Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Introductions

Let's introduce ourselves, Fall 2017 CoPhilosophy collaborators. (I'll tell you in class why I call my version of the Intro course "CoPhilosophy." But maybe you can guess, from the William James quote in the masthead.)

I invite you all to hit "comment" below and reply with your own introductions, and (bearing in mind that this is an open site) your answers to two basic questions: Who are you? Why are you here? (in this course, on this campus, in this state, on this planet...)

Our first class meeting will consist mainly of introductions and a heads-up that this is an unconventional course in ways I hope you'll find delightful, instructive, and rewarding. If you don't like to move, breathe, and converse in the open air on nice days, this may not be the course for you. But if you don't especially like the conventional lecture-style academic model in which I talk and you scribble silently in your seats, it may be just what you're looking for.

We'll not go over the syllabus or get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of course mechanics on Day #1, there's plenty of time for those details later. But do peruse the blogsite and syllabus (linked in the right margin) before next class and let me know what's unclear. Meanwhile, read your classmates' intros and post your own.

I'm Dr. Oliver, aka (despite my best efforts to discourage it) "Dr. Phil." I live in Nashville with my wife and recently-graduated older daughter, two dogs (Angel and Scooter) and a cat (Zeus). Younger Daughter is a college freshman on another campus.

My office is 300 James Union Building (JUB). Office hours are Monday thru Thursday 4-5, & by appointment. On nice days office hours may be outside, check my office door for details. I answer emails during office hours, but not on weekends. Surest way to get a quick response:come in or call during office hours.

I've been at MTSU since the early '00s, teaching philosophy courses on diverse subjects including atheism, childhood, happiness, the environment, the future, epistemology, metaphysics, Anglo-American philosophy, and bioethics.

My Ph.D. is from Vanderbilt. I'm originally from Missouri, near St. Louis. I was indoctrinated as a Cardinals fan in early childhood, so I understand something about religious zeal. My undergrad degree is from Mizzou, in Columbia MO. (I wish my schools weren't in the SEC-I don't approve of major collegiate sports culture or football brain injuries, as I'm sure to tell you again.)

My philosophical expertise, such as it is, centers on the American philosophical tradition of William James and John Dewey. A former student once asked me to respond to a questionnaire, if you're curious you can learn more about me there.

What you most need to know about me, though, is that I'm a peripatetic and will encourage you all to join me in that philosophical lifestyle as often as possible during discussion time. (If you're not sure what peripatetic means, scan the right sidebar or read the syllabus or ask me. Or look it up.)

I post my thoughts regularly to my blogs Up@dawn and Delight Springs, among others, and to Twitter (@osopher), and am continuing to experiment with podcasting as a classroom tool this semester. Follow me if you want to.

But of course, as Brian Cohen said, you don't have to follow anyone. (Extra credit if you get that reference... and real extra credit if you realize that my "extra credit" is usually rhetorical.) However, if a blog or podcast link turns up with the daily quiz (which will always be posted on this site no later than the night before class), you might find it helpful to read or listen.

Enough about me. Who are you? (Where are you from, where have you been, what do you like, who do you want to become,...?) Why are you here? (On Earth, in Tennessee, at MTSU, in philosophy class)? Hit "comments" below and post your introduction, then read your classmates'... and bear in mind that this is an open site. The world can read it. (The world's probably busy with other stuff, of course - Drumpf and Kardashians and cooking shows and other examples of what passes for "reality" these days.)

Please include your section number in your reply, and in all future posts on this site:
  • #9 MW 12:40-2:05 WPS 200
  • #10 MW 2:20-3:45 DSB 103
  • #6 TTh 1:00-2:25 JUB 202



From a distance, philosophy seems weird, irrelevant, boring...
  
and yet also – just a little – intriguing.
  
But what are philosophers really for?
  
The answer is, handily, already contained in the word philosophy itself.
  
In Ancient Greek, philo means love and sophia means wisdom.
  
Philosophers are people devoted to wisdom.
  
Being wise means attempting to live and die well.
  
In their pursuit of wisdom, philosophers have developed a very
  
specific skill-set. They have, over the centuries, become experts in
  
many of the things that make people not very wise. Five stand out:
  
There are lots of big questions around: What is the meaning of life?
  
What's a job for? How should society be arranged?
  
Most of us entertain them every now and then, but we despair of trying
  
to answer them. They have the status of jokes. We call them
  
'pretentious'. But they matter deeply because only with sound answers
  
to them can we direct our energies meaningfully.
  
Philosophers are people unafraid of asking questions. They have, over
  
the centuries, asked the very largest. They realise that these
  
questions can always be broken down into more manageable chunks and
  
that the only really pretentious thing is to think one is above
  
raising big naive-sounding enquiries.
  
Public opinion – or what gets called ‘common sense’ – is sensible and
  
reasonable in countless areas. It’s what you hear about from friends
  
and neighbours, the stuff you take in without even thinking about it.
  
But common sense is also often full of daftness and error.
  
Philosophy gets us to submit all aspects of common sense to reason.
  
It wants us to think for ourselves. Is it really true what people say
  
about love, money, children, travel, work? Philosophers are interested
  
in asking whether an idea is logical – rather than simply assuming it
  
must be right because it is popular and long-established.
  
We’re not very good at knowing what goes on in our own minds.
  
Someone we meet is very annoying, but we can’t pin down what the issue is.
  
Or we lose our temper, but can’t readily tell what we’re so cross about.
  
We lack insight into our own satisfactions and dislikes.
  
That’s why we need to examine our own minds. Philosophy is committed
  
to self-knowledge – and its central precept – articulated by the
  
earliest, greatest philosopher, Socrates – is just two words long:
  
Know yourself
We’re not very good at making ourselves happy. We overrate the power
  
of some things to improve our lives – and underrate others.
  
We make the wrong choices because, guided by advertising and false glamour,
  
we keep on imagining that a particular kind of holiday, or car, or computer
  
will make a bigger difference than it can.
  
At the same time, we underestimate the contribution of other things –
2:51
 like going for a walk - which may have little prestige but can
contribute deeply to the character of existence.
   
Philosophers seek to be wise by getting more precise about the
   
activities and attitudes that really can help our lives to go better.
  
Philosophers are good at keeping a sense of what really matters and what doesn't.
  
On hearing the news that he’d lost all his possessions in a shipwreck,
  
the Stoic philosopher Zeno simply said:
  
‘Fortune commands me to be a less encumbered philosopher.’
  
It’s responses like these that have made the very term ‘philosophical’
  
a byword for calm, long-term thinking and strength-of-mind,
  
in short, for perspective.
  
The wisdom of philosophy is – in modern times – mostly delivered in
  
the form of books. But in the past, philosophers sat in market squares
  
and discussed their ideas with shopkeepers or went into government
  
offices and palaces to give advice. It wasn’t abnormal to have a
  
philosopher on the payroll. Philosophy was thought of as a normal,
  
basic activity – rather than as an unusual, esoteric, optional extra.
  
