MG Philosophy Student Wins National Award!

Graduating senior Sher Shah Atif has been selected as the high school fifth place National Award Winner for the 2010 Kids Philosophy Slam!

His award includes a $100 cash prize and was presented at Mount Greylock's Senior Awards Night on Thursday, June 10.

Announcement of Sher Shah's award was made in the North Adams Transcript, and is online at the Philosophy Slam website and at the Squire Family Foundation website.

Congratulations!

SO....MUCH.......IRONY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vqCGhJBK4&feature=related

I stumbled upon this funny, but painfully ironic and sad clip, made from a recorded phone call.

p.s. sorta NSFW (but not really) --no need to get scared and run away, it's just a picture with a little rudimentary animation to make it look like it's talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOC58c-Ibdk&feature=related
a slightly more serious video I found a few minutes later.

Craig Venter =God

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10132762.stm

Red Letter Media (re-post)

http://laughingsquid.com/harvey-plinkett-of-red-letter-media-reviews-star-wars-attack-of-the-clones/

it got burried in homework posts so I thought I would go dig it up so people wo didn't see it eariler could.

Everybody Sing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWMxUsTjhY0

enjoy!

you know the wierd thing is they are half right, if there is a god I doubt he really loves us if he created a world where the only way to keep living is to kill others

Carl Sagan Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJE_Ld-UyCk

a video made from an excerpt from Carl Sagan's book The Pale Blue Dot

Risk

What, in your opinion, is the most important feature of what Mavin Zuckerman calls "HSS"

• If you are a high you seek high risk activities, which brings them high stimulus. There is a down fall most of these people tend to abuse drugs because of there attitude of trying new things that will create that risk for them. The most important thing is knowing that if you are a high you might be prone to get into drugs. Then once getting the feeling that the highs get will make you want to do more it grows on anyone that tries a new thing.

Does Aptor's way of explaining the evolutionary benefits of risk-taking make sense to you?

• I understand Aptors way, he said that risk takers would be the people to try new foods or test if something was poisonous etc. These risk takers would save the life's of others, and if they survived they would get the feeling they wanted.

Risk response

1. I think the most important feature of the HSS is their inability to be content in a safe situation.

2. I think risk takers often resent neurochemical explanations because they feel that it is suggesting that there is something wrong with them, that their risk taking is due to some imbalance or defect.

Risk

1.) I think that the most important HSS feature is some one who seeks risk to fulfill a need (dopamine, thrill, etc.) that most people can get without scaling a mountain. They have to go above what normally satisfies people to get the same feeling.

2.) I think that risk takers might dislike the scientific explanations because it may seem to sterilize and minimize the experience. People who take risks probably have their own conscious reasons, putting it in terms or brain chemistry takes the emotion out of it and makes it clinical. I might also resent some scientist telling me why I did something, especially if the scientists weren't adrenaline junkies themselves.

Risk Taking

1.) In my opinion, the most important feature of the "HSS", or those who favor high risk situations, is there ability to process more information without reverting to the more primitive, instinctual human.  This reduces the thrill they get from each activity, creating a boring life. These high-risk seekers often pair off with others like themselves, while those less inclined towards risk taking seek friends of a similar tendency.

3.)  I think risk-takers, like rock climber Todd Wells, have a problem with the neurochemical explanations for their behavior because it destroys their very objective.  They seek risks to escape from the restrictions placed upon them by society and to gain a greater perspective of themselves.  However, when a scientist claims to be able to explain the motivation behind their behavior, they feel that the individuality of their method of escape is destroyed by society's scientific, structured explanation regarding their risk seeking.

Ethics Of Risk

well, I read it. Seemed like it cut off just as Altham was about to get to her actual argument, so I don't really have anything to say about it.

This one's really only worth 7

and by the way....

Red Letter Media Does It Again!!

http://laughingsquid.com/harvey-plinkett-of-red-letter-media-reviews-star-wars-attack-of-the-clones/

I can honestly say this is one of the funniest and most insightful things I have ever seen on the internet, once you've seen one or two parts of this you should get what I mean.

