Local Philosophy News!

Hey everybody - I was just talking with two of my colleagues in the philosophy department at MCLA who've just published a book together. They're going to be doing a reading of the book at the Water Street Grill on October 15 in the evening.

More details to follow; but the proprietor of the venue was interested in inviting interested high school students for the audience. It's a really accessible book they'll be reading (translation: no jargon!). Both authors are former profs of mine, and have become good friends - plus they're smart philosophers. Save the date!

Wednesday Homework

Reading (or listening to) pages 20-25 of chapter 3 - up to, but not including, the "Barometer story".

Homework

PLEASE CHANGE YOUR OLD BOOKMARK TO THIS LINK!

Now that I've got your attention...

My original idea of using this post as a permanent homework link didn't pan out so well. It just got too messy keeping up with the new batches of comments every day. So, here's the new plan: simply go to the main blog site (http://mountiesphilosophy.blogspot.com/) for the daily homework. It will always be visible as the most recent post (i.e., the post at the top of the page).

To Talk, or to Listen?

That is the question Bill Schubart ponders in this commentary I heard on the radio Monday morning, driving to Williamstown. Read the transcript (or listen to the stream/mp3), and see if you agree with him that

[t]he shrill chaos of a million tweets, blogs and call-in cable and radio
shows has entranced us with the sounds of our own voices and immersed us in the
white noise of narcissism.

Comment: do you think that Facebook and Twitter, utilities that let us immediately share any little detail of our lives, makes us more self-absorbed or narcissistic? Can you give an example of something or someone that supports your view?

First!

I Thought that this was a rather interesting opinion.... if slightly cliched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq5R9wHCJVg

--Chris
p.s. if you're feeling really courageous watch "BRICKS"
(I will not be held responsible for any mental and /or physical harm incurred via the watching of "BRICKS")

Twitter: Better Than Your English Professor

One Stanford University study seems to indicate that Twittering might just help improve writing skills.

Read it. Buy it?

What Good Is Summer Homework?

Fair question. Take a look at this blog discussion from a few days ago at the New York Times. Notice how many different opinions there are - professors, psychologists, authors... even very educated, smart people can't all agree on the issue. Whose argument and evidence makes the most sense to you?

Identify your favorite contributor, and sum up the important pieces of evidence s/he presents. Why are you convinced by the argument? Alternatively... identify a contributor whose argument you think DOESN'T work, and point out why his or her evidence isn't convincing.

Post Some Comments: If you regularly do summer homework, do you feel as though it's worth your while? Do you actually benefit from reviewing, or previewing material, or do you still do most of your actual learning in the classroom? If you tend to blow it off, do you think that it puts you at a disadvantage compared with students who do it, or do you feel like you don't really miss out on anything important?

P.S. If you're really interested in following this issue, there are more comments and analysis here at the Chronicle of Higher Education, a popular educators' newspaper.