Nowadays, it’s not so much that we overtly deny this thought but we
  
just don’t have the right institutions set up to promulgate wisdom
  
coherently in the world. In the future, though, when the value of
  
philosophy* is a little clearer, we can expect to meet more
  
philosophers in daily life. They won’t be locked up, living mainly in
  
university departments, because the points at which our unwisdom bites
  
– and messes up our lives – are multiple and urgently need attention -
  

150 comments:

  1. Just so nobody else has to go first...

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    1. Maria 'Briana' V9:47 PM CDT

      Hi everyone, my name's Briana and come from an incredibly small town- similar to J. D. Vance's Kentucky town. I related to the book in many ways including the family drugs, hardworking caregivers, and small town similarities. Where I'm from most people venture off into an agriculture career. I don't enjoy picking grass or watching animals, I'd rather be picking at a brain and watching people. Clinical psychology is my calling and more importantly, practicing within a prison.

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  2. #9 MW 12:40-2:05 WPS 200

    Greetings, co-philosophers! I am introducing myself in order to get the ball rolling. My name is Andrew Rhea (Ray), and I am a fragile white boy who has lived in Tennessee with my adoptive parents since moving from Illinois at age 8. I am hoping this class will help me work out any faults or kinks in my worldview. I am at this school to learn the art of manipulating sound. I love albums and wish to one day assist in their creation as a job. I am an embodiment of a bunch of scrambled ideas and feelings which I am not sure I comprehend. It causes me to appear lost and confused at any given time. I love answering questions about myself but have a hard time doing so. If I have a purpose, I do not believe it was preordained, but rather developed as I grew to discover what I like and do not like. I am mostly apathetic. I am selfish. I honestly hope this class causes me to attain some sort of clarity.

    Krishnamurti claimed that truth was a pathless land. I believe I just used that quote as an excuse to stagnate and view everything as I want to view it, be it realistic or fanatical.

    If there is a universal, grand perspective to be gained, I hope Dr. Phil helps bring me closer. Thus concludes my introduction.

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  3. Thanks for getting it rolling, Andrew.

    I think you're too hard on yourself, you don't strike me as someone who wants to stagnate. But if I understand him (a big "if") I do have to take issue with Krishnamurti: I think there are many paths to truth, mostly in the form of fair-minded, open-hearted persons who are willing to collaborate and co-philosophize. That's our mission, anyhow. It may not lead to a "universal, grand perspective," but if it reveals how many particular perspectives there are worth pondering it'll be mission accomplished.

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  4. #10 MW 2:20-3:45 DSB 103

    Hello, everyone! I'm Matthew, and I am, first and foremost, a servant (however inadequate) of Jesus Christ.

    Over the past thirty-four years I've served as an infantryman and then a forward observer in the Florida Army National Guard, a police officer in northwest Florida, and as an advanced emergency medical technician here in middle Tennessee, but all of those professions (and all of the odd jobs in between) were attempts at evading a vocation that I first felt twenty-nine years ago: the priesthood.

    I am an introvert, though the army taught me how to "fake it 'til I make it," even in social situations. The army has impacted the way I live my life in a variety of ways, actually, and I often find myself making a conscious effort to suppress the demeanor I developed during my time in the profession of arms.

    I am called to help the least fortunate amongst us, and I hope to gain some useful tools from this course (and the relationships developed within and because of it) that may help me to do so, particularly if God allows me to answer that vocation which He issued to me in my childhood.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this introduction. I look forward to reading about all of you, and getting to know some of you. Until we meet, stay safe!

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  5. Posted for Lauren DeGori (#10) -

    My name is Lauren and I’m from Maryland! I have a passion for tattoos, sunsets and guitars…I have four of them so far and can’t wait to continue my collection on my wall. I am at MTSU because I love the South, the thing I heard most when I first moved here was that in the North, the weather is cold and the people are cold, that never stood out to me until I resided in TN for two months. Plus, living near music city but not dealing with all the traffic? Count me in!

    Reading Hillbilly Elegy left me with this: You always have to make something of yourself. We all come from millions of different backgrounds, some of us become extremely successful while others continue down the path they came from, but we don't get to forget where we come from. If you have the means to help others from going down the path you did before you were able to get to where you are today, do it.

    #10 MW 2:20-3:45 DSB 103

    Lauren DeGori

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  6. Hey everyone my name is Calvin, I just transferred here to MTSU to study sports journalism specifically broadcast journalism. I'm here at MTSU to get my degree and prepare myself to hit the ground running in my dream job of working in sports media. I truly enjoy baseball and love to apply the new wave of advanced analytics in the game. I'm from here in Nashville and graduated from Hume-Fogg.

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  7. #10

    Hi, everyone! My name is Elise and I'm from a small city in southwest Michigan nicknamed "The Cereal City". I've always loved Tennessee and have wanted to move to Nashville for as long as I can remember. I'm here at MTSU with the goal of becoming either a teacher or going down the pre physical therapy path.

    In complete honesty, I dreaded reading this book from the moment it was mentioned. I expected it to be another political book with beliefs far from my own. However, I tried to keep an open mind and I really enjoyed this book. While I didn't agree with all of Vance's political views, I was able to understand where he came from. I could understand how his background and his experiences led him to those beliefs. The theme was universal, not dependent upon political party affiliation.

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    1. Battle Creek, right?

      Vance is coming from Appalachia, basically, and from the mindset of people who could really use some philosophy...

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    2. So far, from the book selection we have, I'm liking the book "A Little History Of Philosophy".
      I'd italicize but I don't know how to on here.

      It is a good book.

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  8. •#6 TTh 1:00-2:25 JUB 202

    HellO there, My name is China. I am from Murfreesboro. I've lived here 23 years now. I got a late start in college but I am here now. I am excited to see where life leads me and what kinds of people I'll meet. This will be my third year at MTSU and every semester I spend on campus is another semester I am grateful to be where I am in life.

    I know what I am doing and where I am at. For instance, at this moment, I am behind the computer desk at work trying to gather my never-ending thoughts. I am still learning where I want life to take me, what I want out of life, and who I want to be....ext... I am not sure I will ever really know what I want. I feel like everyday I am changing. Everyday I am wanting something different, learning new things,and asking new questions.


    At first, I didn't realize what this class was; I was mistaking it with Psychology. When I received my books, I thought I'd get a head start on reading and the first book I pulled out of my bag was Introduction to Philosophy. I have not finished it but so far its been a great read. It got me thinking. I started asking myself questions. I wanted to ask more questions. I hope this class helps or guides me in answering some of these mixed up thoughts in my head. Maybe, it'll help bend my thoughts into focus. I am not sure what I hoping... Again, a lot going on in my noggin.

    I feel like it's a blank canvas waiting to be painted. There is a little dust on it but I'm ready to wipe it clean. Although, there will always be fragments of dust left in my work of art.

    I hope you see into me a little. I can't wait to meet everyone and see what I can get out of this class.

    See you Tuesday.

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  9. Where do I post for the This I Believe essay links?

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  10. Hello earthlings and space-lings alike (I’m definitely the latter). My name is Jessica, which I’ll answer to because if I didn’t, I would have a lot of confused professors, employers, and coworkers, but I prefer Jessi or even Jess if you’re feeling real sassy. As far as who I am, I work at a dog rescue, and although I don’t stand by the belief that a job should define who you are, mine is a big part of who I am. I love dogs too much for my own good, and I’m not shy about sharing that fact. I’m also not shy about sharing my awful music taste because, like all things I love, I’m overly proud of it and will insist that every new band I hear is the best band ever. I guess I’m tragically optimistic, but I’d rather look forward to any semblance of a future this Trump-infested world has left than to be miserable about something that hasn’t happened yet.

