SHS Philosophy Club

The Politics of Control/Stimuli/Behavior: FlackCheck.Org

2011-11-29T17:10:00.002-05:00

You might enjoy an entertaining look at "truth out of context"... dare we call them lies? Manipulative for sure. For more, visit flackcheck.org or listen to an interesting interview [here click listen on "Political Ads of the 2012 Race].

Take Control of P-Club!

2011-11-17T18:57:00.004-05:00

Post your suggestions/directions/topics/questions...
...where does P-Club go in December?

(You need to accept an invitation to become a member of this blog and post comments... sorry, too much spam if we don't do it this way. Please email Mr. B by going to www.scituatehighschool.com, clicking on faculty, and sending me an email request. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME so I can be sure that you're not a spammer. Thanks!)

Milgram Experiment

2011-11-17T18:48:00.001-05:00

Here is a longer video of a contemporary confirmation of Milgram's results. Sorry about the commercial inserts.

Control, Stimuli, Behavior

2011-10-24T18:08:00.000-05:00

A combination of our three main ideas.

The control and introduction of stimuli such as information into our environment that can or may influence our behavior or behavorial patterns or normal behavior of a person.

Supermarkets and Store Organization

2011-10-24T17:57:00.000-05:00

I thought this was an interesting bit about markets and how they are organized to influence the decisions of what to buy. If you ever run in the market for milk or a dairy product you will most likely realize you walk through the entire store to reach it. This is specifically designed by people for there market to encourage you to buy more stuff. A trip through the store is going to make you more likely to buy things then a short trip to the front of the store.

C/S/B: Propaganda (Part III)

2011-10-23T18:01:00.002-05:00

'Brandwashing'... ...before you were even born?! Have a listen to [this].

C/S/B: Propaganda (Part II)

2011-10-21T18:19:00.002-05:00

Control/Stimuli/Behavior: Intro to Propaganda (Part I)

2011-10-21T06:09:00.005-05:00

Click this link to a page about wartime propaganda.

First Topic 2011

2011-10-21T05:57:00.005-05:00

I was impressed with our members' willingness and ability to come to a thoughtful consensus on our first topic. Thank you :)

Can you weave the three elements pictured above into a provocative, personal question that will drive your philosophical inquiry? If so, post your question to this thread!

I will do my best to find interesting avenues into this trivium, but remember that THIS IS YOUR CLUB and student leadership is where it's at--if you want to share a thought, song, poem, video, or lead an entire discussion, just let me know! -mrb

Brainstorm for First Topic/Question of 2011

2011-10-21T05:56:00.003-05:00

Please add further ideas, questions, or refinements of the above suggestions to this thread...

Welcome to P-Club 2011-12: (Winning?) The Salt and Pepper Game

2011-10-06T13:39:00.009-05:00

Here is a link to the yet-to-be-discussed essay by

Jean Paul Sarte, We Write for Our Own Time.

Feel free to post a reflection on today's Salt and Pepper Game,

a response to Sarte's essay, or suggest a new topic/question

for the club to explore...

Inception

2011-02-10T14:55:00.002-05:00

The movie inception is mainly about dreams and being able to control your own dreams.

Welcome to P-club 2010-2011

2010-10-14T11:44:00.004-05:00

Greetings thinkers!

Let's use this thread to post new topic/question ideas. Over the next two weeks we'll brainstorm and then narrow down our ideas... until our first topic/question emerges. Because there is a Period 9 assembly next week, our next P-club meeting will on Oct 28th. In the meantime...

What's on your philosophical mind?

Should we continue to explore the mystery of individuals/individualism? If so, how do we begin to explore this? If not, what else should we explore?

PS: Scroll down two posts for links to In the Waiting Line lyrics and music video.

WAR, WORKING OUT: What is it good for?

2010-06-07T17:35:00.014-05:00

In 1967, a satirical book was published that was later deemed a "hoax" by some. It raised many critical and challenging issues pertaining to the nature of industrial society and war, including questions about the 'purpose' and 'benefits' of environmental and social waste--our chronic waste of natural resources, and the waste of human life itself. Here's one excerpt:

The production of weapons of mass destruction has always been associated with economic "waste." The term is pejorative, since it implies a failure of function. But no human activity can properly be considered wasteful if it achieves its contextual objective. The phrase "wasteful but necessary," applied not only to war expenditures, but to most of the "unproductive" commercial activities of our society, is a contradiction in terms.
"... The attacks that have since the time of Samuel’s criticism of King Saul been leveled against military expenditures as waste may well have concealed or misunderstood the point that some kinds of waste may have a larger social utility." [13]
In the case of military "waste," there is indeed a larger social utility. It derives from the fact that the "wastefulness" of war production is exercised entirely outside the framework of the economy of supply and demand. As such, it provides the only critically large segment of the total economy that is subject to complete and arbitrary central control. If modern industrial societies can be defined as those which have developed the capacity to produce more than is required for their economic survival (regardless of the equities of distribution of goods within them), military spending can be said to furnish the only balance wheel with sufficient inertia to stabilize the advance of their economies. The fact that war is "wasteful" is what enables it to serve this function. And the faster the economy advances, the heavier this balance wheel must be.

But we needn't stir up a war if we have disposable income and/or energy we wish to expend. Consider the juxtaposition of the people/activities below (a laboring peasant featured on the cover of a Led Zeppelin album, and a pastime familiar to us in the West):

Is there something tragically wrong with accumulating excesses of natural resources, energy, food, calories--time itself--and then just burning off those consumptive excesses whether it be the flaring of landfill gas [pic] [commentary] or simply 'working' out (playing) to burn away 'extra' calories in our 'free' time? José Ortega y Gasset wrote:

Men play at tragedy because they do not believe in the reality of the tragedy which is actually being staged in the civilized world.

What are your thoughts?

In The Waiting Line

2010-06-06T19:08:00.002-05:00

Lyrics [here].

In Distrust of Movements by Wendell Berry

2010-05-27T10:18:00.002-05:00

If you'd like to read more of Wendell Berry's essay, here's the link. Remember to wear outdoor-appropriate clothing for next week's meeting, and bring something to sit on if you weren't a fan of today's logs...

The Stranger (Chapters 1-4) by Albert Camus

2010-02-25T11:33:00.009-05:00

Here are four different covers

to Camus' The Stranger...

Some space to post your thoughts

and questions as you read Chapters 1-4...

Philosophical Backpacks

2010-02-20T08:46:00.001-05:00

Well, Sam Toohey asked me to post this, apparently I wasn't the only one having trouble posting new topics. I found it, in case that hasn't been made clear.

"How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV... the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home... I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office... and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks."

Bob Dylan Interview

2010-01-28T14:24:00.003-05:00

Not sure if anyone got anything out of today's video... members seemed more excited about the 'date from the future' and the 'jesus' avatar at the end... I've listened 4 or 5 times, and I seem to grasp something different each time.

Semantic Theory of Truth

2010-01-22T18:12:00.002-05:00

Although the Semantic Theory of Truth seems unpopular within our club, I was wondering today: if we didn't have written or spoken language, would there still be a 'thing' that is 'truth'?

