Thursday Classes

For History of Philosophy the quiz question was what is your favorite leitmotiv written by John Williams? For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question today was what do you think of pantheism?

Wednesday Logic

The question posed today in Logic was do you feel ready for the second test? If so please let me know and depending on the vote we will have the second test a day ahead of plan - that is we will do test 2 on Monday instead of Wednesday next week.

Tuesday classes

How do you combat an unhappy consciousness? That was the quiz question for History of Philosophy. For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question was what rights do you think should be considered inalienable? (Notice this question is similar to question four in test two.)

Monday Logic

The quiz question today was diagram AAO-1 and explain what rule it breaks.

Thursday classes

For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question was does the earth go around the sun or does the sun go around the earth? For History of Philosophy today the question was which kind of life do you think is better - life here in Anchorage or life in an Islamist state like ISIS? (Notice this seems to suggest either belief in moral progress (relativity) or moral absolutism.

Wednesday Logic

The quiz question today was to diagram an argument given on the board.

Tuesday classes

The quiz question for History of Philosophy today concerned Max Weber's thesis that Protestantism and (industrial) Capitalism were linked. In Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question was what do you think angels are?

Monday Logic - Presidents Day

The quiz question today was to do two problems from the exercise on page 200: numbers 8 and 14. Notice the directions for this exercise follow the explanation of section H. Venn Diagrams and the Traditional Square. By the way, the music I mentioned is from the Faroe Islands which strikes me as having a relationship to the music in other arctic groups. To see Eivor go really wild have a listen here.

On bullshit

This is a link to remember: http://sebpearce.com/bullshit/ Or Bullshit

Thursday classes

For History of Philosophy the question was do you agree with Sam Harris or disagree? For Introduction to Philosophy the question was do you find the Ontological Argument of Anselm persuasive?

Wednesday Logic

The quiz question for today was: give a true (or false) statement you hear someone make and explain which type of categorical statement it is, A, E, I, or O.

Tuesday classes

History of Philosophy the quiz question was how do you know you have a persistent self? For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question was do you think studying the history of religion undercuts faith in religion?

Monday Logic

The quiz question today was who do you think is the most beautiful woman in the world?

Thursday classes

For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question was do you meditate? And if so, do you ever feel connected to the universe? This goes with Plotinus who reported he succeeded in doing that four times. Lots of folks mention using his techniques still today. For History of Philosophy the quiz question today was to examine the relationship between Leibniz and Lady Conway - where letters between them seem to show that Lady Conway came up with his idea of the Monad but yet she received no recognition for it. This seems to be a pretty regular pattern. Why do women seldom get recognized for their scientific achievements? See this page and read the last line for the connection.

Wednesday Logic

The quiz question today was based on the short TED talk by Sam Harris and is related to question five in the posted test for test 1: do you think Sam Harris is right?

Tuesday classes

For History of Philosophy the question today was how do you reconcile the conclusion of Leibniz that this is the Best of All Possible Worlds with your own experience? In Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question today was pretty close to question 5 on the first test - but meant to be a focus on which of those philosophers we read today that you may find a good guide to a happy life. It seems a particularly important question to me today since teaching values as part of a religious narrative is discouraged in our public school system, yet values are embedded in historically traditional religion, leaving young people with no formal training in ethics and values unless they receive it somewhere else. Some of those philosophers in the post Aristotelian period are often interpreted as presenting values that may be viewed as secular.

Monday Logic

Today the question in logic was name your favorite commercial (it does not have to be from the superbowl) and explain what the commercial argues for.