    I guess I should mention I’m majoring in Psychology to do god only knows what with my future, but I’m really good at it and actually enjoy it, so I figure it’s a start to something decent. And if not, I’ll try again. Might as well accrue a ton of debt since the world is ending anyway. That’s a joke.

    I love to procrastinate, that’s why I’m posting this now instead of nine in the afternoon on Monday morning. Breaking habits one “I had to close Netflix to focus on this” assignment at a time. One thing I like about Philosophy, and also why I’m taking this course, is because it somehow brings all my weird brain thoughts to life in a way that makes ACTUAL sense. I know, it sounds like I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but I do clean up dog feces for a living, so cut me some slack.

    Anyway, peace out brethren. Catch me in #9 MW 12:40-2:05 WPS 200!

    Also, shout out to commas because there’s probably ten too many in these short paragraphs.

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    1. I cant totally agree about the not feeling like a number. Since I've been attending MTSU, all of my professors I've felt like I could talk to. Although, I am a shy person by nature, I feel like everyone I've had the pleasure of knowing in class(students) have been real easy to talk to.

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    2. I may be overlooking it but what class are you in?

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  12. I'm enjoying the personality and wit (and "sass") displayed in these Intros so far, looking forward to seeing it on display in class!

    BTW, biology majors: I teach Bioethics next semester, it should be right up your alleys. Check out the course site, ask me about it: bioethjpo.blogspot.com

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  13. Hi everyone, I'm Katie Bauer, I'm 18 years and 328 days old, probably the youngest one in this class! I'm attending MTSU because I would like to become an early childhood education teacher. I have lived in Murfreesboro my whole life and I am most likely the biggest preds fan you will ever meet! I'm energetic, talkative, and very friendly! I'm really looking forward to starting college and taking this class, it sounds so interesting already!

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    1. Counting the days? Don't be in a hurry to add years, is my seasoned advice.

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    2. Do you play? Sadly, Murfreesboro isn't exactly the best place for aspiring hockey players.

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  14. #9 MW 12:40-2:05 WPS 200

    Hey everybody, my name is Ian Seal. I come from a rather small town called Morristown. It's roughly 40 minutes outside of Knoxville. I've chosen to attend MTSU because of the beautiful area in which it is located, and because it has an excellent computer science department. I decided to take this class because I really enjoy deep discussions about pretty much any subject you can think of, and I think this class can provide that enjoyment. I can't wait to meet all of you when class starts up on monday!

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    1. Are computer people generally interested in AI? That's going to be one of the really interesting issues of your lifetimes, figuring out how to make machines smart enough to navigate our cars (etc.) but not independent enough to threaten their creators.

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    2. This sounds like a movie waiting to happen.

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  15. Merna Ghobrial12:00 AM CDT

    #6 TTh 1:00-2:25 JUB 202

    Hello everyone! My name is Merna Ghobrial and I am currently a sophomore here at MTSU. I was born in Egypt and my family moved to Tennessee when I was 5 years old, and I am now 19. I live in Nashville with my parents and three sisters. I am a Biology major looking into both medical school and optometry school. My love for helping people has brought me to think about both of these fields. The reason I picked MTSU is because I can still live at home with my parents and attend my church while going to school, which made my transition into college easier. I decided to take philosophy this semester because I like discussion based classes more than the lecture type, just because it makes class more fun and enjoyable. It also allows people to express their opinions. Thank you guys for reading my intro and see you guys Tuesday!

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    1. Discussion is more fun, but I'm convinced that it's also more conducive to learning.

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  16. Hey everyone, my name is Amanda Vencill, I'm in section #6 this semester. I'm from Bristol Tennessee, which is about 4.5-5 hours from Murfreesboro- it's a really small town that's famous for it's Nascar racetrack, and being the birthplace of country music. I'm a sophomore, but this is my first year at MTSU, i'm transferring from ETSU in Johnson City, TN. I'm transferring because I decided I want to go after a music business degree, and MTSU felt like home to me with all the green space on campus and with how great and comforting of a community it is. I'm taking this class because i'm passionate about expanding my mind and my thoughts. I'm also taking psychology this semester (on the same day as this class) so that should be interesting to be in both of these subjects at the same time. I'm so excited about this class (and even all my others) and to see what is in store for me this semester.

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    1. My old grad school pal drove in over the weekend from Bristol. He teaches just over the line there in Virginia.

      Psychology & philosophy are cousins, used to be twins...

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  18. #9
    I'm Stephen Brown from Knoxville, TN. Sophomore and Audio Production Major. I love philosophical talks and discussions, and that's the main reason I'm in this class. I genuinely enjoy learning new ideas and expanding the way I can think about things. Looking forward to some awesome thoughts being shared in class by everyone. I'm a very happy person, but school is not my favorite thing at all, so I try to get lucky with good classes! Fingers crossed! See you all tomorrow

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    1. Mark Twain said never let schooling interfere with your education, which SHOULD be one of your favorite things.

      You got lucky.

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    2. I apologize for the section mistake, I'm in section #10! I love education and I believe that it can be received anywhere, at anytime, and school is only HQ! (For some people) After being in class today, I DID get lucky!

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  19. Anonymous4:54 PM CDT

    Hello I am Shelby Robinson and I am in PHIL-1030-009 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I am fourth generation in my family to attend MTSU, and I have lived in Murfreesboro my whole life. I am a biology major but I chose to take this class because my grandfather has a masters in philosophy from Emery. I am very lucky to be here, last year I had two very bad car wrecks. I crushed my L2 vertebra, Shattered my pelvis, broke my leg and foot, and also shattered my ankle. I was in a wheelchair for 8 months. I was very lucky, but my luck continues because I get the great pleasure of having the opportunity of attending MTSU.

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    1. We're all lucky to be here, but you're luckier!

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  21. Oops. Forgot to mention my section in the last post :D
    #10
    Hey everyone!
    My name is Isha Mudgal and i am an international student from India. It has always been my dream to make a life in america so here i am taking the first step to achieve that.
    I am a senior and my major is computer science.
    I chose MTSU because it is close to my aunt's house (extended family is a big thing in india) and it is convenient when its the end of the month and i dont have any money left for grocery. :)
    I chose computer science, because i love telling a computer what to do and watch the magic happen. In short, i really like talking to computers.
    Although philosophy is a general requirement for me, i'm really looking forward to the ideas that this class and the people in it will present.
    And from what Dr Oliver wrote in the introduction, it seems like i am going to love his unconventional teaching style.

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    1. You know what Arthur C. Clarke said about technology: "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Well, except that its based on science. But I know what you mean about the magic of computing. I wrote my PhD qualifying essays on a Smith-Corona Selectric typewriter, and the next year got my first wordprocessing computer. That DID feel like a magical transformation.

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  22. Sorry I don't have time to comment on everyone's intros... but I hope you'll all develop the habit of commenting on one another's posts when you have something to say. Keep track of that, you get a "base" for every posted comment. I'll explain in class...

