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Dan Dennett on Free Will & Responsibility

Here's a great talk by Dennett, surveying some of the issues and central ideas in the debate over free will and responsibility.

Dangerous Devotion

This is a documentary on Cults that was featured on the History Channel. 

The first link is for part 1 of 9.

Enjoy!

Is Scientology A Cult?

What is Scientology?

What is the concept of God in Scientology?

What are the fundamental practices of the religion?

 All this and more... Scientology.ORG

Documentary About Gangs

The documentary "Crips & Bloods" is currently available on Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/watch/161868/crips-and-bloods-made-in-america

Greeks Vs. Gangs

On Monday October 26th, we discussed gangs and how they relate to Fraternities and Sororities. Thanks to Sarah, our Secretary, here is a summary of the meeting:

We found there to be quite a number of similarities between Greeks and gangs:

• Family, support system
• Feeling of belonging
• Friends & connections
• Competitive
• Use emblems
• Initiations
• Membership for life
• Member labeled as that specific organization
• Philanthropy (Gangs started out being philanthropic as vigilantes.)

The main difference that we found between the two is that Greek organizations are seen in a positive light, whereas gangs are seen in a negative light. These positive or negative connotations given to each, respectively, might have something to do with intention and what the groups intend to do with their acts of "philanthropy". However, "positive" and "negative" are culturally subjective terms.

 

Thus, we concluded that, in some way, we might all be a part of a gang.

Is Greed Good? Talk on Wed Nov 3rd

There's a talk on Wednesday Nov 3 at 4.30 in Clarke 118 sponsored by the Business department that's right up our alley, especially if you're in the Enlightenment course this term: IS GREED GOOD?

Brief description:
The presentation explores the role of personal self discipline—emphasizing the distinction between self interest and greed. I start by playing the Ultimatum game. It is a short interactive experience for students, and they like being involved. Then, I use what we discovered in the Ultimatum game to address Smith’s moral philosophy, linking wealth creation with moral development. I encourage students to ask questions as we go along.

The Philosophy Behind Gangs

Next week, on Monday the 25th, we will be discussing gangs. A few questions to contemplate are:

• Are all gangs violent?
• Why do people join gangs?
• What exactly is a gang?
• How do gangs turn violent? Why?
• How does one run a gang?
• Is your fraternity/sorority a gang?

Gangs are very prevalent right here in Norfolk. This video discusses the issue:
Facing Gangs in Norfolk, VA Part I
Facing Gangs in Norfolk, VA Part II

When is it Okay/Not Okay to Burn a Holy Book?

Here is an overview of last week's meeting (held on 10/11), thanks to our secretary Sarah Imbesi:

Introduction

• Rev. Terry Jones planned to burn the Qur'an on 9/11 as an anti-Islam protest. He never followed through with this plan, but the story was still greatly publicized.
• Burning the Qur'an is a heavy theological insult because the Qur'an is not just a book to the Muslims; it is more like how Jesus is to Christians.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Rasor

• Dr. Rasor used the question we asked, "When is it okay/not okay to burn a holy book?", to gain insight into more questions within the question: 

1. What do we mean by "okay"?

    -Legally? Morally?

    -Even though it is legally okay to burn a holy book, should there be limitations?

    -Why would it be morally wrong?

        i. Symbolic Violence- creates fear and poses a threat

        ii. Over Publicized- would it have even posed a threat if it wasn't public?

    -When would it be okay to burn a holy book?

        i. Fuel for a fire if there's nothing left to keep you warm from the cold?

2. Why "burn"? Is burning different from other forms of symbolic protest?

3. What is "holy"? Holy to whom?

4. Who do we want to protect from this book burning? Whose interests?

5. What do we expect of people in a democratic society? Do we expect them to be tolerant of all religions?

Snyder v. Phelps- Protesting at Military Funerals

• The Phelps have been protesting the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of the military, but in the opposite way it is usually protested. They are protesting for gays to be removed from the military, not to be tolerated. At the funerals they protest to say that the gays in the military are the cause of death for all the soldiers that die.

-What are the restrictions for these types of protests?

-Are the funerals on public property, thus making the protests legal?

Leon's Post on Snyder v. Phelps (Westboro Baptist Church Picketing Funerals)

Leon has posted a thoughtful piece about tonight's PhilSoc topic on his own blog, The Indie Star

Huge, Clickable, History of Science "Subway" Map

Here. Courtesy of Crispian Jago.

Great Musical Performances (An On-Going Series)

Is this freakin' fantastic? Or is it just me? (That's an actual question.)
Talking Heads on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test, 1978: Psycho Killer



Previously: Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street: Superstition

House & Philosophy

House & Philosophy: Everybody Lies is edited by Henry Jacoby and published by Blackwell. There's a copy in the library

Thought Experiments ...

Make More Than GPA

Robin Hanson at Overcoming Bias on a theme dear to my heart:

You don’t have to step very far outside scheduled classes and clubs to start to see how very different the world is when you have to organize it yourself.

For example, if you try to study a subject in depth without following a textbook or review, you’ll have to decide for yourself which sources seem how relevant to your topic. If you try to add something to the subject you’ll have to decide what changes are how feasible and interesting. Doing these may feel awkward at first, but they will be very useful skills later in life. Similar skills come from writing your own game or starting your own business or composing your own album.

The full article is at http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/11/make-more-than-gpa.html

Killing animals is wrong because ...

Here's an article on not killing animals in the NYTimes. The argument seems to be that we shouldn't kill animals because some guy in a novel once had fellow-feeling for a mouse. But lots of people have lots of different feelings for animals, and fellow-feeling towards all kinds of things.

I have a hard time believing a professional philosopher wrote this - I suspect the thoughtless hand of an editor intervened.