 2019 Think-Off Results 2019 Think-Off Finalist Essays Michael Denny, Journalist from Staples, MN No Voting does not matter. It...
Celebrating Philosophers & Artists We are making yet another connection by hosting both the Great American Think-Off Reception and the Distinctly Minnesota Artist Reception as one big party! Help us Kick-Off the Think-Off in style! Join us June 7th at 6:30-8:30pm...
27th Great American Think-Off Saturday, June 8, 2019 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Reception to follow @ Cultural Center The 2019 Think-Off debate will be held at the James Mann Center for the Performing Arts (Auditorium) at the New York Mills School on Saturday,...
Final Four Announced “To Vote or Not to Vote: Does it Matter?” Essay Finalists to Debate Topic June 8, 2019 @ 7pm The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the 27th Annual Great American Think-Off....
UPDATE! Essays are now due April 15th, 2019! The Great American Think-Off, now in its 27th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once again...
Watch the 2018 Great American Think-Off Here: Think-Off 2018 On Video!
Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX! Runner-up Armchair Philosopher, Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA, out-argued Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA to advance to the final round of debate, wherein Anthony Berryhill took the prize! Before debating Bland, Berryhill first...
The four finalists for the 2018 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Tonya Abari of Nashville, TN; Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX; Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA; and Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA. Berryhill won the debate on June 9, while...
From the Great American Think-Off! Read All 10 Honorable Mention Essays Below, OR you can: Read About the Debate Here Read the 4 Finalists’ Essays Here The 5 Honorable Mentions who Said FAILURE Plays a Larger Role in One’s Life Are: Abdinasir Nourkadi,...
The Center Announces the Think-Off Debate Moderator: The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces Ashley Hanson as the moderator of debate among armchair philosophers for the 26th Annual Great American Think-Off this June. As a social practice theater artist,...
Success or Failure: Essay Finalists to Debate Topic Cultural Center Announces Great American Think-Off Debate Finalists The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the Great American Think-Off. These four win $500...
April 1 @ Midnight The deadline for applications to the Arts Retreat Program at the Cultural Center is midnight on Easter, Sunday! Learn more about the retreat here: Arts Retreat And Submit your application here: Submittable April 2 Because April 1 is a holiday...
An entrepreneur’s new business fails. A 7th grader receives the “most valuable player” award for basketball. A recovering addict fails to abstain. A singer auditions for and wins a role on Broadway. Everyone experiences some successes and failures in life, but...
Beginning in 2016, the Think-Off Committee established the new category of Honorable Mention essays to provide a way to showcase additional excellent essays beyond the top four finalists. Five Honorable Mention essays have been selected from each side and printed...
Pamela Lewis – 2017’s Greatest American Thinker! Had he lived during the 2016 presidential election, Pontius Pilate might have asked his famous and mocking question, “What is truth?” For me, as well as for many of my fellow Americans, the...
2017 Think-Off Question Answered: 2016 Election DID Change Our Perception of Truth New Yorker Named Greatest American Thinker in New York Mills Saturday, four armchair philosophers faced off in the Great Debate portion of the Great American Think-Off philosophy...
2017 is a special year for the Great American Think-Off, as it marks the 25th annual philosophical debate. Because of this milestone, the Cultural Center is hosting several weekend events; see the schedule below. Friday, June 9 6-9pm Think-Off Kick-Off at the NYM...
The Great American Think-Off essay contest finalists will come to New York Mills to debate each other before a live audience on Saturday June 10, 2017. These four deftly and expertly, from their computer desks or chaise lounges, answered the 25th annual...
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY
“Has the 2016 election changed our perception of truth?” The 25th annual Great American Think-Off question is a heavy-hitter in that it not only addresses the 2016 election for timely relevance, but also tackles the...
After 25 years of debating controversial philosophies, the Cultural Center is turning to the general public for question ideas for the Great American Think-Off’s 25th Anniversary in 2017. Question ideas and suggestions can be submitted to think-off@kulcher.org...
2016 America’s Greatest Thinker Named In the 24th annual Great American Think-Off, Sam Dennison of San Francisco, California successfully argued that income inequality does indeed threaten democracy. Silver medalist Alex Liuzzi also gave a convincing argument,...
Sam Dennison AGREES Income Inequality Threatens Democracy Note: Sam was the winner of the 2016 debate, earning the gold medal and title of America’s Greatest Thinker. Exactly ten years ago, Sam was selected as a finalist in the 2006 Great American Think Off,...
The 2016 Great American Think-Off live debate is this Saturday, June 11th at 7pm! CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW! Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. (No discounts apply.) Attend the live debate and cast your vote to help select America’s Greatest...
The Cultural Center would like to congratulate the 2016 Great American Think-Off Honorable Mentions. The Committee chose 10 outstanding essays to acknowledge–five arguments for and five arguments against–the proposition: Income Inequality Threatens...
The Cultural Center in New York Mills proudly announces the four finalists for the 2016 Great American Think-Off! These four individuals will travel to New York Mills this June to go head-to-head in three rounds of debate to settle this year’s topic: Income...
Calling all Americans to participate in this annual civil disagreement of powerful ideas. This year’s topic is especially relevant in our current political climate as we approach the presidential election. Click here to submit your essay today! Deadline is April...
More Ways to Win in 2016 Great American Think-Off America’s everyday philosophers have a new incentive to share their thoughts with the nation this year. The Great American Think-Off, a philosophy contest held annually in the small rural town of New York Mills,...
Topic for the 2016 Great American Think-Off: “Income Inequality Threatens Democracy” After much discussion, and appropriately, some healthy debate, the Great American Think-Off committee has decided on this year’s topic for the annual debate:...
Think-Off Finalist Marsh Muirhead interviewed by Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion live from Bemidji, November 2015 Click the link below to see Marsh Muirhead talk with Garrison Keillor about his past experiences with the Great American Think-Off,...
The 23rd Annual Great American Think-Off was held on Saturday, June 13th, 2015 at the James Mann Center for the Performing Arts in New York Mills. The first round featured David Lapakko and David Eckel both arguing for the side of “Technology Frees Us”....
America’s Greatest Thinker named for 2015 The Cultural Center in New York Mills is pleased to announce that David Lapakko of Richfield, MN, asserting that Technology Frees Us, was voted America’s Greatest Thinker on Saturday, June 13th by a crowd of 300 at the New...
The Cultural Center’s Great American Think-Off committee is pleased to announce that the four finalists for the 23rd annual debate have been selected to answer this year’s question, “Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us?”. Arguing that...
Tickets available now Buy your tickets now to get seats at this year’s debate slated to begin at 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2015. The event will be held at the James Mann Center for the Performing Arts at the New York Mills Schools. Cost for advance tickets...
MPR features Evan Johnson’s documentary about the Think-Off A documentary about the lost art of civil debate. Hundreds of participants from around the country submit essays answering a big philosophical question, and the finalists appear in the “Great...
Click on the poster image to print out a 8.5 x 11 poster of the 2015 Think-Off. Or send a link to your friends via email or on your Facebook page. Share the poster with your philosopher friends and neighbors.
Wondering about what the Think-Off is? The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills,...
Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us? Submit your 2015 essay no later than April 1, 2015 Winners will be notified no later than May 1, 2015 The 2015 debate will be held in New York Mills on Saturday, June 13 NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. – The 2015 Great American Think-Off has...
Love motivates us more by Jennifer Nelson I couldn’t believe. I didn’t even realize I was bleeding. Adrenaline is a surprisingly strong force. As I shakily stumbled away from my demolished vehicle, I had no idea I was even injured, let alone that my injuries would be...
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