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  23. #10
    Hello, I am Alain Villarosa, and I reside in Smyrna, TN. I’m a Junior attending MTSU, and I major in Biochemistry (Pre-Med pathway) with a minor in Neuroscience. I chose my major and minor because I enjoy math & sciences. My hobbies are reading science books/articles, listening to music, playing my acoustic or electric guitar, watching YouTube videos (science and gaming), and playing video/computer games. I am pursuing to become a medical doctor (not sure about specific profession yet). Honestly, I am not 100% sure of what I want to do in the future, but I do know that I enjoy learning math and science subjects despite their difficulty in understanding certain concepts. I also know that I want to apply the knowledge I gained from my courses within the field of medicine and be able to provide medical care to future patients.
    I have been living life pondering on what I want to do or accomplish in life; I am still discovering the purpose or meaning of my life. I am here on Earth thanks to my mother and father though I do regret having their genes for height. I was originally from Philippines and ended up in U.S. with my mother and younger brother for economic opportunity. Now, I attend MTSU because it is affordable for me; plus, my mother wasn’t willing to pay a lot for my college, and I definitely do not want to start off college in debt. Today, I will be taking this class later in the afternoon, and I expect to learn new things about Philosophy. Since I am quite an introvert, I have a slight doubt that I will enjoy this class due to “open air conversations,” but I hope that this goes away as the semester flies by. It’s always good to expose myself to uncomfortable situations; it’s a great way to learn new things and develop beneficial changes.

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  24. #10 MW 2:20-3:45 DSB 103

    Hey guys, my name is Andrew Short and I'm a economics major with a math minor from a little town called Lawrenceburg, TN about thirty minutes south of Columbia. I'm here because I've always been interested in taking a philosophy class, and it just so happened that I had room on my schedule and this section was open. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and hearing everyone else's while expanding my mind and thoughts.

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  25. Hey everyone, my name is Chase Hochstetler. I have grown up in Murfreesboro, TN since birth. I came to MTSU to study commercial construction management. I am very excited to take this class hopefully to broaden my view of how others see the world instead of just my own personal opinion.

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  26. Hey everyone! My name is Katelynn and I'm attending MTSU from a small town in southern Maine. I spent my childhood in Murfreesboro and could not wait to return this fall. While I am still an undecided major, I hope to find my passion over these next few months on campus. I'm very excited for our class and can not wait to begin this new journey!

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  27. Hey guys, my name is Fraser Goodgame and I am from Chattanooga, TN. I come from a middle class who placed an emphasis on religion, thinking of others, and neutrality in politics. I am a 19 year old sophomore who is pursuing a career in the audio production world. Producing and promoting music has been a lifelong goal of mine and MTSU seemed like the only option for me to continue the dream. While my advisor told me I should be here to get a required class out of the way, I am looking forward to a diplomatic and professional dialogue between students of all walks of life. After taking a Theory of Knowledge course in high school I am excited to build on my previous knowledge that I have gained in answering the question, "How do we know what we know".

    T/TH JUB 202 1:00-2:25

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  28. Hey guys I'm Ross D. Thomas III from Knoxville TN. I'm a sophomore, and a pre Dental biology major. I chose this course to not only satisfy a general requirement but also because I want to study philosophy in a more in depth way. I was never given an opportunity to study philosophy before and I thought it might give me some insight and experience with another field of study.

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  29. #9

    Hello, my name is Andrew Hamblet. I was born in Seattle, Washington. My family and I moved to Tennessee when I was around 10 years old. I have lived in a small town called Hohenwald since then. I am a sophomore transfer student from East Tennessee State. I transferred here because MTSU is closer to home, and MTSU seemed to be a better option for me than other universities in Middle Tennessee. I am looking forward to broadening my views in this class. Be great everyone!

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  30. #9
    Hi everyone! My name is Peri Chapman. I moved to Knoxville, TN about two years ago from Michigan to nanny for a very close family. That has brought me here to MTSU to decide what I want to major in and to continue my education. I took this class out of curiosity and in hope that it helps me understand different thoughts. I can't wait to start having discussions!

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  31. #10 Hi, I'm Nathan Gauchat. I'm from Bellevue TN (West Nashville). I collect old video games, collect old firearms, and play the tuba and also the bagpipes. I actually can't wait for this class to start because I have a lot off odd ideas.

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  32. Anonymous3:34 PM CDT

    #10
    Hello, my name is Darren. I work at Geek squad and hope to learn a lot in this philosophy class.

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  33. Anonymous4:03 PM CDT

    I'm not sure if any of y'all know about military families, but I was raised in. On the TIB website, I found that the article I linked below is really eye opening for civilians and even people in the military.
    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/78785/

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  34. #10
    Before I knew what this class was like, I wasn't sure how I wanted to respond for my introduction. After being in class today, I feel free to get as intricate as I want to! However, I won't. Instead I'll give a more accurate description of who I am, with a little of my intellectual insight. I value life and all it's entirety, even though sometimes I am incredibly frustrated with its unanswerable questions and awful tragedies. I've been through several high-trauma experiences and will always be recovering, but I'm incredibly happy just because I AM alive at all right now. My mind is always filled with questions, theories, hypotheses, etc. and I love discussing them and hearing others. I'm always down to talk if called on in class, yet I won't raise my hand to talk too much. I do ask a lot of questions for clarity though. I could go on and on (I like talking), but I'm gonna wrap this up and hopefully am presented with the opportunity to talk more in class! Life is crazyyyyyy mannnnnn, I like analyzing it and trying to make sense of all the nonsense. If anybody wants to talk about any ideas, I would love to. Deep talks are my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  35. http://thisibelieve.org/essay/3846/

    I didn't know what to expect from This I Believe website at first, then I explored the website and saw their featured essay was for hidden talents. It automatically appealed to me because honestly I grew up trying to hide my talents. This article was awesome and concise. Growing up I hid my hidden talent as a pianist (seriously not joking, crazy considering that is what the article is about) but as I revealed I could do more than play sports but also instruments people were surprised an loved it! This article felt very relevant and reminded me to look beyond what people do and try to see who they are.

    ReplyDelete
  36. #6
    Hi! I'm Hayley. I just transferred here from Columbia State and Columbia is also where where I was born and raised. I am glad to be at MTSU but the hour commute is not ideal. I live at home so I can put all of my money towards my greatest passion, travel. I love traveling abroad and expanding my worldly views. My dream is to have a job that allows me to travel or live abroad. I am a junior and just changed my major to Mass Communications and minor to Spanish. I am taking this class to fulfill a degree requirement and also because I like deeper thinking. I am excited to see what MTSU has to offer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed, re: commuting - mine's 51 minutes, on a good day. But I try to think of it as mental travel, accompanied by a good audiobook, npr, or WMOT Roots Radio. Could be worse.

      Delete
  37. #10

    Hello everyone,

    I'm Austyn Oglesby, and i'm a new person on campus. I'm a freshman with a few credit hours and going into accounting for the moment. I'm here to live and breathe as is everyone on this earth is. I have no specific purpose other than to enjoy the world I live in. I'm looking forward to this class and Dr. Oliver seems like a nice professor to learn under.

