Thursday, January 18, 2024

Defining Philosophy

Some thoughts on the nature of philosophy from the American Philosophical Association:

https://www.apaonline.org/page/undergraduates

And here's R. P. Wolff's (a member of my dissertation committee) definition from his best-selling philosophy textbook, About Philosophy:

Literally, love of wisdom, philosophy is the systematic, critical examination of the way in which we judge, evaluate, and act, with the aim of making ourselves wiser, more self-reflective, and therefore better people.

Friday, January 12, 2024

Welcome

My spring, 2024 seminars begin Wednesday, January 17th. The left margin of this blog contains links to course syllabi and ancillary documents, along with a dedicated "assignments" page for each course.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Turkeys of the World Unite


Image result for tofurky day

On "Turkey" Day

One bird we honor on this day of thanks;
Alongside our symbol of freedom she ranks.
Regard for her grows as we near “Turkey Day.”
(I’ll parse her death as “regard,” if I may.)

Are turkeys the victims of vile human power?
An enlightened few harbor thoughts fairly dour:
“These birds live their lives in a self-conscious way;
These birds aren't for stuffing, or eating,” they say.

Most will reply that tradition's a right;
One sufficiently strong to eclipse the bird’s plight:
"Perhaps you're just bored, confused, or hate cooking;
It’s only a bird (and rather ill-looking)."

"Those in the know limit thought to our brains:
Alone we can suffer, feel pleasures and pains.
Just meeting our needs – a formidable feat;
How dreary the world, each entrée sans meat!"

"Life’s like a raft, with but room for one kind;
(So barely embrained and too simple to mind.)"
The turkey we honor on this day of thanks;
Alongside our symbol of freedom she ranks.

DKBJ

https://www.upc-online.org/turkey.html

The."human shields" fallacy

https://jacobin.com/2023/11/human-shields-bombing-gaza-palestine-israel-defense-forces-morally-bankrupt