Meditation III - Proving Reality

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #4: Regardless of your views on Descartes' arguments, why do you think his argument is so important in the history of philosophy?
• Discussion:  Descartes Meditations (Part 3)
• Prepare For Test
• Crash Course (World Religions - see sidebar)
• Part One due on Monday
• Part Two due on Wednesday

Meditation II - Cogito Ergo Sum

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Short Period - Two Hour Delay
• Warm-Up #3: Briefly explain how Descartes is able to proof his own existence through pure reason?
• Discussion:  Descartes Meditations (Part 2)
• Reading: Descartes Meditations (Part 3) - Due Tomorrow

The Matrix

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy
• Evaluate Plato's Allegory of the Cave in the context of The Matrix

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• The Matrix
• Discussion:  The Matrix

Meditation I - Radical Doubt

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy
• Evaluate Plato's Allegory of the Cave in the context of The Matrix

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• The Matrix
• Discussion:  Descartes Meditations (Part 1)
• Reading: Descartes Meditations (Part 2) - Due Tuesday

The Matrix

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy
• Evaluate Plato's Allegory of the Cave in the context of The Matrix

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• The Matrix
• Reading: Descartes Meditations (Part 1) - Due Monday

Logic Assessment

Objective

• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• Short Period - Two Hour Delay!
• No Written Warm-Up.  Take a moment to prepare for your reading quiz.
• Logic Reading Quiz
• Logic Presentations
• Tomorrow: The Matrix

Logical Reasoning

Objective

• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• No Warm-Up
• PowerPoint: Logic
• Logic Reading (Quiz on Tuesday)
• Logic Presentation (Present on Tuesday)

Logic Introduction

Objective

• Analyze Plato's Allegory of the Cave
• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• Warm-Up #2: Can you make 50 identical cookies?
• Take 10-15 minutes to complete warm-ups & finish reading the Allegory of the Cave.  If you're ahead, start the Logic Reading (see right sidebar)
• Background: Plato's Theory of Forms
• Allegory of the Cave - Analysis & Discussion 
• Story & Setup
• Finding The Truth
• What is real?
• Theory of Forms
• Is it always better?  Do people like it?
•  Returning to the Cave
• How would you be regarded?
• Logic Reading (Quiz on Tuesday)
• Logic Presentation (Present on Tuesday)

Plato: Leaving the Cave

Objective

• Analyze Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Agenda

• Attendance
• Seating Chart
• Collect Info Sheet
• Computers
• Log On
• Website
• Setup Journal
• V-Sauce
• Find the video on the public drive.  It can be found under Public / Malafarina / Philosophy of Knowledge
• Warm-Up #1: Michael introduces the concept of a Theory of Mind.   Why is this idea so important?  What does it enable humans to do that other animals can't do?
• Discuss V-Sauce
• PowerPoint
• Major Figures
• Allegory of the Cave
• Primary Source:  Allegory of the Cave (due tomorrow)
• Logic Reading (due Thurs)

Introduction

Objective

• Explain classroom procedures and expectations
• Analyze how we know what we "know"

Agenda

• What is Philosophy?
• The Key Question
• Discussion
• The Topics
• The Syllabus
• Pass Out Syllabus
• Pass Out Info Sheet
• The Cactus
• Discussion Rules
• Question Cards for Mr. M
• Discuss: What is something you know to be true?
• V-Sauce
• Computers
• Log On
• Website
• Setup Journal

Homework - due tomorrow

• Info Sheet / Permission Slip

Existentialism Test

Objective

• Describe the major principles of Existentialism
• Reflect on the course

Agenda

• Turn in your Warm-Ups, if you have not done so already!  (#21-35)
• Study Time
• Existentialism Test
• Reflection

