Q&A # 10

1. Finish reading Bridges to the World.

Two questions this week:

2. Does Hans succeed in avoiding all ontological/metaphysical assumptions? In other words, has he, in the words of von Glasersfeld, successfully described and defended an "epistemology without metaphysics"? (For further reading beyond the text, consult this paper by Holtorf: http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/papers/holtorf/97-knowing.pdf
3. What are the pedagogical implications of Alison's "constructivist realism"? Or, (you choose) write a letter from Jules in response to Alison's letter.

Q&A # 9

Bridges to the World

1. Read: chapters 1-5.

2. Question: Who is most convincing in these first 5 chapters -- Russell or Hans? Why?

3. Raise two questions of your own.

Q&A # 8

Radical Constructivism

1. Watch the short video in the left margin of this blog of Ernst von Glasersfeld, the founder of radical constructivism, describing his view. (Ernst's view is the focus of the book, Bridges to the World, to which we will turn our attention in a week or so.)

2. Read his essay, "An Introduction to Radical Constructivism."

3. In this essay, von G. writes: "we cannot possibly conceive of an unexperienced world." (p. 1). Later he applies this line of thought to apples (p. 5). Here's my question: Can we conceive of an unexperienced apple?

4. Write two questions of your own.

Q&A # 7

Constructing Time

1. Read: IEP's article on time: http://www.iep.utm.edu/time/

2. Question: Is time real? What is it? Does it "flow"?

3. Write 2 questions of your own.

Q&A # 6

Equality and Envy

1. Read the SEP entry on Envy:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/envy

2. Question: Is egalitarianism (socialism, for example) based on envy? (See, for example, this essay:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:lct4GeT_No4J:homepages.luc.edu/~dschwei/socenvy.rtf+envy+socialism&cd=21&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

And this one:
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/cooray/vilify/socialis.htm

3. Write two questions of your own.

Q&A #5

Update:

Don't forget to check out the documentary, "Earthlings" (posted on my blog).


Of Meat and Morals

1. Read Michelle Carter's essay, "Medium Rare Morals: A Moral Justification of Meat Eating."

2. Find any other defenses of meat eating and share links/summaries on your blogs/in class.

3. Question: How would Carter respond to the bumper-sticker slogan, "Meat is Murder"?

5. Write two questions of your own.

Q&A #4

The Social Construction of Patriotism

1. Read the SEP entry on "patriotism:"

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/patriotism/

Listen to the debate on patriotism vs. cosmopolitanism (and follow links for further readings/information):

http://www.philosophytalk.org/pastShows/PatriotismversusCosmopolitanism.htm

2. What are the moral/rational limits of patriotic partiality?

3. Write 2 questions of your own.