Quote

2010-01-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Dylan S. asked me to post this quote shared at the end of P-Club today:

The institutions of civil society, such as the family, religion, and especially education, are consequently incorporated within a functionalist and reductionist view of the state in which they perform the ideological task of ensuring the support of the subordinate classes for the capitalist system and for the needs of capital. –John J. Rodger commenting on Althusser

Truth, Reality, and Lies

2010-01-07T11:05:00.003-05:00

The show we listened to [here].

Improv Everywhere [here].

Calculating Relative Worth

2009-12-14T15:50:00.005-05:00

A British think-tank has devised a way to calculate the relative worth of people/professions... and found that hospital custodians are worth more than city bankers. Waddya think?

Is this a legitimate claim?

2009-11-27T21:19:00.002-05:00

My Country is at war, but I am not.

The National Day of Listening

2009-11-25T17:59:00.002-05:00

November 27, 2009

Who needs an ear?

Flabbergasted

2009-11-22T21:41:00.001-05:00

Our Deepest (unit of?) value...

2009-11-19T11:16:00.001-05:00

Our new topic/question: Is anything valueless/valuable?

I got the idea for today's thought experiment from the second paragraph of [this] very interesting article. Here are our results thus far...

 Pleasure/Good Feeling
 Safety/Avoidance of Fear
 Happiness/Comfort
 Companionship/Understanding
 Living in Positive Memories of the Past
 Purpose/A Reason for Being
 Liberty of Thoughts and Actions
 Being Accepted into Something Bigger

What a fantastic list! Feel free to post a comment and add to or revise this list...

IN TWO WEEKS we will broach the challenging question of whether any/all values are intrinsic or extrinsic. Read more [here].

MOAR TOPICS

2009-11-12T10:19:00.001-05:00

What is the most human color? (Aesthetics)
Is Truth Relative or Absolute? (Morality/Metaphysics) --12 Votes--
Life other places?
Why do we do what we do? --6 Votes--
Is freedom Free?
"Why would you do that?"
What constitutes pain?
Are emotions physical or mental?
Is anything valueless or valueable? --13 Votes--- (WINNER)
Why do people accept/reject religion?
What do we have to lose or gain? (Morality/Motivation)
Do our minds have hard-wired personalities? --11 Votes--
What do we owe?
Is it ever right to.......?

~ Bookmark

Topics List, 11-5-09

2009-11-05T10:38:00.004-05:00

Topics List we came up with today: (Mr. B would be proud.)
Morality:
Death/Mortality:
Ethics:
Time/Forever
What else is out there?
What do we owe?
Love-Trust
Seven Deadly Sins
Are People Machines?
Nature Vs. Nurture
Is anything absolute?
Hate
Relatively
Supernatural
Evolution vs Creationism
Why do we do what we do? (Motivation)
Individualism

~Bookmark

Background Banter

2009-10-08T22:31:00.002-05:00

For those of you that don't know me or Mike very well, we have a bit of a friendly debate that constantly goes on between us. We like to argue religion, we thought it would be fun to post a thread here on Religion, we usually go back and forth, but thought it would be awesome for people to jump in at will.

~Bookmark

Suggest our next topic/question

2009-10-08T13:53:00.002-05:00

Post your questions/ideas for our next discussion here...

IFS and CANS

2009-10-08T13:36:00.004-05:00

From today's readings:

He [J. L. Austin] might argue that if our ordinary use of 'can' really does enshrine an indeterminist belief, so much the worse for it. You might as well argue that the heliocentric hypothesis is false on the grounds that it conflicts with the traditional beliefs enshrined in the phrase 'terra firma.' To be sure, he must now give up the claim that he is only analyzing 'can' as it is traditionally used. But this would not trouble him much. Our actual use of the word 'can,' he will now say, enshrines a false belief, and the sooner we get rid of it the better.

To accept the possibility of Austin's example and the interpretation he puts on it is to reject the thesis that 'he can' in this sort of case means 'he always does, if...'; but it invites, and I shall try to show that it requires, the thesis that 'he can' means 'he usually does, if...' This would be a crucial, indeed a fatal change, if the issue were between determinism and indeterminism; but it is not; the issue is the possibility of an hypothetical analysis of 'can.' Let us agree for the moment that an ability is inherently liable not to produce success, on occasion, and that for no reason. It is also inherently liable to produce success, at least on most occasions. If you miss an occasional three-foot putt, your ability to hole three-foot putts may not be in doubt; but if you miss too many, you lack the ability. 'He can,' then, implies 'he usually succeeds, if he tries'; and equally, though one success might be a fluke, 'he usually succeeds, if he tries' implies 'he can.'

From P. H. Nowell Smith, "Ifs and Cans," Theoria, XXVI, Part 2 (1960), pp.85-101. A reply to J. L. Austin: Ifs and Cans. British Academy Lecture, Oxford University Press, 1956.

First Meeting: Fatalism/Determinism

2009-10-01T10:03:00.006-05:00

Wow, 26 members! Here are a couple articles on determinism:

Determinism (Wikipedia)

Causal Determinism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. --Albert Einstein

The secret to appearing 'free' is knowing how to hide your causes? --Mr. B

Welcome to Philosophy Club 2009-2010!

2009-09-23T14:13:00.003-05:00

We're starting the year off with 20 members, woo-hoo~! Ten freshman, four sophomores, one junior, and five seniors; a well rounded group!

Our first topic will be FATE, and during our first meeting on Thursday October 1st we'll be watching about 20 minutes of a film called Pi whether you like it or not (just accept your fate, will ya?) and then discussing the inevitability of it all. Yeah, you know it is... yes you do... yeah-uh...

On Kindness

2009-07-01T11:40:00.003-05:00

Hey All,

I caught the first half of this radio show this morning. It both complements and extends the conversation that Julie K. inspired about a month ago... hope you find the podcast and/or the book engaging...

DIY P-Club T-shirts... see Mr. B for details!

2009-06-19T11:25:00.001-05:00

Personal Political Doctrines?

2009-06-18T12:09:00.002-05:00

Oka so I don't really Know when this concept popped into my head, but it always seems to creep up on me during some form of an election, November has become an enemy of my mind in a way. There are many kinds of political beliefs/stereotypes shall we say, you know? conservative, democrat, liberal, etc. But what about the people, like me, whom cannot say that they agree with every part of a certain doctrine? I for example am pro-life in the extreme, but i advocate gay marriage practically just as strongly...what do you call me? a conserveral? a liberative? no. none of those work or exist for that matter. What if we had the power to create our own political doctrines, without running as or calling ourselves independents? Just a thought really... if you don't personally whaat you would call your views, here are a few links that could help you the first is a test that will place you on a political spectrum as to what you would call yourself.

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

and the second is a more detailed spectrum...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/36/European-political-spectrum.png/358px-European-political-spectrum.png

have fun!!!

Last Discussion!!!!!!

2009-06-15T16:25:00.002-05:00

Okay People, [and MrB]

We (well I would, maybe i'm assuming too far to say that you all would too) would like to have at least one more discussion before the year is out, am I right? Well, how about thurday after school this week? This seems like a reasonable time to have a discussion, as far as what we discuss that has yet to be figured out, not that it really matters, because we have good discussions regardless of what we do really. We could allow our senior to have their last time, or we could try and wrap up a previous discussion, I could really care less, but please respond to this!!!!!! Leave comments, or email me =] (it's under the contacts in previous Philosophy Club emails....)

