Monday Logic

The quiz question today was what do you think of David Brooks' argument here? We spent the class doing the practice test here. This was in preparation for the actual test to be given or turned in on Wednesday which is posted here.

History of Philosophy I Friday evening

The question this evening was which philosophy we discussed do you feel most comfortable with?

Thursday classes

For History of Philosophy II today the question was what do you think of Wagner's music? For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question was what do you think it would mean to be a Pantheist and to think the entire Universe is God?

Wednesday Logic

The quiz question today in Logic was to do syllogism AAO-2 .

Tuesday classes

For History of Philosophy II today the quiz question was regarding the plight of homeless people. Are they people too? But if we use the narrative requirement as a measure of the constitution of selves they may not be. (For my review see this link.) Neither are young children? Even adolescents? Or those with dementia? For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question is why do we have religion? Just when you believed the week could not get more exciting.... Ex Machina will be shown on Thursday evening, Feb. 25th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, ADM 148. Please invite your students. Snacks will be provided. This event is a conference preview, a great chance to chat about philosophy, and also an opportunity to talk about the major and upcoming Fall 16 classes to all who are interested. Thanks to Gunner for organizing and for the cute robot poster, attached. Stephanie Stephanie Bauer, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair Department of Philosophy University of Alaska Anchorage (907) 786-4677 slbauer@uaa.alaska.edu

Monday Logic

We began chapter 6 working with syllogisms. The quiz question was to do AII-3 as we were doing them in class. Write out the argument form, diagram it using a Venn diagram, (you don't have to email the diagram unless you have a way to do that of course), determine if the argument is valid or invalid, and if it is invalid explain what rule(s) it breaks.

History of Philosophy I Friday evening

The quiz question this evening was what kind of government do you think we have now?

Thursday classes

For History of Philosophy II the quiz question comes from Hegel's conception of self-consciousness applied to God. Do you think God is self-conscious? (Since this seems to require social dependency would God be as we see God?) For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question is why do you think Descartes tried to keep his whereabouts secret?

Logic Wednesday

The quiz question today was to do problem 25 on page 187.

Tuesday classes

For History of Philosophy II today we were discussing Kant's conception of our categories of Understanding and how this structure in our minds is itself structured. An example of how education is supposed to effect this structure is the famous lecture by David Foster Wallace This is Water where he argues an education enables you to take control over how you perceive the world around you. And is one of the main reasons for it. But Wallace is gone by his own hand. How does this reflect on the paradigm of meaning that he espouses in This is Water? Why did he kill himself? For Introduction to Philosophy today we discussed Scholasticism and Aquinas. My question is, are today's physicists conceptions of the forces of the universe roughly a continuation of what Aquinas considers Angels?

Monday Logic

The quiz question today was to think up a true or false statement that is not of the form A, E, I, or O - or that can be broken down into one or more of them.

Friday evening class

For History of Philosophy I there is a two part question for tonight. Since Aristotle argued only things that have substance exist the soul must be made of matter. So what is the soul for Aristotle? And the second question: Since the soul for Aristotle is associated with the body and there is no possibility of an afterlife what is the goal of life - of happiness - for Aristotle?

Thursday classes

The quiz question today for History of Philosophy II was in two parts: in the Detroit scenario imagine you were in the car next to the woman. What would the categorical imperative be? To interfere or not to interfere? Second part: what do you imagine you might actually have done? In Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question was what characteristics do you think God should have in order to be considered God?

Wednesday Logic

So give an example of your favorite fallacy and use it to give an argument you think is psychologically persuasive.

Tuesday Classes

The quiz question for History of Philosophy II today was the puzzle of solipsism. How do you know what you are experiencing is the real world and not some sort of dream or hallucination? For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question concerns original sin. What do you think original sin is supposed to be? Do we all have it? Are we all born sinful?

Monday Logic

Talking about humor and fallacies the question today was why do you think comedy in modern western societies is so important compared to how litte comedy there is in other countries and throughout history? (Am I wrong about this?) Daniel Dennett argues our sense of humor evolved to reward us for solving problems. So we seems to have had a sense of humor for a long time, but now it becomes almost like a religious event....

Friday night History of Philosophy I

The quiz question today was please give me a true statement. And indicate which form of statement type it is, A, E, I, or O or a combination of two or more of them. Do you think it is true that all true and false statements have to be of this type or can be broken down into statements of this type?

Thursday Classes

For History of Philosophy II today the quiz question is a choice. If you have never had to deal with the question - the famous question! If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody there to hear it does it make a sound? then this question is for you. If you have already had that question in Introduction to Philosophy then a better question might be to ask you what you think of my interpretation of Berkeley's concept of Spirit as what becomes for us Energy today. After all, he is in correspondence with Leibniz who speaks the same way calling Monads spiritual beings and today the Monads are considered similar to what are called Quarks. For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question concerns the historical Jesus. How do you interpret who Jesus was?

Logic Wednesday

The quiz question for today in preparation for next class where we begin discussing fallacies is to send me a link with your favorite comedian doing some standup. What fallacy do you think the comedian uses? By the way, thank you everyone for your help and patience during the medical emergency we had with the student in the hallway. He seems okay.

Tuesday classes

For History of Philosophy II on Leibniz the question was which of his inventions is your favorite? For Introduction to Philosophy today the quiz question was how is the feast of Trimalchio a contrast with Epicurus' philosophy as we know it?

Monday Logic

The quiz question, using the system in chapter three, analyze the argument by David Brooks.