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  38. #9
    Hello fellow colleagues as well as Dr.Oliver! My name is Taylor Akomeah. I am newcomer to the MTSU campus to complete my science degree. What I do know right now is that I agree with Socrates's quote "a life unexamined is not worth living". That being said, I have not yet examined philosophy;I intend to do so. I am hoping that I learn a lot more about myself than I thought I knew. At the same time, I am interested to see the thoughts and opinions of others. Whether my opinions change is a question, but I'm willing to find out in the upcoming months ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sup, my name is Jajuan Jones. I'm a Tennessee native and i commute from Nashville just like Dr. Phil.As for why I'm here on this earth, I'm not sure. Maybe i have some greater purpose than just breathing air and living, but I haven't found it yet so that question will have to wait. I joined Philosophy out of pure curiosity. I had an elective to choose and this course stuck out to me. My High School Latin teacher was heavily into philosophy since it's so deeply rooted in the language he was teaching. So, I'm guessing he rubbed off some of that interest onto me. For hobbies I like to sketch, play music (I play guitar, piano,etc.), and I like to play video games. Oh, and I can't forget the binge watching of certain TV series.
    #10

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous8:58 AM CDT

    #10
    My name is Kyle, I have lived in Lebanon, TN my whole life. I'm a computer science major, and am currently in my Junior year at MTSU. I enjoy music, video games, and pretty much anything related to technology. I'm not taking this class because it is simply a gen ed requirement, but because I really didn't know what to expect before I signed up for it (and I'm still not entirely sure).

    ReplyDelete
  41. #6
    Hi, my name is Raine (like the weather). I'm a freshman, and I moved to MTSU from Kingsport, Tennessee. My major/ career plans are undecided at the moment, although I'm leaning towards psychology or criminal justice. As to why I'm on this campus, my best friend enrolled here so I decided to tag along. After reading the introduction I'm pretty excited to see what this class is about. I have little understanding of what this class is about, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

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  42. #9
    Hello every one my name is Keshawn Harper, I'm twenty years old, originally from Detroit Michigan. My family and I moved to Tennessee when I was about two years old then we moved back to Detroit that same year and I lived there till I was about twenty years , so I just recently moved here. The reason I moved to Murfreesboro Tennessee is because I loved the environment and the greenery scenery. The vibe that I got when I moved here was everybody is like super nice, friendly and welcome me with open arms.

    The reason I chose MTSU is because I was looking for a university where I didn't feel like a number and instantly when I arrived on this campus for a tour I fell in loved with the scenery and I didn't feel like a number. My major is Biology with a minor of teaching in the MTeach program. I became very involved on campus I am in the SGA (Student Government Association) meaning I am a senator for the College of education, also on the black history month, advisory board dealing with education, and etc. If you are reading this you're probably get the feeling I am big on education and if you're getting that feeling then you are right.The reason I'm is this class is because its one of the courses I need to get my degree. The second reason I'm in this class is because I want to learn about how to converse on things dealing with philosophy. Overall I am looking forward to seeing and meeting all of my classmates, getting to meet the professor, and learning something new.

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  43. #10
    Hello, my name is Dakota Byrn. I am a junior Theatre major here at MTSU. The reason why I'm taking this philosophy class is because I needed a gen ed., but also I read tarot cards and that opens you up to philosophy and things of the sort.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. #6
      Well now you got me all curious. I was under the impression tarot cards were just a future prediction sort of thing. Is there more to it?

      Delete
  44. Anonymous11:01 AM CDT

    #9
    My name is Landon Eaves. I am a freshman and majoring in finance. The reason I am taking this course is because I enjoy thought provoking activity and taking a general glance at the universe I live in.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Matthew Weaver11:46 AM CDT

    #9
    Hello,

    My name is Matthew, Matt for short. I'm a Murfreesboro native. This will be my first semester at MTSU, due to being a Transfer student from The University of Memphis. My Major is Pre-Law, but officially Accounting and Mathematics. I'm taking this class to expand my thinking in preparation for the LSAT, but I also have a non-academic interest in philosophy.

    ReplyDelete
  46. #6
    My name is Xyan Aguilar. I am a chemistry major and a mathematics minor. I have no idea why I'm here. I was thrust into this world and now I'm slowly making my way out.

    ReplyDelete
  47. #6
    Hey guys, my name is Fraser Goodgame and I am from Chattanooga, TN. I come from a middle class family who placed an emphasis on religion, thinking of others, and neutrality in politics. I am a 19 year old sophomore who is pursuing a career in the audio production world. Producing and promoting music has been a lifelong goal of mine, and MTSU seemed like the only option for me to continue the dream. While my advisor told me I should be here to get a required class out of the way, I am looking forward to a diplomatic and professional dialogue between students of all walks of life. After taking a Theory of Knowledge course in high school I am excited to build on my previous knowledge that I have gained in answering the question, "How do we know what we know".

    ReplyDelete
  48. #6
    My name is Joseph Schauber (I go by Jes). I'm a commercial songwriting major and freshman from Cambridge, Maryland. I decided to take this class because it was recommended to me by family, friends, and my high school psychology teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Amanda Tilghman2:29 PM CDT

    #6
    Hello everyone, I am Amanda Tilghman. I'm from Cambridge, Maryland (also known as 'Groove City'), which is described as a little Baltimore. I originally found MTSU through my friend, David Winkert, who is a Junior majoring in Audio Production, and I was interested in the same major. MTSU is number one in the nation as far as affordable schools for the recording industry majors, so I naturally became a part of the MTSU family! Philosophy has always interested me because it seems to answer all the 'big questions' of life, those of which i and currently trying to figure out. So that is why I am sitting with you all today. On another note, my mother is a single mom, I have three cats, I have a dog named Ringo (after Ringo Starr), and I miss them very much. My boyfriend is currently in this class also, his name is Jes, and i'm grateful that he is here to give me some familiarity in a brand new town. I hope we can all be great philosopher friends and thanks for reading my long introduction!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Fonshae Knight2:31 PM CDT

    Hello everyone, my name is Fonshae, but you guys can call me Shae. I am 20 years old and an upcoming Junior here at MTSU. I am from Nashville, TN from a family of 3 (me being the youngest). I have a feisty little chihuahua named P-nut who I love so dearly. I am here to get my degree in Psychology in future hopes of becoming a Clinical Psychologist. I am taking this course just because it is required, but that does not mean that I dont have hopes of enjoying it. Today we talked about how the focus of this class has a lot to do with wisdom and I am hoping that I will gain more by the end of this course. I am pleased to met all of you and look forward to seeing you all next class. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:32 PM CDT

      #6 TTh 1:00-2:25 JUB 202

      Delete
    2. #6
      P-nut is actually an awesome name for a dog. Does she like peanut butter, or just a fun name?

      Delete
  51. Brianna Jefferson3:06 PM CDT

    #10
    My name is Brianna! I am a Freshman at Mtsu. I am majoring in Biology. I am Pre-Dental and hope to attend dental school after I graduate. I have lived in Tennessee for 7 years now. I plan to learn a lot in this philosophy class.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Beaonka Carter4:03 PM CDT

    #10
    Hello fellow classmates, my name is Beaonka Carter and I am a sophomore here at MTSU. If Dr. Oliver never made us post introductions on this page then you guys may never have knew who I was due to my shyness and introvert personality, but anyways, onto the important stuff. I was originally born in Louisville, Kentucky, but moved to Italy a couple of weeks after my birth just to move back to the states when I was four...so lets just say I'm from Memphis. My major is English as I hope to become a high school teacher. I enjoy reading fantasy, thriller, and romantic books. I was also a dancer for about 8 years until I decided to quit and cheer for my high school instead. I love piercings and coloring my hair. So far my hair has been red, blue, green, gold, purple, and now platinum; I have roughly 12 piercings. My personality is crazy, but in a good way, and I'm saying that due to the fact that I don't talk in class, but if you talked to me one on one then you would probably see it. As for me taking this philosophy class, I was curious about whether or not it can answer some of my questions. I'm a deep thinker and always question my existence and other things, and kind of want to see where everyone else perspective is at on situations. I think I'm really going to enjoy this class, and hopefully have the courage to talk to my classmates.