Thanks!

Bartering... one day at a time...

2009-05-21T10:12:00.008-05:00

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.... ....d.

What is a day worth to you? What did you trade today for? What's the sum of your days worth?

Waking Life (Part I)

2009-04-02T13:24:00.002-05:00

Here is the historical event [more here] on which one of the scenes in Waking Life was based. It's time to move beyond (a)musement.

V for Vendetta (Part I)

2009-03-26T10:12:00.002-05:00

Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine- the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.

...and starting a new one!

2009-03-19T10:03:00.002-05:00

Suggestions so far: Selfishness, Dreams, Time, Existence,...

I find it helpful when a topic is worded in the form of a question, but I leave that to you.

Wrapping up one topic...

2009-03-19T09:59:00.002-05:00

Thanks to C.H. for leading the finale of our long soiree: What do we owe others? Could you take a few moments to post your best personal answer to that outstanding question? I think it would be neat to read what each member is currently thinking on this...

Is it possible to fail... ...at life?

2009-03-13T09:44:00.005-05:00

Are their any absolute values or standards by which we can judge another person's life? ...as good? ...as bad? ...as moral? ...as immoral? Or is every such measure of a person relativistic... i.e. people such as Stalin were not really bad or immoral in any real or absolute sense... they were just the kind of people we we'd rather not have the company of... people who we don't 'like' in a subjective sense, and nothing more (or less)? Are Nietzsche's century-old nihilistic prophesies being fulfilled? He predicted,

What I relate is the history of the next two centuries. I describe what is coming, what can no longer come differently: the advent of nihilism... For some time now our whole European culture has been moving as toward a catastrophe, with a tortured tension that is growing from decade to decade: restlessly, violently, headlong, like a river that wants to reach the end... (Will to Power)

Helmut Thielicke states the damning conclusion, the cliff over which such a river rushes: "Nihilism literally has only one truth to declare, namely, that ultimately Nothingness prevails and the world is meaningless" (Nihilism: Its Origin and Nature with a Christian Answer, 1969). Personally, I find the paradoxical reply of a local philosopher both challenging and inspirational:

"To fail at failure is to win." --C.D.

Let's return to our outstanding question, "What do we owe others?" Such a pessimistic philosophy as nihilism would seem to answer, "We don't owe others anything... we don't owe them sh*t!" Note that such an apathetic perspective/philosophy doesn't hold anyone accountable for anything! It seems to leave us with the at-once-scary and yet-deceptively-comfortable conclusion that one cannot fail at life... nor can one really succeed at anything, either. Is that what you believe? Or are we striving for something truly great in life? Something absolutely worth it? What is that thing, if it is even a thing at all?

Human rights, your rights, come from... mob rule?

2009-03-10T10:10:00.002-05:00

An interesting article about mob rule.

If human rights don't come from the mob (the voting or activist majority), then where do they come from? Our recent discussions suggest that there are no absolutes (other than an absolute statement such as that -ha)... so does that mean that humans have no absolute rights... that 'rights' are figments of our willful imagination? Doesn't that plunge us into "a cold inhuman world" where "nothingness, incoherence, and absurdity" will triumph... a nihilist's world?

Response to Nihilism

2009-03-05T15:04:00.003-05:00

A thread in which to continue today's discussion...

Artist: CHATTERbOX

Album: despite

Track: 8 External (3:49)

Ya buncha nihilists!

2009-02-26T18:13:00.005-05:00

From the article we began today:

Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated... [rejecting] the authority of the state, church, and family.... When Demosthenes (c.371-322 BC), for example, observes that "What he wished to believe, that is what each man believes", he posits the relational nature of knowledge... Ethical nihilism or moral nihilism rejects the possibility of absolute moral or ethical values. Instead, good and evil are nebulous, and values addressing such are the product of nothing more than social and emotive pressures.

Wow.

So, is there no such thing as good and evil, right and wrong? Do we owe others... nothing? Are ethical standards nothing more than the product of [baseless] social and emotive pressures? Should women, children, minorities, homosexuals etc. have certain rights because... well... because someone just feels like they should?

Trapped in sterile anguish? Are you an exact co-incidence of yourself, such that the notion of having-to-be [ethical] has no meaning?

2009-02-13T07:36:00.004-05:00

Here’s the full paragraph from which I read the (bolded) sentence during yesterday’s discussion (The Ethics of Ambiguity, Beauvoir, p9-10). This is meaty stuff… take some time with it and see if you can meet and engage the challenges within:

From the beginning, existentialism defined itself as a philosophy of ambiguity. It was by affirming the irreducible character of ambiguity that Kierkegaard opposed himself to Hegel, and it is by ambiguity that, in our own generation, Sarte, in Being and Nothingness, fundamentally defined man, that being whose being is not to be, that subjectivity which realizes itself only as a presence in the world, that engaged freedom, that surging of the for-oneself which is immediately given for others. But it is also claimed that existentialism is a philosophy of the absurd and of despair. It encloses man in a sterile anguish, in an empty subjectivity. It is incapable of furnishing him with any principle for making choices. Let him do as he pleases. In any case, the game is lost. Does not Sarte declare, in effect, that man is a "useless passion," that he tries in vain to realize the synthesis of the for-oneself and the in-oneself, to make himself a God? It is true. But it is also true that the most optimistic ethics have all begun by emphasizing the element of failure involved in the condition of man; without failure, no ethics; for a being who, from the very start, would be an exact co-incidence with himself, in a perfect plenitude, the notion of having-to-be would have no meaning. One does not offer an ethics to a God. It is impossible to propose any to man if one defines him as nature, as something given. The so-called psychological or empirical ethics manage to establish themselves only by introducing surreptitiously some flaw within the man-thing which they defined. Hegel tells us in the last part of The Phenomenology of Mind that moral consciousness can exist only to the extent that there is disagreement between nature and morality. It would disappear if the ethical law became the natural law. To such an extent that by a paradoxical "displacement," if moral action is the absolute goal, the absolute goal is also that moral action may not be present. This means that there can be a having-to-be only for a being who, according to the existentialist definition, questions himself in his being, a being who is at a distance from himself and who has to be his being.

Do you question yourself in your being? Are you flawed? Is there a disagreement between (your) nature and morality?

An Apprenticeship of Freedom

2009-02-03T14:23:00.003-05:00

From The Ethics of Ambiguity (p37):

Even today in western countries, among women who have not had in their work an apprenticeship of freedom, there are still many who take shelter in the shadow of men...

I really like that image "apprenticeship of freedom" and I'm wondering if someone were apprenticed to me (as in medieval times) and I was responsible for training them in 'freedom'... how exactly would I do it?

How would YOU train a protégé to be free?

(I know an easy answer is that you can't... but I'm hopeful that some of you could offer some creative, philosophical approaches to this question. Whatchya got?)

