| 9:14 pm |
 reinhabitants Hi there,I just wanted to express how much I've enjoyed our classes this semester. It’s been a very rewarding experience for me; I have learned so much about myself, you guys, and many philosophical issues. I hope you feel that you got what you wanted from our time together. I’ll keep our Live Journal community page up, so if you ever want to join in on more philosophical discussions, then please feel free to do so.If you would like to read the comments I made on your final project or exam, please let me know when you would like to come by my office. I can also mail your final to you if you send me a stamped, self-addressed envelop. Or I might even be able to fax you a scanned version of your final. Just let me know if you’re interested.Also, if you have any concerns about your final class average, please let me know. We can talk via email, or you can make an appointment with me to come to my office.You’re all welcome to stop by and talk anytime this summer. And if you’d ever like to sit in on either of the two summer classes I’m leading (logic and moral issues – see the description on my April 16th LJ post), then I’d enjoy your presence and participation.Again, it’s been fun. I hope you all have learned valuable things from our classes. And I hope you'll continually be introduced to philosophy throughout your lives.Take care,elizabeth (comment on this) |
| Tuesday, May 10th, 2005 |
| 11:14 am - website |
| m_ondrusek Hey guys, For further reading...here is a website I found here at the very end of class. I wish I had found it at the beginning because it has a bunch of really grea essays and quotes and diagrams on lots of philosophers. It really helped give me a better understanding of a few of my favorite philosophers this semester...www.radicalacademy.com.Marisa (comment on this) |
| Monday, May 9th, 2005 |
| 5:16 pm - Attachment |
| askwhat Well, some of you may think of this as strange, but I have decided to write this as my final project. Initially I was going to write about water, then I though why not talk about the book we read in class for the latter half of the semester, and now I have decided to write about neither of those. I want to write about relationship between two individual and level of attachment between the two. In class we talked about how in practice of Buddhism one should not get overly attached to anything, and same was mentioned for meditation. It’s from experience that I say people take information, ideas, wants, and desires into their mind/head; process the information and keep those that appeal to them. So how is it possible to not be attached to things in life? How can one not be attach to those whom he/she loves, and how can one love another if there is to be no attachment? Well, we can argue that there are always two sides to everything, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, big and small, and so on… based on this assumption than love has another side, you can make up your own definition hear/ anything goes. So unless we have experienced both sides of the spectrum then we must be attached to one side. So you may ask, why should I have to experience the bad too to experience life fully? Well, the truth is that we are always going in circles and the only thing about this circle that changes in time is its diameter, when we lose something the diameter becomes smaller, and when we gain it gets bigger. It’s the human nature to question and wonder about change, and it is also our tendency to dislike negative change. I believe that a true Buddha establishes a true equilibrium where the diameter of the circle is at all times and on average the same; meaning that it gets bigger and smaller at the same rate. So why shouldn’t one get attached to another individual? There are a lot of reasons here, and if you have been in an unsuccessful relationship you could probably come up with some. To always keep that equilibrium is the more appropriate answer here. Remember, change can be a good thing, but usually gradual change. Consider a sudden break up which can be looked at as a negative change in our circle diameter, well, in order to respond to this one is prone to show a sudden change of attitude towards all other norms in his/her life, therefore the only exception to the gradual rule would be here. For those reading this, my advice is to live life fully by experiencing good and the bad, because if you don’t know what the bad is then you’re just not going to fully appreciate the good. (1 comment | comment on this) |
| Thursday, May 5th, 2005 |
| 11:18 am - sex offenders (extra credit) |
| krys_04rx_8 I was watching the news last night and they were doing a special on sex offenders. they were trying to find out why judges were letting them off so easy. Most sex offenders are given little jail time and are allowed to be put on parole in a very short amount of time. I don't think it's fair that people who have committed less serious crimes have to spend years in jail while sex offenders are on the street raping and molesting women and children and destroying lives. They will never change if they know that if they're caught they won't have very much jail time and they will be out on parole doing what they used to do again in a very short time. I think if the judges were to realize that their wife or child could be the next victim of these offenders, they would not have a problem with putting them away for a long time and giving them the punishment they deserve. (5 comments | comment on this) |
| Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005 |
| 3:35 pm - Death penalty |
| askwhat I want to start a discussion in regards to the death penalty. I want to know why some people are for it and yet against abortion? And why some people are not for the death penalty? Just throw out ideas and let me know HOW and WHY you have chosen to be for or against the death penalty.Also, I found this out and thought that it may interest some of you out there. If in fact Texas was its own country then it would be placed 4th world wide for giving the death penalties.AG (18 comments | comment on this) |