....and yes it's still good even if you don't know or care anything about scifi, but caring about cinema would probably help.

Jimmy Carter Speech

A speech by Jimmy Carter from 1979, featured in Capitalism: A love Story by Michael Moore:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ysc1P1sH4

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXvGKJF2XQU&feature=related

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aOMNgxRF2M&feature=related

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xivhdO_LbGw&feature=related

NEW VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNNKIKVEdXM

Phi @ Williams Tomorrow...

Thursday, May 6

Perfectionism and the Meaning of Life in Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus

4:15 p.m., Griffin 7
Lecture by Professor Iddo Landau, Department of Philosophy, Haifa University, Israel and Visiting Fellow at Indiana University at Bloomington.

Beware!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5VNe9NTOxA
and also......(gasp!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWeZ5SKXvj8&feature=related
(the end is the best part)

Provocative Thought of the Day...

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
-Stephen Roberts, database architect (b. 1967)

If you're stressed about college...

You might enjoy this documentary (when it comes out): "In 500 Words Or Less," a film which follows four high school students through the college admissions process. A short film overview is on the Chronicle of Higher Education's website here.

Timely and Relevant!

There's a conference at MIT today through Sunday:

*Adoption: Secret Histories, Public Policies*: A conference sponsored by the Alliance for the Study of Adoption and Culture at MIT, and co-sponsored by the MIT and UNH Depts. of Philosophy (among others).

http://web.me.com/shaslang/ASAC_2010_Conference/Welcome.html

If you happen to be going to Cambridge this weekend, they offer reduced conference rates for students... :-P

It's not the one I wanted.........but it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbAc98UJw4c

+ it's even related to the class! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!


****tune in next week for the annual sacrifice of 2 dozen christians to the goddess Minerva***

Inform Yourself!

I've compiled a short selection of terms and their use, as well as a really condensed set of excerpts from the Roe v Wade decision, in this doc. We'll read it, as well as Judith Jarvis Thomson's violinist thought experiment, tomorrow.

Is it all the Pope's fault?

An interesting argument about how everyday Christians are ultimately responsible for whether or not the church changes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VaC95jEPTc

Baby Cows and Philosophy

....or it that doesn't work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJnHoOxhzY4

REMINDER: Phizza Tomorrow Night!

Just a reminder about the pizza and philosophy party tomorrow evening, 7pm, at MCLA in North Adams! It's FREE and TASTY!

Follow this link for a map (*.pdf) of the MCLA campus - the Honors Center/Highland House is number 9 on the map.

See you there...

matrix response

It's been a while since I've seen this movie, and I forgot how big the religious undertones were. I find it strange that they wrote Morpheus's character to have such a blind faith in Neo, as blind faith is not a trait the majority of Americans wish to emulate. I hope.

The Matrix

In the second Matrix movie, it is interesting to see that there are many humans who do not agree that Morpheus's firm beliefs.  This is a noticeable difference from the first movie where Cypher is the only freed human who does not support Morpheus.  The fledgeling religion revolving around Neo is challenged by some of the more sceptic residents of Zion, the last human city.  Thus far, Morpheus has taken the mantle of a profit preaching his beliefs to the people of Zion.  At the festival, so powerful is Morpheus's own belief, that the people's fears are allayed and they are swayed by his precepts.  In our own world, it is very true that the most convincing missionary is also a firm believer in the proposed religion.  People want to be unafraid and confident; Morpheus successfully offers them this in his speech to Zion and reaffirms their belief in Neo.

matrix

notice how everyone knows whee neo is all the time?

Website for Issues on Alcohol

The site maintained by Dr. Hanson at SUNY-Postdam is a central location for info about the history of American alcohol policy. An interesting read!

Collateral Murder

WARNING: Disturbing Footage

http://wikileaks.org/

I saw an artcle about this and then watched the video.