The Ethics of Ambiguity- Vocabulary

2009-01-26T18:10:00.005-05:00

Okay everyone sorry i know this post is like two days before we were supposed to have read this but i hope it helps anyways....Caitlyn and I were reading this and found some challenging vocabulary. I'm not calling everyone stupid either, because I know that some of you already know some of this vocab. For those of you who need/want it here it is......(note: this is only vocab for half of the packet up until Pg. 53)

pg.35:

puerile- childish; silly

mirage- an optical llusion, caused by the refraction of light, in which a distant object appears to be nearby, inverted, etc. (those thingys you see in a desert...)

pg. 36-37:

ingenuous-1.) frank, open 2.) simple, naive

guttersnipe- a child of the slums who spends most of his or her time in the streets: contemptuous term applied to anyone regarded as having the manners, morals, etc. of the gutter

unequivocal- not plain or clear

brigand- a bandit esp. one of a roving band.

recalcitrant- 1.) refusing to obey authority 2.) hard to handle

docilely- [docile] easy to discipline, submissive

paternalism- the governing, controlling of a country, employees, etc. in a manner suggesting a fathers relationship with his children

pg.40-41:

ineffaceable- impossible to erase

contingency-1.)dependence on change 2.) a possible or chance event

arbitrariness- [arbitrary] 1.) left to ones judgement 2.)based on ones preference or whim

antipathy- 1.) strong dislike; aversion 2.) the object of such dislike

pg. 42-43:

emanated- [emanate] to come or send forth, as from a source

denuded- [denude] to make bare

laceration- a jagged wound or cut

transcending- [transcend] to be greater than as in intensity or power; surpass

effaces- to rub or wipe out; erase

facticity- the quality or condition of being a fact

pg. 44-45:
pogroms-An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group, especially one conducted against Jews.

spectors- no definition found, but spelled as [specter]- a ghostly apparition, or phantom

fascism- A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

bolshevism- The strategy developed by the Bolsheviks between 1903 and 1917 with a view to seizing state power and establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat

certitude-The state of being certain; complete assurance; confidence.

pg. 46-47:

accession-Something that has been acquired or added; an acquisition

affectivity- [affective] 1.)Concerned with or arousing feelings or emotions; emotional 2.) Influenced by or resulting from the emotions.

transference-1.) The act or process of transferring. 2.) In psychoanalysis, the process by which emotions and desires originally associated with one person, such as a parent or sibling, are unconsciously shifted to another person, especially to the analyst.

sublimation- [sublimate] To modify the natural expression of (a primitive, instinctual impulse) in a socially acceptable manner.

propitious- kindly; gracious

mythomaniac- [mythomania] A compulsion to embroider the truth, engage in exaggeration, or tell lies.

pg. 48-49:

epithet- A term used to characterize a person or thing, such as rosy-fingered in rosy-fingered dawn or the Great in Catherine the Great.

pg.50-53:

credo- a creed

nihilistic- 1.)An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence 2.) A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

An Anti-Love Drug?

2009-01-13T19:04:00.002-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/science/13tier.html?em

This isn't really related to our last topic or the topic we've just chosen, but I came across it and thought it was too interesting not to bring up. The researcher mentioned in the article proposes a sort of 'love stimulant' that can make you feel feelings of attachment towards someone. The author takes it a step further and suggests a 'love vaccine' so that you won't fall in love inconveniently.

Are these treatments ethical? Are the feelings one would experience from them 'real'? If not, then what is love?

First Topic/Question for 2009

2009-01-08T10:53:00.002-05:00

Post your suggestions and/or votes here. Please word your suggestion/topic in question form. You may want to think along the following lines:

I need some time to prepare for our new topic, so I will close voting this Sunday PM. Thank s for you input!

Understanding Man(kind)

2008-12-05T21:44:00.001-05:00

Mr. B takes on Harry Potter...

2008-12-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

...who's more real, and in what sense?

Identity in a (post?)modern world

2008-11-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

Some more reading for ya.

Life's Course...

2008-11-13T18:19:00.004-05:00

The next topic that popped into my head was that of the common phrase "Just let life run it's course." This is often used refering to a situation in which a person is unsure of what to do about a given situation, such as a fork in the road. It is said mostly in the way of telling someone to do nothing about the situation instead of making a difficult choice. But, I wondered, What if life's course is for you to do something? This is also a hard concept to grasp because as in the movie "Back to the future":

Jennifer Parker: Dr. Brown, I brought this note back from the future and now it's erased.
Doc: Of course it's erased.
Jennifer Parker: But what does that mean?
Doc: It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.

no one wants to believe that their future has already been written but thats exactly what people inherently suggest when they say to "let life run its course" .

Any ideas or analysis??

Would you want to know??

2008-11-13T18:14:00.002-05:00

Okay, so the first thought i was thinking the other day and found necessary to bring up to the club was when i was talking to my Grandmother. I made comment on how I was not sure how i wanted my life to go and what direction I wanted it to take. I said that it would simply be easier if i knew which one would work out better for me. My Grandmother proceeded to tell me that she would've liked that in her life, and that she would even want to know when she was going to die. She said that this way she could plan her life accordingly and be able to do everything she wanted to. I know we may get to a topic like this in the future, but if anyone has any comments on this i'd appreciate it....thanx

On the nature of evidence...

2008-11-11T19:58:00.004-05:00

This past Monday, the Supreme court took up a case which asks, "whether [crime] lab reports should be considered "testimonial," rather than objective public records." Is scientific evidence objective? Is there such a thing as objective evidence? Check out the full story... and see just how complex the issue of 'evidence' really is.

First Discussion Topic (Brainstorm)

2008-10-30T14:22:00.005-05:00

Who am I, and how do I know?

...which seems to relate to several other topics generated during our brainstorm:

"Normal"
Nature vs. Nurture
Homicidal Thoughts
Knowledge vs. Wisdom
Emotions
Heart vs. Mind
Impulses
Discerning Character
Self Awareness
Self Preservation

After today's meeting, I realized that the question "Who am I?" (a question about identity... yes?) is different from "What am I?" (a question about substance and/or personhood). Are we asking the question we're meaning to ask, that is, one about identity?

What are we... doing?

2008-10-30T14:03:00.002-05:00

Today, we struggled to 'define' exactly what our club is all about... its purpose, its mission, its reason for existing... however you want to put it. So, how do you want to put it? What is the single unifying concept/purpose that we unite around every Thursday, the single motivation that we all share (acknowledging of course that there are many motivations that we certainly don't all share).

We've never had club officers or anything, and I'm not sure if those roles/positions appeal to the club at large, but I thought that perhaps the member who 'best' answers the above questions (in a way that satisfies/inspires the rest of the group) might be deemed High Chancellor of Philosophy Club (or President or Potentate, or some other drab title that suggests that they wield power over the rest of us). Or not.

Evidently, evidence is...

2008-10-30T13:48:00.002-05:00

Here are bits and pieces of our 10-23-08 discussion concerning "What should count as evidence?"

evidence points to the truth
shows proof, and/or actions that support a claim
some memories may count as evidence
it is personal, first hand experience (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social)
it often comes through the five senses (see, hear, taste, touch, smell)
the five senses are channels of experience, and the more channels are activated at once (or the more intensely a single channel is activated) the more 'real' the experience 'feels' and the more it may seem like strong evidence
the testimony of other people often counts as evidence
opinions are often considered evidence (we debated whether opinions should count as 'official' evidence)
judgments/assessments often count as evidence (they might be viewed as falling into two categories: optimistic and pessimistic, and are directed toward a situation, person, or object)
logic, reasoning, and intuition are often counted as evidence

A standout question was whether "real = rubriced normality."