| Saturday, April 30th, 2005 |
| 12:14 am - midterm extra credit |
| reinhabitants I've noticed that some of you are having trouble with midterm extra credit work. The opportunity consists in choosing some or all of the questions you missed on the midterm, and explaining in your own words that you understand the material. I had suggested that you could pick groups of questions and show how they relate to each other. For instance, if you missed the questions over episteme or doxa, you could write a paragraph explaining what you understand to be the significance of these two terms for philosophy. Or if you missed the question on Augustine's _Confessions_, you could write a paragraph explaining what _The Confessions_ is about, who Augustine is, and how Medieval Christianity relates to philosophy.Follow the general guidelines for written work found at http://mysite.verizon.net/reso4u3a/id12.html. Be sure to cite any sources that you use, but focus on explaining the material in your own words and not just using quotations. Every page of your work can earn 1 point extra credit.Please let me know if you have any questions about this. (comment on this) |
| Thursday, April 28th, 2005 |
| 10:25 am - a note about extra credit |
 reinhabitants Just a friendly reminder to everyone: all extra credit is due by Thursday, May 5 at 3:30pm. I'm very happy to notice some of you participating more in Live Journal discussions. It's always great to see more interaction between classmates. As some of you have picked up already, you can earn extra credit points for posting and replying to posts on LJ. Here's a little note on this opportunity: I think interactive discussions within various threads are much more helpful in communicating than are original posts. I would like you to consider responding to the topics already posted before posting a new topic. This way more interactive dialogue can be initiated, more discussions can be delved into deeper, and more communicative experiences can become philosophical. In case you can't find the post wherein I gave a detailed list of extra credit possibilities, here is the link again:http://www.livejournal.com/community/philosophyclass/14943.html. (comment on this) |
| 8:30 am - Perpetual Project #2 (due Tues., 5/3) |
| reinhabitants As we're coming to the end of the Spring semester, it is important that we reflect on various issues that have become part of our daily routine. An integral part of being introduced to philosophy is sharing our experiences with each other. What do you think about philosophy? our class? learning as a whole? I invite you all to consider completing the second perpetual project of the semester. This second PP may be fairly similar to your responses for PP#1 at the beginning of the semester; then again, it may be completely different. I encourage you to find your PP#1 at http://www.livejournal.com/community/philosophyclass/1331.html and consider what has changed and what has remained the same. Please copy and paste your PP#1 into your PP#2, so that you can show any steps in learning made this semester. PP#2 is due on Tuesday, May 3. Please submit your PP#2 within this thread.No hardcopy is necessary.Here are the questions to reflect on:1. What does philosophy mean to you? 2. In what capacity have you studied philosophy before? Do you plan to take another philosophy class in the future? 3. Which philosopher(s) are you most familiar with? Who is your favorite philosopher? Which philosopher do you most relate to?4. What do you want to learn (in both the near and distant future) about philosophy or philosophers? What have you learned thus far from our introduction to philosophy class?5. What are your experiences with learning? What helps you learn? What doesn’t help you learn? 6. How have you learned what helps and what doesn’t help you learn? 7. Do you have any study tips to share? (106 comments | comment on this) |
| Wednesday, April 27th, 2005 |
| 11:51 am - TV Show (extra credit) |
| bstoker_2002 The other day we talked about people with gender issues. Well, I came home from class and turned on the television and on Maury was a show about people that have undergone gender changes. These people were born one gender and so convinced that they were the other gender they completely changed their appearance. You would never be able to tell that they were ever a boy or girl in the past. They are even taking hormones to help in the transformation. Do you believe that people can be born one sex and actually be meant to be another? They say that they knew all their lives they wanted to be the opposite sex. What do you think about this? How would you react if faced with a family member that wanted to undergo a transformation? Would you accept that person? I actually recorded part of the show because if we have time in class I wanted to show it and hear everyone's comments on it. I am going to bring it to class with me.Thanks, Bailey (12 comments | comment on this) |
| 10:18 am - guided meditation |
| bonnie_v hey everybody. i've been participating in research through the psyc department for extra credit in my history & systems class and had the opportunity to participate in a guided meditation focused on helping people to feel more compassion toward others. as i said in class the other day, it has been suggested to me that i begin meditating to relieve anxiety but i've never really taken the time to do it... funny thing that i just finished cleaning the carpet where my 3 year old poured out an entire bottle of shampoo; at least it was shampoo, right? anyway, i thought the compassion-focused meditation was something that i'd like to share with everyone. i know as a student a lot of us tend to get caught up in schoolwork and worrying about grades around the middle of the semester and this just seemed like a really good way to focus on relaxing while taking the thoughts away from ourselves by focusing on others. it was really cool. plus, while we were focusing on our breathing, i noticed how i had my hand rested on my arm and it felt totally separate from my arm, like we were talking about in class the other day... it made me think of the exercise we did with pressing one hand against the other with both hands being a part of the body but different at the same time. i was also interested in checking into the meditation that elizabeth talked about with focusing on the space between your body and the bed. does anybody remember the name of that? the one thing i didn't like about the meditation the other day was that we were sitting in chairs; very uncomfortable and hard to focus. if anyone has any other types of guided meditation that work for you that you'd be willing to share, that would be awesome. (2 comments | comment on this) |
