Work?

It's looking like not one of you want to work at journal entries! That is not cool, people. I'm not going to let you off the hook so easily, however. Here's today's entry:

Using your philosophical approach, analyze "The Rape of the Lock" or the selection you should have read from the "Spectator."

Until at least half of the class does this entry, this will be what you get every day ;-)

X-(

I am disappointed! It seems like every time I give you a journal where you have to think, you all tend to avoid writing that journal. Therefore, for today's journal, I want you to write about the Addison reading, but apply your philosophical approach to what advice he is giving. ;-)

Rachael & Ashley's Existentialism Blog

Existentialism is the study of existence and our choices. In your opinion, what does it mean to exist? To exist physically? To exist mentally?

After doing the activity in class, what did you learn about conformity?

Philosophy

Welcome back! I hope that everyone had a great three-day weekend and got a lot of rest. I was excited because I got your book reviews graded and had the chance to read two books. :-) What did you do?

On another note: how are your philosophy projects coming along? What questions/problems are you having? Be sure that you ask today because you will have today and tomorrow in the library and then we start presenting on Wednesday. I will take volunteers to go first; if no one volunteers, I will have you draw numbers.

Philosophy + Forgetful

How are your projects coming along? What questions do you have?

For our journal today, write about a time when you forgot something important. For example, I got to school today and realized that I had left my lunch on the counter at home. What did you forget? What did you do about it? What were the consequences, if any?

Philosophy

Here are your philosophical thoughts for today:
1. When should a person cooperate?
2. When should a person be selfish?
3. Should you provide favors to another friend who never reciprocates?
4. Is it possible to cooperate without friendship?
5. Under what conditions in a world of egoists (we look out for ourselves) will cooperation emerge?

Philosophical Dilemma

The year is 1918 and the U.S. in engaged in WWI. Hans Funneman migrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1896 seeking a better life and wanting to escape political persecution. Hans is a well known pacifist who has spoken out against U.S. entry into the war. Since U.S. entry, Hans has toned down his rhetoric and has "laid low" as he wants to keep his job. However, he has very strong sentiments against the U.S. being involved in this war. His parents and siblings still live in Germany, one of his brothers has been drafted into the German army.

After coming to the U.S., Hans married and has four children between the ages of four and twelve. His wife is the descendant of English immigrants to the U.S. and has family living in London. Prior to the war, Hans worked in a factory producing metal containers to store paints and chemicals. During the war, the factory was converted to a munitions and weapons plant which produces the armaments to help the U.S. be successful in the Great War.

Hans and his wife purchased a new home back in 1916 and have a large mortgage requiring them to make monthly payments. His wife had done some odd jobs to help make some extra income. However, she has become quite ill and cannot work while requiring expensive medicine to help with her illness. Some people have died of this type of illness without having access to the medicine.

Hans has become a U.S. citizen and has settled down here in the U.S. However, he still longs for his homeland and would like to go back and visit his family. His boss approaches him with a governmental document requiring all the workers of the factory to swear allegiance to the United States and to support the war cause. All workers must sign this document or lose their job at the plant.

What should Hans do? Should he sign or not sign the document?

Philosophy

How do you know that the things you know are true? What is more real: sadness or a puppy? Are you sure that you're not in someone else's dream - that this life isn't real, but just someone's dream? Who decides what is right and what is wrong, moral or immoral? Who gave "them" that power? Do we have the right to take that power away from "them" and decide for ourselves?

Discuss!

Wrap Up

What did you think of the test yesterday? For all your complaining, most of you did well :-)

We are going to start a new unit today - The Restoration and Enlightenment. The Restoration part is due to the fact that the monarchy is back on the English throne and the Puritans are told to take a hike. Charles I shows up from France and reopens the theaters and music halls. He gets people writing again, and not just religious works.

The Enlightenment belongs to the philosophers and scientists. We talked about Enlightenment your sophomore year. If you remember, EVERYTHING should be able to be proven by scientific inquiry. If you can't prove it, it doesn't exist.

So, not a smooth transition, but here it goes. Two summers ago, I took a class in philosophy. It was very interesting - and thought-provoking. How interested would you be in going a little off topic and discussing some philosophy? Maybe doing a little research project on it and how it pertains to this time period? Discuss and let me know.