YOPP!!!

2008-10-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

What (or who?!) do you consider to be 'evidence'?

x

Welcome to SHS Philosophy Club 2008-9!

2008-10-09T09:57:00.002-05:00

If you are a member of our club, this is YOUR forum! Post questions, comments, links... challenge us to reconsider our beliefs, prejudices, and perspectives! Mr. B will send you an invitation to become an 'author' on this blog (who can start new threads) as soon as he gets your email (anyone can post comments BTW).

Ethics, Equality, Education

2008-07-29T10:49:00.002-05:00

Some are urging underprivileged students to skip the first day of school in Chicago... [here].

2007-8 Year in Review

2008-06-11T09:43:00.004-05:00

10-11-07 Welcome and Communication Part I (First half of Star Trek episode Darmok)
10-25-07 Communication Part II (Second half of Darmok)
11-1-07 Introduction to Ethics
11-8-07 Contest: Moral Absolutes vs. Noncognitivism
11-15-07 Ethical Egoism and "Should parents have to get licensed to have children?"
11-29-07 Argument: Anticipating and addressing counter arguments. Also, Intention, Action, and Consequences
12-6-07 Composing your own Normative Ethic and then testing it in student-created situations
12-13-07 Student presentations of five different ethical theories: Social Contract Theory, Utilitarianism, Deontological Theory, Sociobiological Theory, and Virtue Theory
12-20-07 Fairness and Equality: On a galactic level, what do you deserve?
1-3-08 Introduction to Aesthetics: Show and Tell
1-10-08 Found-object Sculpture: Creating something beautiful to share... with bananas!
1-17-08 Defining Beauty and Art, Duchamp's Fountain and Specificity
1-24-08 Simpson's episode Brush with Greatness: "What is beauty to me? Am I willing to let my definition change?"
1-31-08 Student submitted questions about beauty; Santayana's thoughts on beauty, values, and the irrationality of preference.
2-6-08 Death. A look at obituaries and considering the social and communal aspects of dying.
2-14-08 Death. A look at Epicurus' argument.
2-28-08 What constitutes a person? What constitutes a mind? We read part of a National Geographic article on Animal Minds.
3-6-08 Evidence of minds. We watched an animal video and part of the Jungle Book video and then considered John R. Searle's famous thought experiment.
3-13-08 Black box. Defining the essential nature/characteristics of a mind.
3-20-08 Ian neatly resolved all of philosophy's questions and controversies. I wasn't there to witness it, but I heard it was amazing.
3-27-08 We watched part of Judgement Day, a video on the controversies surrounding intelligent design (ID) theory. Then we asked, "Why do we care so much about things--like where we come from--that other animals don't?"
4-3-08 Lindsay B. shared a song with us from G Love and Special Sauce titled Pull the Wool and then we began to discuss the nature of (un)forgiveness.
4-24-08 We read the Myth of Sisyphus.
5-1-08 World View: 10 key questions and exploring connections among beliefs
5-8-08 We watched part of Charlotte's Web and discussed Deconstruction and Reductionism vs. Holism
5-15-08 Is there a semiotic difference between saying "I believe _____" and "I believe in _____"? We listened to an audio essay titled I Believe Evolution.
5-29-08 Aldous Huxley and four kinds of faith vs. Jean Paul Sarte and the bottomless uncertainty of it all
6-5-08 Senior share: Ian B, John C, Anthony N, Anastasia L, and Annie L.

2008 Senior Farewell

2008-06-11T09:11:00.006-05:00

We’re bidding farewell to some of the most committed, memorable, and thoughtful members in our club’s history: Ian B, John C, Anthony N, Anastasia L, and Annie L. Last Thursday, each of our senior members took 10 minutes or so to share:

Ian reviewed ellipses. (So, wow did you end up doing on your test/presentation?)

John shared a song titled Life from Jeffrey Lewis. John commented on the lyrics, "I know God is a story someone made up long ago/But it’s hard not to be superstitious despite all you know," and then led willing members in a brief but spirited dance—a first in the club’s history! (I was too prideful to dance… I wish I was more ‘free’!)

Anthony offered us some encouragement to keep thinking for ourselves, especially about the really important things. He said, "So many people are going through actions instead of caring about what they are doing." (I found myself challenged/inspired by the equivalence implied within Anthony’s words of wisdom: thinking for yourself = caring about what you are doing.)

Stacie cautioned us that we are often manipulated into being who we are and doing what we do. She argued that manipulation is abuse. (As a teacher, this made me feel a bit guilty… but that was a good starting place for some much-needed reflection on my craft.)

Annie played the first fifteen minutes of American Beauty for us. (I want to see the rest!)

We already miss each of you... please feel free to visit this blog and future meetings... alumi are always welcome!

Against Phantasmagoria: Language, Myth, Art, and Science Organically Together

2008-06-11T07:12:00.007-05:00

The past century has witnessed the beginnings of a significant epistemological paradigm change (finally!) in how we consider perception and reality, and the role language plays within/among both. In Number VI of his work Studien der Bibliothek Warburg (1920’s), Ernest Cassirer summarizes a modern ‘crisis of knowledge’ and then offers a postmodern ‘solution’:

For all mental processes fail to grasp reality itself, and in order to represent it, to hold it at all, they are driven to the use of symbols. But all symbolism harbors the curse of mediacy; it is bound to obscure what it seeks to reveal. Thus the sound of speech strives to "express" subjective and objective happening, the "inner" and the "outer" world; but what of this it can retain is not the life and individual fullness of existence, but only the dead abbreviation of it. All that "denotation" to which the spoken word lays claim is really nothing more than mere suggestion; a "suggestion" which, in face of the concrete variegation and totality of actual experience, must always appear a poor and empty shell…

From this point it is but a single step to the conclusion which the modern skeptical critics of language have drawn: the complete dissolution of any alleged truth content of language, and the realization that this content is nothing but a sort of phantasmagoria of the spirit. Moreover, from this standpoint, not only myth, art, and language, but even theoretical knowledge itself becomes a phantasmagoria; for even knowledge can never reproduce the true nature of things as they are, but must frame their essence in "concepts." But what are concepts save formulations and creations of thought, which, instead of giving us the true form of objects, show us rather the forms of thought itself? Consequently all schemata which science evolves in order to classify, organize, and summarized the phenomena of the real world turn out to be nothing but arbitrary schemes—airy fabrics of the mind, which express not the nature of things, but the nature of mind. So knowledge, as well as myth, language, and art, has been reduced to a kind of fiction—to a fiction that recommends itself by its usefulness, but must not be measured by any strict standard of truth, if it is not to melt away into nothingness.

