Thursday classes

The quiz question for Introduction to Philosophy is a scenario with two parts: you are driving home from work in Detroit in the evening when movement is totally stopped in three lane traffic. In the car next to you there is a woman. She is beset by three guys. The moral obligation you have is what - to interfere or not? Part two of this scenario is what you think you would actually do in this situation? For History of Philosophy the quiz question was how persuasive you think the Ontological Argument is?

Tuesday Class quiz

For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question is do you have a persistent self? In History of Philosophy the quiz question was have you ever been saved (in the religious sense)?

Quiz #12 Question 2 on pg 408

This problem was the quiz question for last week Quiz #12 Question 2 on pg 408. Thanks Lorenzo for reminding me. I didn't bring the book with me to my Mom's funeral. (I brought Henry Kissinger's new book instead.) But don't tell that to my brother Chris. Sorry I will miss class today but we don't fly from Philadelphia until this evening. Please have everyone do problems from chapter 8 and help one another get ready for the test next week. Does anyone feel comfortable working on chapter 9?

This week while I am away

For Introduction to Philosophy this week I love arguing about both Berkeley and Hume. They are really significant. And I take a strange tack with Berkeley since I interpret what he means by spirit as energy. I believe he and Leibniz were way ahead of their time and people thought they were crazy. Today we know Berkeley was right and material substance as Locke thought of it does not exist. If you notice this point in my blog before the discussion you might bring up what it would mean about his philosophy if what they meant by spirit is what we mean today by energy. Hume on the other hand persuades everyone to become a skeptic by taking empiricism to its extreme conclusion - the only thing I can know is what I am experiencing at this very moment. In History of Philosophy we start Augustine so this is where Christian dogma gets its structure. What great material. Sorry I will miss the discussions.

Thursday Classes

For History of Philosophy the quiz question today was what music of the period is your favorite? Here is the link to an online copy of the album I mentioned: Music or this one a whole album and notice tracts 15 and 16 are Christian. For Introduction to Philosophy the question was (and you may have already heard this question!) If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody there to hear it does it make a sound?

Tuesday Classes

For History of Philosophy the question today was - have you ever meditated? For Introduction to Philosophy the question was - do you think Spinoza is persuasive?

Logic - Friday

There was only one problem for the quiz question today. Problem 28 on page 383.

Thursday Classes

For Introduction to Philosophy the quiz question today concerned Social Contract Theory: what rights do you think are important for our social contract? For History of Philosophy we were reading Epicurus and the question is: what do you think of his argument concerning death?

Tuesday Classes

For History of Philosophy the question concerned Aristotle's view that males are naturally superior to females. "Silence is a woman's glory" For Introduction to Philosophy the question regards the issue of dreams and how we know we are living in the real world and not in a dream. How do you know you are not in a dream?

Thursday Classes

For Introduction to Philosophy I asked how Gregorian Chant makes you feel. Listen to some and see. For History of Philosophy we discussed the Soul and Eudaimonia. What do you consider your personal Eudaimonia? What is the kind of life that you think would make you happy? So, what happiness are you pursuing?