| Tuesday, April 26th, 2005 |
| 9:49 pm - La musique d'eau |
| reinhabitants Some of you guys have had the chance to see and hear "la musique d'eau." In class about a month ago, I played the water CD, and last Thursday I showed a track or two of the water music-video. Some of you got to see the entire DVD at WaterWays' Animated Aqua Audio. I was wondering if anyone wanted to give feedback and/or constructive criticism about it. What did you think? Did it in any way change the way you think about water? Was it worth incorporating it into our class time together? Can you see any relations to philosophy??On another note, I'll let you know what my friends and I have decided concerning the DVD's next step: we're going to extend it from 50 minutes to 90 minutes by adding a few more original animated water songs, and we'll be working to get every song more in sync with the animations. When we're done with the extended DVD (which will also include the retail standard amaray case, full color printed insert, on disc printing, slide in cover, and UPC barcode sticker), we'll affordably market it. I remember that some of you expressed interest in buying the DVD and/or CD, and if you're still interested, I can copy one or both for you. To help take care of the disk costs, copying labor, and investments for the extended project, we've decided to sell our current DVD or CD at $5 each. If you're interested, let me know, and I can get you a copy before the semester is over. And if you'd like to consider buying the extended product, then just let me know, and I'll email you as soon as we're done with it so that you can check it out. (11 comments | comment on this) |
| 7:49 pm - Attack Christianity |
 james_faske This is everyone's chance to take a stab at Christianity. Ask me any question about it and I will do my best to answer. I promise I won't get offended by anything you ask me. Be as brutal as you wish. The only thing I ask is that you be forgiving if I offend you, and to have fun, of course.I'm not trying to do this for extra credit, just for fun. (63 comments | comment on this) |
| 4:57 pm - The New Pope (extra credit) |
| bstoker_2002 I wanted to talk about another topic I am interested in finding out more. Someone the other day was telling me that the new pope has a background in Nazism. I don't know if this is true but it really distrubed me when I found out. How can you be a religous leader and not be accepting of all people? I have been raised in a Christian home and have always been taught to accept all people no matter what color, disability, etc. Does anyone know if this is true? I even have a hard time looking at the new pope since I heard this comment. I don't see how someone could support such an evil belief and especially a religous leader. To me, religous leaders should set an example and be the most caring and accepting but how can you do this if you believe in Nazism. I hope someone can tell me because this has been on my mind since I found out. Thanks, Bailey (15 comments | comment on this) |
| 10:28 am - The Dallas-Plano Philosophy Meetup Group (extra credit) |
| krys_04rx_8 The Philosophy Meetup Group is a world-wide organization designed to help amateur philosophers come together and discuss philosophers, philosophy ideas, and world issues. The Dallas-Plano Meetup Group has 34 members in it and they meet every fourth monday @ 7 at different locations. If you want more information about the group and the organization you can go to http://philosophy.meetup.com/15/events/. (comment on this) |
| 10:12 am - Dallas Philosophers Forum (extra credit) |
| krys_04rx_8 If anyones interested, there is a series of lectures going on in the Dallas are on different philosophy topics and some of them seem to be very interesting. It will be a good opportunity to meet other people studying philosophy and people who just like philosophy. The website is http://www.philosophersforum.org/schedule_current.html and you can find more information about meeting, locations, and topics going to be discussed. It's sponsored by the Dallas Philosopher's Forum. One of the lecture is happening tonight at SMU. Robert Howell, assistant philosophy instructor at SMU, will be discussing Thomas Reid and Scottish 'Common Sense' Philosophy. The lecture will be introducing Thomas Reid's works and his response and ideas about Hume's extreme ideas. (comment on this) |
| Monday, April 25th, 2005 |
| 5:01 pm - Yoga (Extra Credit) |