Against this self-dissolution of the spirit there is only one remedy: to accept in all seriousness what Kant calls his "Copernican revolution." Instead of measuring the content, meaning, and truth of intellectual forms by something extraneous which is supposed to be reproduced in them, we must find in these forms themselves the measure and criterion for their truth and intrinsic meaning. Instead of taking them as mere copies of something else, we must see in each of these spiritual forms a spontaneous law of generation; an original way and tendency of expression which is more than a mere record of something initially given in fixed categories of real existence. From this point of view, myth, art, language, and science appear as symbols; not in the sense of mere figures which refer to some given reality by means of suggestion and allegorical renderings, but in the sense of forces each of which produces and posits a world of its own. In these realms the spirit exhibits itself in that inwardly deterministic dialectic by virtue of which alone there is any reality, any organized and definitive Being at all. Thus the special symbolic forms are not imitations, but organs of reality, since it is solely by their agency that anything real becomes an object for intellectual apprehension, and as such is made visible to us. The question as to what reality is apart from these forms, and what are its independent attributes, becomes irrelevant here. For the mind, only that can be visible which has some definite form; but every form of existence has it source in some peculiar way of seeing, some intellectual formulation and intuition of meaning. Once language, myth, art, and science are recognized as such ideational forms, the basic philosophical question is no longer that of their relation to an absolute reality which forms, so to speak, their solid and substantial substratum; the central problem now is that of their mutual limitation and supplementation. Though they all function organically together in the construction of spiritual reality, yet each of these organs has its individual assignment.

-from Language and Myth by Ernest Cassirer, translated by Susanne K. Langer, Dover Publications, New York,1946, p 7-9.

Aldous Huxley on Faith

2008-05-29T14:04:00.002-05:00

The word "faith" has a variety of meanings, which is important to distinguish. In some contexts it is used as a synonym for "trust"...On other occasions "faith" stands for belief in propositions which we have not had occasion to verify for ourselves, but which we know that we could verify if we had the inclination, the opportunity and the necessary capacities...And finally there is the "faith," which is a belief in propositions which we know we cannot verify, even if we should desire to do so--propositions such as those of the Athanasian Creed or those which constitute the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. This kind of "faith" is defined by the Scholastics as an act of the intellect moved to assent by the will.

...Faith is a pre-condition of all systematic knowing, all purposive doing and all decent living...we find faith lying at the root of all organized thinking.

-From Chapter XVIII of The Perennial Philosophy

This I Believe (In?)

2008-05-15T10:01:00.004-05:00

After our analysis of the potential/practical semiotic difference between "I believe _____" and "I believe in _____," we listened to and read Holly Dunsworth’s essay: I Am Evolution.

In her essay, Holly shuns the ‘I believe in’ version of belief which she claims "takes faith, trust, effort, strength," and "also implies hope." Instead, she poses her essay, beliefs, ultimate question, and life-itself in a past-oriented rather than future-oriented way, in a way that she considers to be "not at all like a traditional religious one." At the conclusion of the discussion, I asked about the orientation of Holly’s "ultimate question" which is: "Where did I come from and how?"

How do you orient your questions, beliefs, and life? Do you simply "believe" or do you "believe in"... and is there a real difference?

Introduction to Holism

2008-05-08T13:06:00.003-05:00

Your homework was to observe the current search for meaning and understanding in our society/culture, and then comment on whether that search appears to be predominantly reductionistic or holistic in nature.

[Here] is a long article with a lot of (maybe relevant) ideas... scroll through it and see if anything jumps out at you.

(I think I mistakenly mixed up 'deconstruction' and 'reduction' when I gave the assignment... I meant to say 'reduction'.)

Charlotte's Web (1973 Version)

2008-05-08T12:33:00.003-05:00

So many interesting topics/questions came up during the short clip we watched today. Here are a couple that caught my attention... feel free to comment and/or add your own:

Referring to Spring on a farm: "Life is good and busy and brand new." Sounds like a statement that Sisyphus might be able to make... arguably, his existence/activity has 'meaning' and/or is 'good' and/or is 'happy' because it is busy. But is it brand new?

Rebutting her father's comment that she should control herself, Vern refers the situation of killing the runt and says, "This is a matter of life and death and you talk about controlling myself?" When is emotion out of line? Does our culture/society encourage people to be more or less emotional? Is acting 'rationally' the ideal? For that matter, what does it really mean to 'act rationally'? Are emotions different from thoughts? Are thoughts easier or harder to control than emotions? Should we try to keep our 'thoughts' under control in the same way that it is often implied that we should keep our 'emotions' under control? Can people really control themselves?

Answering Vern's challenging question as to whether her father would feel justified killing her if she had been born small, her father replies, "A little girl is one thing, a pig is another." Do you agree? If so, what most distinguishes the two?

Lyric: "Together we are better than we used to be..." Many times we feel that doing things 'together' is better than doing things alone... certainly this is not true for all activities... but for the activities that do in fact seem better together, why is it so?

Lyric: "I used to think the sum of one and one was two, but we and up to more, me and you..." Refer to the Wikipedia article on emergence... what do you find yourself focusing on most in life: 'simple entities' or 'emergent properties' ?

[Framing your worldview]

2008-05-01T11:07:00.002-05:00

Today is the birthday of author Bobbie Ann Mason. Like Alex R., she seems to frame her worldview in a literary way. In her memoir Clear Springs, she writes:

I think it's a natural impulse to want to find some kind of coherence and meaning in your life, to find that it has a narrative, and that there are patterns. There are themes in your life, and themes that connect back to previous generations. You can see where you fit into the puzzle. Your life starts to make sense, in terms of what you've done before and what you're doing now.

The Myth of Sisyphus

2008-04-24T10:40:00.003-05:00

[Here] is an online version of the passage we read today. I hope the great discussion that we started today can continue via this thread... (whoops... I just said 'hope').

World View

2008-04-23T21:53:00.004-05:00

A world view (or worldview) is a term calqued from the German word Weltanschauung. Welt is the German word for "world", and Anschauung is the German word for "view" or "outlook." It...refers to a wide world perception. Additionally, it refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts in it. (Read more here)

Discovering your purpose

2008-04-07T10:54:00.002-05:00

If you were a fish, it might go something like this... [click here]

P-Club is cancelled for this Thursday... we have an assembly sponsored by C.A.R.E, S.A.F.E, and Ms. Kruth (show her some love while she's still with us!!) See you after vacation!

What is the nature of (un)forgiveness?

2008-04-03T10:10:00.003-05:00

A (hopefully accurate) paraphrase of what Lindey A. offered:

Unforgiveness is essentially discontent. Discontent leads to jealousy, especially of others who are content. We personally cope with our own discontentment and jealously by becoming indifferent to those 'others'. Indifference leads to disconnection with those 'others', which often leads us to hate those 'others'.