Albert Camus

Objective

• Describe the major ideas of Albert Camus

Agenda

• The music is "Neapolitan Bridesmaid" by Tarkio, as it is the only song I know to accurately namedrop Camus with the following lyric:  "Albert Camus said, Living is anguish but don't dare let those bastards carry you down."
• No spoilers about Agents of Shield S1E11: The Magical Place, Sam/Jessica.  I missed it!  We'll discuss this critically important piece of philosophy tomorrow.  For today, silence on this topic is a virtue.
• Because I am a benevolent and kind soul, your test will be multiple choice / matching / true false only.  Closed notes obviously (no Either/Or).  Use the following resources:
• Existentialism Reading / Crimes & Misdemeanors
• Kierkegaard PowerPoint / Either/Or
• Nietzsche Reading / Fight Club
• Camus Lesson (today's brief notes)
• Before the end of class tomorrow, please print out your second set of warm-ups and hand them into the inbox.  These are #20 - #35.   You'll have time to do so at the end of class today.
• Camus
• The Absurd
• Unjust Universe
• Fleeting Happiness
• This can be a source of value and greater appreciation
• "Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour" - Vanilla Sky
• Meaning
• If we accept that life has no meaning and therefore no value, should we kill ourselves?
• Suicide is the "big problem" for philosophy
• Rebellion
• It is the struggle against the absurd that brings happiness
• Your actions might not change the outside world, but you can define meaning in your attempt to "fight the good fight."
• "If I lost this thorn from my side, I think I'd die." - Tarkio
• Myth of Sisyphus
• Camus concludes "one must imagine Sisyphus happy" as "The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart."
• An Example - Watch Scrubs S8E2: My Last Words
• Discussion
• How does George struggle with The Absurd?  Does he find peace with it?  If so, how?
• How do JD and Turks actions represent Rebellion?

Existentialism Review

I'm out sick today, so we can't finish watching Fight Club until I return tomorrow.  When I'm back we'll finish the movie and discuss how it connects with Nietzsche.

Unfortunately, the snow on Friday cut our already limited time left together short.  After Fight Club, we'll have one day of instruction before your Existentialism Test (on Thursday).  I'll attempt to give a quick rundown of Sartre and Camus with that time.

The bulk of your test will focus on Soren Kierkegaard, since we spent the most time on his ideas through the Either/Or Reading.  Prepare yourself to write an essay on Kierkegaard.

The exact question is still a deliberate mystery, but I'm going to give you a few hints on issues you'll need to be comfortable with:

You *will* have access to Either/Or on the test.
  - You will be expected to have quotes to back up your points
  - You should be able to find stuff in your document fast.  That's what the highlights & margin notes were for, but you should reread elements of it in advance so you are comfortable with it. 

Understanding the overall structure of the book, the differences between "A" and "B" / Judge William

Describe the aesthetic life
   - What's clever/good/useful about it

  - Specific examples, like being able to accurately describe crop rotation

Describe the ethical life
   - Based on the reading, what's the Judge's problem with A?
   - Based on our notes, what is the ethical life about?
   - Again, specific example, such as the five forms of despair.

Be ready to take a position on the relative benefits of an ethical vs. aesthetic life.  What is Kierkegaard's solution?
    - You can get into his ideas about religion, and knights of faith, etc.  Or you can briefly summarize them and move on.  This can be a primarily secular essay if you don't find the religious aspect persuasive.

During today's class, you have a few potential resources:

Read Mr. M's Kierkgaard essay which is found on the Public Drive under Philosophy of Knowledge.  If you can't find it, ask Max or Clare - they're CS students, so they should know how to find that.

Re-read / annotate your Either/Or Readings

Study your notes from the powerpoint

Discuss essay ideas with neighbors

Do other pressing work from another class while not disturbing others.  That's fine too.  Just make sure you're ready on Thursday.

I hope you all have an excellent day, and I will (hopefully) see you on Tuesday.

Fight Club

Objective

• Describe the life and philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
• Analyze the concepts of slave/mastery morality, the death of God, the will to power, and eternal return.

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Nietzsche Concept Highlights
• Slave Morality
• What pacifies people in modern society?
• Nietzsche's Story: "The Last Man" --> Ubermensch --> Making A New World
• Death of God ("We don' t need him")
• Need for Nihilism ("Hitting the bottom")
• Ethical concerns with this value system
• Fight Club
• This is a dark, complex film.
• Mr. M is cutting some of the film, but it's still pretty rough.  Requires a mature attitude.
• Just because we're watching this doesn't endorse these or any of Nietzsche's ideas.  The film itself might be critical of this philosophy - we'll discuss tomorrow.
• Brief background & explanation.
• Watch Film