    ReplyDelete
  53. #6 TIB
    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16462/
    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/22869/
    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16513/
    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/19436/

    ReplyDelete
  54. #6 Hello! My name is Terrica DeShields and I'm from Memphis. I am a sophomore majoring in biology. I hope to be a physicians assistant one day. I am also on MTSU women's rugby team, so if any of you ladies are interested in playing let me know!!! We really need some new players this fall. I am here because this seems like an interesting class and I hope I'm right. :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Sky Fuqua6:05 PM CDT

    #6
    Hey y'all my name is Sky and I moved to MTSU from Lafayette,TN. I'm a freshman this year and so far my intended major is journalism. I took this class because I've always had kind of a deep thought process. I look forward to this class and hearing what everyone has to say!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Ashton Brachey6:26 PM CDT

    #6
    Hey guys! My name is Ashton Brachey and I'm from Nashville, TN. I'm a Sophomore majoring in International Relations. I'm actually not too talkative when around strangers, but as soon as you get to know me you'll find I have a lot to say. I plan on travelling the world to see everything I can possibly see. But, I would also like to meet others along the way and lend hands where they are needed. Since I'm taking philosophy, I feel the need to actively try to understand myself and my own thoughts. Because I think self-reflection and individuality are very important. I hope to get to know my class mates throughout this semester and maybe gain a few friends or acquaintances from it.

    ReplyDelete
  57. #10
    Hey everyone, my name is Joram and I'm a biology major. This is my first semester at MTSU and I'm pretty excited to finally be able to begin my college career, especially after getting a small taste of college through Dual Enrollment classes. I attended Cannon County High School, but always felt that it was a small stepping stone towards starting at a university.

    The main reason I chose to attend Philosophy this semester is simply that I've always been fascinated by the topic and the questions the field raises. In my opinion a class that every answer to could be met with "Why?" is one I wish to attend and I can't wait to begin.

    ReplyDelete
  58. #10

    Hi everyone! I'm Rachel and I'm from Cannon County, a really small town about 20 minutes from Murfreesboro. I'm at MTSU because I want to be a speech language pathologist and the program here is supposed to be one of the best! I'm in this philosophy class because it seemed like the most interesting humanity/fine art to take. If I want to be really in depth about why I'm in this class, I'm not an argumentative person. I can never seem to "pick a side" in an argument or when faced when a controversial topic and I hope this class could maybe help me figure out why, especially when I come from a place full of people with such strong opinions.

    On Monday we briefly hit on the topic of sports related brain injuries, and immediately volleyball came to mind. Many people probably think volleyball isn't a contact sport, so how could you get hurt? The concussion I and another girl on my team received would prove you wrong.

    (You may read this twice and I'm sorry about that, but I don't think my first few attempts at posting worked out.)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Cayla Cantrell9:15 PM CDT

    #9

    Hi I'm Cayla! I'm from Smithville, TN. I'm a 20 year old freshman majoring in Psychology. I'm here at MTSU to begin my first educational steps into entering the field of biblical counseling. I'm excited for this class to gain a better understanding of individuals and their different ideals and world views. I can't wait to hear what everybody has to say this semester!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Hello everyone my name is Annely Rivero. I am from Lavergne,TN but originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. I'm in this course because I find philosophy to be a very interesting, I enjoy asking questions, and debating over answers to such questions. I am attending Mtsu in order to pursue a degree in Psychology and in nursing; in the long run I wish to work with the at risk youth and aid those exposed to abuse. I am excited to see what this class has in store for us and I wish everyone well!

    ReplyDelete
  61. #10
    Hello, my name is Kamryn. I'm from Murfreesboro and I'm an Actuarial Science major. I wait tables at a restaurant called Toot's. I love music, and enjoy going to concerts and music festivals.

    ReplyDelete
  62. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  63. #10 Ross again, I just wanted to give my thoughts on the discussion question regarding the acknowledgement of authority an individual or institution to interpret the truth for me. In my view the only institution worthy of observation is that of science. Individuals are a flight risk as the truth becomes so pliant and malleable when delivered from person to person. Science is the eternal search for the ultimate power of this universe: which I believe to be understanding. If we assaign an arbitrary value to the actual 'truth' as the number '0' then what most people consider truth in their own opinion would be something like 0.001. A small value nonetheless but very close to zero. Accuracy and precision are difficult to achieve in unison, and yet science attempts to one day reach the aforementioned '0'. Science is an institution that can relay reliable 'truths' because it has the humility to make peace with imperfection, In a way science is very much plastic just as the opinions of people are plastic. The only difference worth mentioning being is that while scientists use data and empirical evidence to reevaluate their premises, other institutions and people on the whole tend to change their views based on the recession and encroachment of emotional tides.

    ReplyDelete
  64. #6

    Hello! My name is Ayauna (eye-yawn-uh)! I am a sophomore here at MTSU and I am from Knoxville, TN. My major is currently history, but I plan on changing that to Africana Studies here soon! Hopefully when I graduate I will decide what I would like to do with my major, but as of now I have no idea. Some of my favorite things to do is eat, binge-watch shows on Netflix, and spend plenty of time with my family.

    I'm very excited and also nervous about taking Philosophy because I know that it will require me to do a lot of thinking and collaborating with people I have not met. In high school I didn't get the chance to take the Philosophy course that was offered, so once I got another chance in college I ran with it. So, that is one of the main reasons I am enrolled in this class. Anyhow, I am happy to be here on this spinning rock in space, taking advantage of every opportunity to grow and become aware of what is going on around me. I believe I am here to spread positivity and to encourage others to do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Alex Morrison12:28 AM CDT

    #9
    Hello, my name is Alex Morrison and I am a freshman at MTSU. My major is currently Political Science with a focus in Pre-Law. I decided to take this course because I hope to think more objectively, which will be a crucial skill in my desired field. I am from a small community near Chattanooga where coal reigned as the main source of income for many families up until the early 80's, and is of a mostly white,Christian demographic. I am a second generation college student, after my mother who just obtained her EdD last year.

    I am very much looking forward to working with all of you!