G. Love & Special Sauce - Pull The Wool

2008-04-03T10:02:00.003-05:00

Dear friend you don't have to lie to me
When I ask you what's going on
Are you doin' right or ya doing wrong
If you do right will there not be a lifting up
You misbehave
Sin is crouching by your grave
We can begin to make amends
Fill your sails full with wind
I know you're tossed and tempest turned, but make no mistake
I'll never sleep on you Faith

Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes

Now your sin, you must mask it
Your face is all riddled with guilt
Cover you like a blanket, but no warmth will it give
Now I'm sittin' here and can't believe all the measures you've taken
To cheat, lie and deceive me and all your friends
You got a lot a crazy things in life that you want to do in life, that's all right, but

Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes
Don't you pull the wool over my eyes

Lies in the nest never ever let the birds get to rest

I can forgive, but I never can forget and lies in the nest never
Ever gave the birds no rest
Bricks built without straw were so weak they crumbled
To mud, just as your excuse with truth left you easily undone
Don't you run away

(These lyrics were found here)

Thanks to Lindsay B. for sharing this song with us! (I didn't know that forgiveness was on so many people's minds... if you have a song, question, or idea to share, please e-mail me!)

So... what's the point?

2008-04-02T21:42:00.002-05:00

Not brethren, not underlings

2008-02-28T18:34:00.002-05:00

A quote from the book The Outermost House by naturalist Henry Beston (1888- 1968)

" We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical
concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by
complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature
through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather
magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them
for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken
form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly
err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world
older and more complete than ours they move finished and
complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or
never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are
not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations,
caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow
prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

Frank S. 1924-2008

2008-02-07T19:13:00.000-05:00

.

.

New Question: Suggest, Discuss, and Vote

2008-01-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

Here are your preliminary suggestions:

1. Fate/Karma
2. True Love
3. Death (including a manditory fieldtrip to a morgue)
4. Trust
5. Etymology
6. _______________ (your suggestion here)

As I mentioned recently, I'd like our investigations to become more focused, and so I'm going to require that each suggestion/topic evolve into a specific question, such as (but not limited to):

Q1: Are we fated to make the decisions we do?
Q2: What are the essentials that constitute 'true' love?
Q3: How does the fact of death affect the way we live our lives?
Q4: What is the role that trust plays in community?
Q5: Is there a thing such as a perfect language, devoid of inconsistencies/redundancies?
Q6: _______________ (your question here)

YOU suggest; YOU decide...

Wrapping up Beauty, and Unwrapping Our Personal Theories of Value

2008-01-31T11:56:00.000-05:00

Today we tackled what many students found to be a dense and confusing text… George Santayana’s The Sense of Beauty. I encouraged members to consider Santayana’s first two principles, that (1) the philosophy of beauty is a theory of values, and (2) preference is ultimately irrational. Here are two excerpts:

"A definition [of beauty] that should really define must be nothing less than the exposition of the origin, place3, and elements of beauty as an object of human experience. We must learn from it, as far as possible, why, when, and how beauty appears, what conditions an object must fulfill to be beautiful, what elements of our nature make us sensible to beauty, and what the relation is between the constitution of the object and the excitement of our susceptibility. Nothing less will really define beauty or make us understand what aesthetic appreciation is (p19-20)."

"We may therefore at once assert this axiom, important for all moral philosophy and fatal to certain stubborn incoherences of thought, that there is no value apart from some appreciation of it, and no good apart from some preference of it before its absence or its opposite. In appreciation, in preference, lies the root and essence of all excellence. Or, as Spinoza clearly expresses it, we desire nothing because it is good, but it is good only because we desire it (p23)."

Open responses are welcome… but I’m particularly interested in whether our discussion on the topic has helped you begin to understand the personal values that are manifest in your own sense of beauty.

"Opinion" by Baron Wormser

2008-01-29T10:48:00.000-05:00

On the way to work today, I caught Garrison Keillor offering his daily dose of literary history in a segment called The Writers Almanac. Garrison read a poem by Baron Wormser called, "Opinion"; I hope you can take the time to read it... it includes the question:

What/Would happen if I heeded the admonitions of beauty?

What would happen if you did?

Rethinking Our Own Concept/Standards of Beauty

2008-01-24T12:54:00.000-05:00

From today's episode of The Simpsons, Brush with Greatness

Will you dare reconsider what--and who--you consider beautiful... and why?

Post your evolving questions about 'beauty' here...

Towards Definitions of Art and Beauty

2008-01-17T11:40:00.001-05:00

What is art? What is beauty? Here are some of the definitions-in-process (for the latter) offered during today's meeting:

beauty- that which evokes happiness, or a positive emotion

beauty- that which evokes a strong emotion, personal connection

beauty- that which inspires (from Tom Morris' Philosophy for
Dummies)
beauty- __________ (please add your own definition to this thread!)

The group unanimously agreed that stars in the sky are beautiful, and and the vote on natural things in general being beautiful was nearly unanimous.

So... where do we go from here? What specific questions would you like to explore in regards to art, aesthetics, and beauty?

Agnosia Aesthetics

2008-01-15T19:44:00.000-05:00

What makes something ugly?

Hearing Beauty.

2008-01-14T00:29:00.000-05:00

Do you need to see it for it to be beautiful?

[Harry Belafonte - Jump in the Line]

Do you need to understand it for it to be beautiful?

[O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei (or the "Numa Numa Song"]

Raccoon Recreated

2008-01-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

Stanley Silversmith was born on April 15, 1967.
He grew to 5 foot 4, wear glasses, and think of himself as an artist.

Rocky Raccoon was born on May 23, 2006.
He grew to 26 pounds, wear a mask, and think of his stomach.

On November 6, 2007 Stanley and Rocky met in passing
About a mile down the road from Stanley’s house
While Rocky was returning from a long
Night of track-picking.

Stanley swerved
Which Rocky really appreciated and tried
To show his thanks with a wave when
The car behind Stanley’s smashed
Into Rocky.

Among other things, Rocky’s
Stomach got squished out of his
Flea-infested fur, and I think
He may have even caught a glimpse
Of this masterly organ before
He succumbed.

Stanley had also caught a glimpse
Though not of Rocky’s wave, but
Of the disaster as it reseeded into his
Rearview mirror. It wasn’t until
Stanley was on his way home that
Evening that he saw all that was left
Of Rocky. What a bloody mess.

For the next week, Stanley slowed
And swerved around the spot where
Rocky met his end, where Rocky’s
Carcass became flatter with every passing
Car and more decayed with every passing
Day. He may have slowed and swerved
Out of respect for the dead, or maybe out
Of respect for his clean car, I’m not sure.

Anyway, on November 13th, which was
A Tuesday, Stanley slowed and swerved
And then stopped, and sat, and felt a bit
Weird, but swallowed and felt better. Then
He put his car in reverse until Rocky’s
Remains slid from left to right below
Just outside his drivers-side window. It was
Now no longer a recognizable raccoon, only
A dry, thin gray pizza dough with tufts of hair
Poking out and about. Stanley

Popped his trunk and out of his car, picked
Up the Frisbee of matted meat and tossed
It next to the spare tire and jack. He felt dirty
But as he jumped back into his seat he found
A napkin with which to wipe the two fingers
That pinched what his parents told him to
Avoid back in 1973.