I felt like I had to share it

I'm not quite sure what to think of the whole thing

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/military-cant-find-its-video-showing-newsmens-deaths/19429850?icid=main|aim|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fnation%2Farticle%2Fmilitary-cant-find-its-video-showing-newsmens-deaths%2F19429850

The article can be found in the above link

April Fools' Fun, Matrix/Philosophy-Style

On YouTube.

College Students Rally Against Alcohol, For...Something Else

Relevant to this week's discussion, check out this article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. What points do Mr. Pfountz, Mr. Tvert and Mr. McCardell make that are issues we discussed in class?

Philosophy/Pizza Party, Part Two

Last semester the Williams College Philosophy Department hosted a pizza party for us.

This semester, it's MCLA's turn.

The MCLA Philosophy Department has some money and a swank venue (the Honors House) to host a second-semester shindig including free pizza and excellent conversation with philosophy majors and profs (my colleagues). All they need to know is WHEN.

Your task: comment on this post to let me know which weekday evening you would be most able to come to such a party. I will be able to give rides to up to four students, so let me know too if you would need transportation. Once I have a response, I'll be able to get the plans in motion.

Science and Morality talk @ TED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9oB4zpHww

A little on the long side, but still interesting

Science and Morality talk @ TED

Migration

The question of migration is not an easy one. People feel strongly about it on both sides. I had never really considered the issue much before this week, and now that I have I still don't have a clear opinion. I agree the our Government has a responsibility to it's citizen first and foremost. Just like I would take care of my family before a complete stranger. The government should make sure that Americans have job opportunities and a way to survive. That being said, one of the big reasons that Americans are losing jobs to immigrants is because the companies can hire migrant workers at a fraction of the price. If migrants could demand a fair price, then the incentive for businesses to hire them would go away.
Also, I think that borders shouldn't be locked down like a war zone. Cultural mixing is important for people to understand one another and get along. Locking down our borders sends the message that we don't want anything to do with other people. That being said, I don't know how many people our infrastructure can handle. Who's job is it to decide who has the right to try for a better life. Maybe our government should up our relief efforts in Mexico, that way there'd be less incentive to move here.

On Immigration

Immigration remains a controversial issue.  Regulation of immigrants as well as who should be allowed into the country is difficult to determine.  I believe that immigration should be regulated by the federal government.  Although America makes it its policy to aid the oppressed, the country owes more to its citizens than the average human.  Just as it is a parent's duty to protect his own child over other children, it is a country's duty to protect her citizens.  If immigration were completely unrestrained, then desirable America would become overcrowded, with her citizens perhaps elbowed aside by the newcomers.  Therefore, immigration must be regulated, but by who?

Immigration being regulated at the state level is ridiculous; it is not an issue that falls into the sovereignty of each individual state.  This issue effects all states, thus it must be collectively regulated by them all, hence by the federal government.  The federal government does a good job of regulating immigration currently, striking a balance between cost-efficiency and effectiveness.  Because of their proven track record, it makes sense for the federal government to continue regulating immigration.

immigration control

I think that Immigration should be a controlled process, not just for the sake of Americans but for the immigrants as well. Immigration is such a vast and hotly debated issue that leaving it up to individual states would inevitably result in conflict: Texas demanding that California reimburse them for the money the state lost when illegal aliens who got in through the California boarder, started working in Texas, and so on. Thus immigration should be left up to the federal government, specifically the DEA. Giving the DEA official jurisdiction would help focus efforts on one of the major sources of, and problems with illegal immigration, which is too often overlooked in discussions such as ours, the Mexican-American drug trade. Cutting this trade route, while resource and time intensive, would eliminate much of the crime and violence seen near the Mexican boarder, most likely on both sides.

The other major problem besides drugs is of course work. The congressional bill to allow immigrants to work toward citizenship in a sector of America’s job market that’s hurting, i.e. lacking people, yet usually requires little training, is a plan that, as far as I can perceive, will benefit everyone. To truly make this plan work however, the financial expenses and time required by immigrants to legal enter the country must be lessened perhaps making legal channels become more feasible than illegal ones, if possible. Having many legal, rather than illegal immigrants would make it easier for the government to oversee the quality and safety of the jobs in which immigrants work. Without the ability to exploit immigrant workers, businesses would quit hiring them exclusively, and American unemployment would lessen. This would likely have the affect of funneling immigrants into sectors such as farming, as would this congressional bill. The revival of American farm production would strengthen the U.S. economy, and perhaps lead to the revival of U.S. production in other fields as well.

