The award-winning cultural critic Carlin Romano comes to the American Academy in Rome to discuss what philosophy is and who “counts” as a philosopher, especially in relation to the United States over the last 150 years. Drawing on his widely praised 2013 book America the Philosophical, Romano makes the case that, to understand philosophy as practiced in American life, one needs to look beyond academic departments of philosophy. Instead, Romano understands philosophy broadly, as the search for a way of life, a search to which many American thinkers have contributed. This conversation, moderated by Academy Director Christopher S. Celenza (1994 Fellow), will explore the different corners of American cultural life in which philosophy can be found. This event is cosponsored by John Cabot University.