    ReplyDelete
  66. alicia aka weird al if my name is too difficult10:08 AM CDT

    #6
    hello everyone:-) my name is alicia chantharack. (uh-lee-see-uh) i am born and raised in murfreesboro/christiana. I am a sophomore, supposed to be a junior but i messed up my first year in college:') anyway, my major is psychology with a minor in communications and sociology. im not a super interesting person. mostly just an old woman stuck in a twenty year olds body(not even bc i look 12) but yeah. i mostly just like to watch ted talks/button poetry and listen to podcasts. on occasion when im feeling overly emotional i like to write poetry.(hehe) i also enjoy nature.

    the reason why i am here is to get a great education and hopefully do something spectacular to where i can help change the lives of others in a positive way. i am in the field that i am in because i want to help others out there like me and or people who know someone who is in need of help. That being said i am trying to start up a mental health awareness/support club on campus if anyone would be interested in that and shooting some ideas at me. i am excited to meet everyone and to be sharing words of wisdom. xoxoxoxo:)

    ReplyDelete
  67. LaQuisha Chappell10:15 AM CDT

    #9
    Hello, my name is LaQuisha Chappell and I am a freshman here at MTSU. I grew up in Mississippi but later moved to Savannah TN. I originally wanted to go to MSU but i went and toured MTSU and fell in love. My major is Accounting and i'm currently in the process of trying to double major.The reason I chose this class is to see how other people think and feel about certain things. I like the idea of "thinking about thinking." So this class will help me better understand life itself and also the thoughts in my head that I cant really put into words.I am really looking forward to what this class can offer me and I hope this be a great fall semester.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Anonymous10:28 AM CDT

    Anna Morgan
    #9

    Hi, my name is Anna and I am a 2nd semester freshman. I was born in Nashville and grew up in Murfreesboro. I am a dance major at MTSU and am hoping to one day dance with a professional company. I took this class because it was a gen ed that seemed more interesting, and although probably more challenging, than an appreciation class or some of the other options. I do not expect to be very good at this subject and am honestly a lot more nervous after the first day than I thought I would be. I should be a sophomore but I took the semester of Fall 2016 off because I was unable to attend due to mental health issues. I used to read a lot of books but haven't finished a whole book in maybe 2 years to be honest. I tried to read slaughter house five and almost finished but got distracted/busy (sorry I didn't raise my hand). Anyway, I hope to get my mind more clear and strong by taking this class and improve my way of living overall!

    ReplyDelete
  69. Hi, I'm Cruz Jean (#6). I'm a sophomore majoring in computer science and math. I was born and raised in murfreesboro. I'm an atheist (and looking forward to any discussions the topic we might have). As you could probably guess from the math and computers stuff, I'm not much of an outdoorsman. I've always thought of philosophy as a stuffy subject controlled by disorganized hermits, as they're often portrayed. But in just the first day of class and the introduction to the Dream of Reason, I'm realizing I never really looked into it all that much. I guess that's part of the reason I took this class over some other humanities course. At any rate, I'm looking forward to what we have in store for the class.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Kerlous Ibrahim
    #6
    Hey guys, my name is Kerlous Ibrahim, I grew up in Egypt and moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I'm a biology major transfer from Trevecca Nazarene University. This is my first semester at MTSU and I'm thinking about minoring in philosophy.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous11:39 AM CDT

    Hey! My name is Lane (#09) and I am looking forward to a great year in philosophy! I don’t really have anything exciting to say about where I am from, considering that I was born and raised in Murfreesboro. I plan to go into Political Science and Biology here at MTSU, but I am not sure if I want to stick with it. Philosophy has always been something that my family and I have talked about often and openly. I do not yet know many famous philosophers or their works, but I am enthusiastic to learn all that I can. My personal political, religious, and philosophic views are fairly ingrained in who I am, yet I am willing to listen to and talk with anyone who wants to have a conversation. I get a little too heated in arguments, which often leads to the end of that given conversation/argument. I hope to get to know all of you throughout the year, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Cruz Jean (#6)
    The Rule of Law: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/9574/
    This essay talks about how "the law" is actually one of the few things that only exists because be believe it does (which the author humorously titled the Tinkerbell Effect). More interestingly, however, is his first implication that religions are not susceptible to this fragile weakness. Given that many religions have oddly-mundane rules governing human interaction, etiquette, and even diet, this leads to the question: are religions just shields that surround law to make them immortal? Does anyone have strong opinions either way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was interesting to read. Thank you for the recommendation!

      Delete
  73. Cruz Jean (#6)
    Do What You Love: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/22870/
    In this one, Tony Hawk describes some of the events and pushback that he got prior to his big break in professional skateboarding. He continued skating despite the criticism, and was glad to hear his youngest son say in pre-school "I've never seen my dad do work." He advocates for doing what we love rather than what pays well or is more secure financially, which I think is still a problem for people nowadays, and perhaps leads to the high number of people that either don't know or later change what their major.

    ReplyDelete
  74. #10 MW 2:20-3:45 DSB 103
    Hey everybody! My name is Mikaela Miller, and I'm pursuing a nutrition major. I've been in middle Tennessee nearly my whole life, and I actually moved to Chattanooga a year ago to change things up. I wasn't a fan of the area, so I decided to come back home and attended a school whose program I liked better (MTSU.) While I'm in this course because it's required of me, I'm also very intrigued by philosophy. I'm very excited to expand my knowledge and views while hopefully developing some friendships along the way!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Elizabeth Peetz1:45 PM CDT

    Hey! My name is Elizabeth Peetz and I am a Psychology major with a minor in Criminology. I was born and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee. I moved all my belongings to Murfreesboro where i knew no one and nothing to attend MTSU. I decided to take Philosophy because I have always been interested in the subject and it is required of my major. I also believe this will help me in my major .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jess Hudson8:30 PM CDT

      Criminology?!? What would you do with that degree? It seems interesting! I also transferred to MTSU without knowing people. So I joined a sorority and a few clubs! Which has really helped me meet people on campus.

      Delete
    2. Maybe work on reforming the penal system, humanizing the conditions of incarceration, figuring out why people break the law and how to reduce criminality in our society... ?

      Delete
  76. #6
    Hello! I am Rowan Lockabey. I am from Nashville, TN. I am studying business administrations. I love to travel as often as possible. I have been to California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Hawaii, Utah, Texas and Kentucky. Though its a short list I hope to turn it into a list of counties soon. I'm at MTSU to gain the best education to further my success as a citizen on our ever connected planet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. #6
      Have you considered MTSU's study abroad program? I've heard it's pretty good (though not my cup of tea, so I haven't researched it), and it'd be an excellent way to travel to other countries and still further your education. It'd be especially good if you wanted to go to any countries that don't use English as their main language.

      Delete
  77. Section 6

    My name is Gretchen and I prefer to be called Grey. When I signed up for this class I was eager for many reasons. I have a strong interest in perspectives and how they differ - that is why I was even more eager when I saw that this course has been deemed "CoPhilosphy." I love to communicate ideas and collaborate with others and I look forward to this class being an incentive to do so. I also found it interesting that Dr. Oliver is a peripatetic - I work at a disability consulting firm, usually about fifty hours a week and so most dialogues that I entertain revolve around the disability of someone. This awakens me and reminds me how much of a necessity it is as an able-bodied person to take care of my body and my mind by exercising physically and mentally, and the collaboration of the two in this school of peripateticism colors me with excitement.

    I am a third year at MTSU and though the parking tribulation leaves something to be desired, I've enjoyed my time here. It is hard for me to be somewhere so institutionalized. I guess that's kind of an introduction to the, "Why are you here?" question. It is certainly not for a diploma, though $40,000 later I hope to have one! When I came to MTSU in 2014, I declared myself as a Mass Comm major with a focus in Public Relations. A semester in I realized that I am far too honest to be a PR major. That put me in a sticky position because my second pick was Law. I ended up staying in the college of Mass Comm and I am focusing in Journalism. I am minoring in history with an eye towards early American politics. Not because I love politics, but because I hate them and want to better understand.