This contraband coonskin did not have a chance
To stink up the trunk, for Stanley soon arrived
At the gallery he frequented, where, he borrowed
A hammer, a nail, and tacked Rocky’s remains to
The wall along with a bit of paper that read, “Pelt
No. 3.” On Wednesday, an art critic from far away

Found himself standing, transfixed by Pelt No. 3
Though not by its powers of attraction but by the
Repulsive scent. Those present who were in the
Know, knew, that Pelt No. 3 had gripped this critic,
Thought they knew not how. All of a sudden Pelt

No. 3 got a lot more attention until, on Saturday,
It was featured on the cover of the local Arts
Paper that happens to include a lot of other dirty
Pictures. Nonetheless, Stanley, Pelt No. 3, and
Even Rocky (in part), became quite famous
Earned several awards, and was sold many time
Over for handsome sums of money. None of this
Can be denied, but many people are asking at
Which point in this story did Rocky the Raccoon
Become Art Thou
Rocky?

Artwork: Finding/Creating Beauty with Found Objects

2008-01-10T17:30:00.000-05:00

Today we explored the nature of art and beauty though a cooperative sculpture activity. Groups of three were each given a bag containing:

1 plastic spoon
1 handful of toothpicks
2 pipe cleaners
1 straw
1 tea bag
1 handful of cotton swabs
3 paper plates
1 lipstick
7 "I love you" playing cards
7 "Pick-up line" playing cards
20 clothespins
1 handful of marshmallows
2 crumbled pieces of construction paper
1 banana

Artists worked for 30 minutes, wrote an Artists' Statement, and then shared their beautiful creations with the group. Check out the results in the seven threads below... further comments are welcome!

So, what did we learn about the nature of art, beauty... and bananas?

Artwork: Ruminations on the anguish of existence

2008-01-10T17:23:00.002-05:00

by Crystal, Crystal, and Ian

Artists' Statement: True pain cannot be expressed in wores... only in Bananas!

Comments:
"It's horrifyingly painfully beautiful." -John
"It's nice but you all need help! (JK)" -Erin
"I can feel true pain eminating from the piece." -Anthony
"Pretty!!" -Lindsay
"Death!!" -Brittany
"I hate the spoon." -Annie
"This banas is crazy s***." -Caitlyn

Artwork: Chikita Banana

2008-01-10T17:18:00.001-05:00

by Anthony and Annie

Artists' Statement: An abstract representation of a boat made from everyday objects causes the audience to combine thoughts and memories. While the viewer is looking at something that looks like a boat they are also having memories of q-tips, marshmellows and bananas creating a new idea/thought, thus making it beautiful.

Comments:
"Original + pretty." -Justine
"Simple." -Hope
"I like boats." -Nick
"Not a lot of emotion, but he easiest on my eyes." -Crystal
"I love this. so. so." -Crystal
"Well thought out design & simple." -Lindsey

Artwork: ...Love, Featuring Charles the Banana

2008-01-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

by Alex, Jenna, and Dylan

Artists' Statement: (currently missing... guys I need your sheet back! -mrb)

Comments:

Artwork: When Bananas Go BAD!

2008-01-10T17:09:00.000-05:00

by Anastasia, Snow, and Hanson

Artists' Statement: Attacking Banana Eating All the People.

Comments:
"Chaos + order at once- impressive and full of emotion." -Ian
"Deomonic yet organized. This satanic follower knew what he was doing." -Alex R.

Artwork: Freedom

2008-01-10T17:05:00.000-05:00

by Lindsay, Alisha, and Brittany

Artists' Statement: Peace, love, and violence. -plate ; Voyage/adventure -banana

Comments:
"I like the heart plate & the twistys around the banana." -Anastasia

Artwork: Abstraction of Love

2008-01-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

by Erin, Caitlyn, and Lindsey

Artists' Statement: Love dosen't have to look beautiful to be beautiful. It is often chaos and nonsensical. This piece is our abstraction of love. Love is a banana, and is bizarre and individual, as well as .... (the rest of the handwritten statement is illegible -mrb)

Comments:
"I like the rose and all the marshmellows yummy." -Chris

Artwork: Gloomination

2008-01-10T16:53:00.000-05:00

by Hope, Justine, and Nick

Artists' Statement: (currently missing... guys I need your sheet back! -mrb)

Comments:
"The colors speak to me." -Dylan

Aesthetics: Where do we go from here?

2008-01-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

The IEP points out that "Aesthetics may be defined narrowly as the theory of beauty, or more broadly as that together with the philosophy of art." [Read more here]

Today's introduction aside, what aspects of aesthetics would you like to explore within P. Club? What specific questions do you have about art and beauty?

Show and Tell: Something Beautiful

2008-01-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Members offered:

Justine (beautiful in every way)
The reservoir last night as the sun set on one side, with a darker, arctic landscape on the other side... set a nice mood... liked it.
Family; specifically a safe, trustworthy, tempered relationship with parents
Swimming; specifically the transition from above the water to below, the echoes, the feeling of flying, limited vision
Snow; a few inches that fall serenely, coating everything in a bright white blanket, casting everything in a new light
My dog; owned for 10 years... he listens to me, understands me... I trust and appreciate him... he's like a family member
Olivia B. is physically beautiful, comfortable to be with, a best friend with whom similar interests and fun things can be shared
Clovis the tuba mouthpiece, who's shiny, sparkles in the morning sunlight, and has an interesting form, including artwork, words, a hole, curves, reflections
Picture of a little cousins at Christmas; amidst all the fighting and crazyness of the holidays, this picture captures one smiling, happy moment full of personality and beautiful expressions
Earings with blue gemstones that remind the wearer of the sky
Light hitting a prism in such a way that you can see a rainbow of all colors inside
The noise of fencing foils contacting, particularly when heard after a long absence
A nonfiction book about the Korean War (In Every War but One); books in general which present knowledge, especially unexpected perspectives/facts that are revealing.
The desert in Nevada as observed from a car passing through on a highway, with peace and serenity manifest
Old, worn-out things, people, buildings, that contain within their tired form a story, a mystery, unknowns intermingled with bits and pieces of information which may shed some light
My music, which naturally evokes/contains feelings, a connection to past, an escape, feelings of the other-worldly, depth, happiness
Crying, a strikingly pure emotion in rawest form that may be the result of ugly things, but somehow crying washes/cleanses them
Anger and rage in their purest emotional form, so focused that it transcends the situation and/or object that may have initially aroused such emotions, and now exists in a realm beyond the senses... as a pure emotion
The CD Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys which contains some favorite sounds, feelings that are otherwise encountered in some dreams. Note: What you let influence you determines what is beautiful.

Please let me know if I bungled any of the wording, or failed to capture the essence of your contribution to our show-and-tell.

Interim Feedback

2008-01-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

How can we increase member excitement and/or participation in P. Club? Here are some of your suggestions:

more discussions on a greater number/variety of topics
more large discussions
meetings are fine the way they are
more smaller groups
a car?
we should talk about fate
we should talk about fate and karma
I like it the way it is
love it the way it is
maybe more hands-on stuff

Thanks for the feedback! I'm forever chasing that elusive balance whereby we meet as many of your needs and interests as possible... ideas are always welcome, and don't be afraid to remind me if I don't seem to be remembering/accommodating your ideas.

Quick reminder: If you're interested in a topic that has yet to grab the groups' attention (such as fate or karma), you can always log-in to blogger.com and start a new thread... student created threads have a history of being our most interesting :)

You are here...

2007-12-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

(Read about this image of the Milky Way [here].

On a grand scale, what do you deserve?