Weekend Blogwork

As I articulated today in class, your mission this weekend (i.e., homework) is to post 2 paragraphs of thoughtful and intelligent questions and/or arguments concerning the issue of migration control. Intelligent responses will of course include more than simple statements of your opinion - I will enjoy seeing you grapple with questions to which you don't have easy answers.

This is what serious thinking looks like!

I would also love to see you respond to each others' posts - feel free to comment as well as post (respectfully and thoughtfully, as always, though not hesitating to disagree!).

As a supplementary source, here's a link to an mp3 of this (Friday) morning's Marketplace radio show: it includes a brief story (2 minutes or so) about what's happening right now in the national immigration debate, and one particular group of people who have a vested interest in it (from marketplace.publicradio.org):

A congressional bill would provide immigrant farm workers a path to citizenship if they continue to work in agriculture. Farm management leaders say the move is vital to their industry. Jeff Tyler explains why.

Here's the text if you'd rather read than listen.

Who Wants To Be A Torturer? ...I mean, Millionaire? ...I mean, sheep?

Further reinforcing the suspicion that social pressures are too often stronger than ethics... this link to a story about a TV game show broadcast yesterday evening - quaintly entitled "The Game of Death" - and the documentary filmmaker who produced it. Perhaps the most telling quotation from the article:

"They are not equipped to disobey."

Ethics in Physics

An MIT physics professor released the results of a study in which he monitored student cheating and its correlation with test scores.

Is anyone surprised?

Nietzche!

"All sciences are now under the obligation to prepare the ground for the future task of the philosopher, which is to solve the problem of value, to determine the true hierarchy of values."
~Friedrich Nietzche

Apropos of This Week's Topic...

Check this link from Slashdot.org regrading the much-ballyhooed "virtual fence" along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Are You In Control?

Is addiction a choice, or a disease? Exactly how much of a role does free will play in an addict's actions - is s/he compelled, or free to choose? An interesting conundrum for philosophers, with real-world consequences: check out this book review of a recent publication from Harvard University Press on these questions.

In the year two thousand and ten of the almighty Chuck

http://www.asylum.com/2010/03/10/chuck-norris-turns-70-we-present-a-norris-fact-for-every-ass-ki/

Local philosophy event: TOMORROW!

Philosophy lecture at Williams TOMORROW NIGHT... I'll be there - will you? Where else will you ever get the chance to hear philosophy described as "a cerebral form of shock therapy"?

Plato's Poetic Redemption of Socrates' Tragic Neglect of Poetry

4:15 p.m., Hopkin B1964
Lecture by Joseph Lawrence, Professor of Philosophy, College of Holy Cross. At home in the hills of Kentucky, Lawrence is emphatically an outsider (and a highly critical one) to the world of middle-class suburbia. Accustomed to philosophize with a hammer, his teaching has been likened to a cerebral form of shock therapy. Most of his publications have been on the philosopher Schelling, though he has made frequent forays into ancient philosophy and the wisdom traditions of the East. Sponsored by the Philosophy Department.

And now.......for something.....completely different!

For all you heretics who don't watch The Dailyshow:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-9-2010/exclusive---marc-thiessen-extended-interview-pt--1

part 1/3

Siddhartha, day II

Try this link for an online resource for Hesse's Siddhartha.

Siddhartha!

HW for tomorrow: pages 3-38 of the easy-to-read, 14-point-font handout of Herman Hesse's Siddhartha. Don't expect to understand everything - I don't! But be ready to ask Ms. Finnegan or myself your questions in class tomorrow.

By the way, here's an interesting article about how some famous philosophers are getting involved in the public debate over evolution and creationism...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMEe7JqBgvg

black guy dies first always


p.s. blue....no YELLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!