| bstoker_2002 If anyone is interested in yoga, I found a cool yoga website with an article on Relaxation. The website is www.yogajournal.com. Please check it out. If you interested in taking yoga classes in Denton, my roommate loves The Yoga Hut. They have a lot of different types of yoga offered and she says the instructors are great. ~BaileyRelaxation 101If you experience stress, take note: relaxation is a skill that can be learned.If attaining peace of mind were as simple as reminding ourselves to relax whenever we feel agitated, the majority of us would be blissed-out most of the time. Like any other worthwhile skill, though, relaxation takes practice. Thankfully, yoga can be a good training ground for cultivating this fine art. And the skills we learn in our yoga practice can support us in the rest of our lives, helping us manage stressful times with clarity and balance. What can we do to deepen our ability to drop into a state of relaxation and ease? How can we connect with our inner state of peace when our outer lives are awash in stress and chaos? These suggestions can help you make your way back to balance and tranquility, on and off the mat. 1. Exhale. One of the best ways to bring yourself back down to earth is to lengthen your exhalations.2. Focus your mind. Sometimes when the world sends us spinning, we want to do nothing more than drop into an easy chair and stare into space.3. Minimize external stimulation. Turn off the television, unplug the telephone, and dim the lights--turn down the volume of your life, remembering that outer calm nurtures inner calm. 4. Substitute positive thoughts for negative ones. Next time you find yourself reeling with an agonizing fear or a depressing thought, notice the negative habit, toss it out, and use your creativity to develop a more positive outlook on the world. 5. Seek out laughter. There's nothing more stress-busting than a first-class belly laugh.6. Practice, practice, practice. Like fine wine, relaxation improves over time. (1 comment | comment on this) |
| Sunday, April 24th, 2005 |
| 12:42 pm - Water Article (Extra Credit) |
| bstoker_2002 I found this article and thought it was so interesting. If there is no water crisis then why is China having to redirect its water sources? The article is dated on April 5, 2005 and I found it at http://www.climateark.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=40575. Just please keep this in mind the next time you leave the water running.China announced plans Tuesday to relocate 400,000 people to make way for a US$60 billion (euro50 billion) network of canals to supply its dry north with water from the wetter south. It will be China's second major forced relocation of residents, coming after 1.3 million people were moved to make way for the vast Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in the southwest. The canals are to move water hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the Yangtze to Beijing and other parts of the north. The government says building the South-North Water Diversion Project could take up to 50 years and cost more than 500 billion yuan (US$60 billion; euro50 billion). China says it ranks among the world's driest countries and providing enough water for its 1.3 billion people, as well as farms and industry, is a chronic government worry. (1 comment | comment on this) |
| Saturday, April 23rd, 2005 |
| 3:20 pm - Meditation (Extra Credit) |
| bstoker_2002 I found a cool website if anyone is interested in learning more on meditation. This is a website that will get you started if you think meditation will help you in any way. If is www.learningmeditation.com, it even has some meditation music on the website. I haven't listened to it yet but I thought it was cool they have it on the website. Here are also some tips that are listed on the website: Each meditation serves a specific purpose, depending on what you want to achieve. Be free. 1. Make sure you are in a quiet room with no distractions. 2. Allow some time for your meditation. 3. As you listen to the music, picture the images that are being described in your mind. 4. Be open to the meditation. Meditating is actually easier than you might imagine. We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the "mind clutter" that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind – to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights. Please check this website out and let me know what you think. ~Bailey (2 comments | comment on this) |
| Friday, April 22nd, 2005 |
| 8:07 pm - Water statistic (Extra Credit) |
| bstoker_2002 I found this statistic on water and I thought I would share it with everyone. This is also a statistic from 1999 so you can image what it would be like if it was current. This is kinda scary to me because we don't ever think about the countries that don't have clean drinking water. What if this happens to us if we don't conserve our water resources? ~BaileyWater is essential for all dimensions of life. Over the past few decades, use of water has increased, and in many places water availability is falling to crisis levels. More than eighty countries, with forty percent of the world’s population, are already facing water shortages, while by year 2020 the world’s population will double. The costs of water infrastructure have risen dramatically. The quality of water in rivers and underground has deteriorated, due to pollution by waste and contaminants from cities, industry and agriculture. Ecosystems are being destroyed, sometimes permanently. Over one billion people lack safe water, and three billion lack sanitation; eighty per cent of infectious diseases are waterborne, killing millions of children each year. (2 comments | comment on this) |
| Thursday, April 21st, 2005 |
| 2:06 pm - Water Conservation (Extra Credit) |
| bstoker_2002 After out talk in class about water today, I thought I would find some ways to conserve water. Here are 10 tips to conserve water. If you are interested in more ways to conserve water go to www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm. ~BaileySAVING WATER INDOORS1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning. 2. Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak. 3. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system. 4. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.) 5. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet. 6. Take shorter showers. Replace you showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs. 7. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Stopper tub before turning water. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later. 8. Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin. 9. Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors. 10. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using. (4 comments | comment on this) |