    I live in Lakewood in a house full of my friends-turned-family. It is no wonder that I wanted to keep my house full, being that I grew up with four siblings. Me in the middle - *see neurotic behavioral habits.* I also live with my two dogs (Reagan Not Like the President and St. Andrew Alexandra) and cat (Cole.) I commute to MTSU from about an hour away, I usually soften the blow with some music, but my most recent interest has become podcasts.

    I look forward to this class and to acquainting myself with all of you! See you tomorrow.

    Ab imo pectore,
    Grey.

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    Replies
    1. You actually got a little chuckle from me at the part about being too honest for a PR major. And about learning politics out of sheer power of hatred. I guess personality really factors into the extrovert majors.

      Delete
  78. Jess Hudson8:26 PM CDT

    TR 1pm #6

    Hi everyone!! I'm Jessica, but I prefer to go by Jess. I'm a senior here at MTSU, majoring in Pre-Pharmacy. I also am pretty involved on campus! Some things i'm in are, Chi Omega, Pre-Scripts and Delta Delta Sigma(Pre-Professional Fraternity). Within all of those groups I'm given sooo many opportunities! From internships to connections with other Pharmacists across America, I'm able to really get my foot in the door for my dream career. I currently work at Kroger pharmacy as a Certified pharmacy technician. I've been working there for a little over three years now.

    After I graduate in May, I'm going to be going to Lipscomb's Pharmacy school. Which I'm incredibly excited for! That has been my dream college for a very long time. So I will have another six more years of schooling after this year. Usually it is only four years, but I want to be a Psychiatric Pharmacist. So with that being said I have to take an extra year of school, and also a longer rotation period than most students. Which I'm completely fine with. This has been my dream job since I was twelve, the psychiatric part came later on in life.

    With my degree, I will be working in a facility for psychiatric patients. My role will be to teach these patients what each of their medications do. See many people who go to a hospital for the mentally ill, end up dumping their meds a couple of days after being released. Then just spiral back to the hospital, because they didn't have anything in their system to balance those chemicals. So teaching the patient what they take, why they take it, how it helps them, and what happens if you suddenly stop taking their medications; they will use that knowledge to continue to help themselves live fulfilling lives.

    I believe this is my purpose in this world. I want to help the part of society that often just gets locked away and forgotten about. Psychiatric facilities have such low budgets that there is not enough funding to properly help these patients. I'm just hoping if more people show an interest in helping them and realizing they are still humans who need stability and someone on their side, more funding will start to occur within all of these facilities.

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  80. http://thisibelieve.org/essay/35/

    The God Who Embraced Me When Daddy Disappeared. I really like this essay because I find it somewhat relatable. It is about this man who seems to find God in the absence of his biological father. Pretty powerful. When one door closes another opens!!

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  81. #6
    My Name is Benjamin, I am an aerospace student originally from Atlanta Georgia. I came to MTSU to pursue a degree in professional aviation in hopes of getting a job as a commercial pilot in the big leagues such as Delta, United, or American. Im in my sophomore year and finally able to delve into my major with the intro classes out of the way. Aviation has been a passion of mine since I was young and the program here at MTSU is allowing my dream to unfold right on the path to doing what I love.
    Looking forward to growing and learning with you all this semester,
    Benjamin

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  82. #6
    My name is Kristin. This will be my second year at MTSU but the city of Murfreesboro is nothing new to me. I've lived in Murfreesboro my whole life. From the time I was born until I was about seven years old I lived in a little house off of Lascassas Highway with my mom, dad, brother and sister. After a couple years of living in Lascassas, my parents built a house in Walter Hill where all five of us lived until my freshman year of high school. My parents split the fall of my first year in high school so my mom moved into a house just two minutes away from the school and my dad moved back into our house in Lascassas. Long story short, if you are familiar with the outskirts of Murfreesboro you'll realize that all of the houses I've lived in have been all within twenty minutes of each other. Murfreesboro is comfortable, cozy and familiar to me so it seemed like the perfect place to experience college.
    My major is Organizational Communications. My hope is to have a minor picked by the end of this year so I can have some sort of focus. I came into college as a Nursing major but quickly decided it wasn't for me and switched to ORCO. I originally chose Nursing because I have always had an interest in science and helping those in need. After taking Anatomy & Physiology 1, I decided that I wasn't as fond of science classes as I initially thought and decided to take a different approach. So I changed my major to ORCO because I know that there are so many different career paths that you can take. As I said before, I'm hoping to have a minor by the end of the year so I'm not really certain what my future career is gonna look like and how I'm going to fulfill my desire to be a helping hand to others.
    I'm excited to learn more about philosophy and where certain thought processes come from.

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    Replies
    1. Interesting contrast with the next introduction...

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  83. jay polk9:04 AM CDT

    #6
    Hello everyone my name is jaukee, but it'll probably be easier on the tongue to refer to me as "Jay." I transferred to MTSU about two years ago and have loved my college experience ever since. I live in Murfreesboro, however I'm rarely home. I travel in most my spare time and since the age of 16 I've completed the goal of visiting a new country a minimum of twice a year. One thing I've observed through my travels is the beauty in diversity of other countries. The difference in religious beliefs, economic structure, government etc. have left me wondering many times "What are we, and what are we truly here for?" Which is why I took this course, to achieve better a philosophical view of the world and its beautiful people. I truly look forward to sharing my thoughts as well as hearing the thoughts of my fellow classmates.

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    1. Have you done a study abroad course? I've been offering one the past two years, to England, that came up just shy of enough students. Maybe next year.

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  84. #6
    My name is Christian Nash. I am a sophomore at MTSU and I'm majoring in video and film production. I was born and raised in Singapore, and I moved to Brentwood, TN when i was 14 and have been here ever since. In my free time I play Overwatch and play the drums. When I'm really bored I like to go out into nature with friends. I took a philosophy class in high school and it was my favorite class, however not a topic of focus for me, and now that I have Gen Ed classes that I have to get out of the way, I thought "why not philosophy?"

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    1. Great! But... while I know it's typical of students to think of getting courses "out of the way," I'd suggest you try thinking of them AS the way - kinda like the Tao, maybe?

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  85. Section 6

    Hey class! On Thursday while we were discussing our personal philosophies I mentioned a quote from a film Waking Life.
    "The idea is to stay in a constant state of departure, while always arriving."
    I mentioned I would post a link to the film if I could find it. Unfortunately, I did not find the full film. But here is a youtube video that gives you an idea of what you can expect from the film. I highly recommend it for all you deep thinkers! If any body gets a chance to watch it, please don't hesitate to discuss it with me or give me your review!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rg0l0hhx_4

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    1. The late U of Texas philospher Robert Solomon had a cameo appearance in Waking Life, talking existentialism with a student in a campus pub. Haven't been able to find that clip on YouTube, if you do please share it.

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  86. Section 6

    http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/The%20College%20of%20Chinese%20Wisdom%20-%20WSJ.pdf

    I would like to share with you all a Wall Street Journal article I stumbled upon last year in the paper. Written by Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh, The College of Chinese Wisdom is an article that explores the philosophy of Confucius and some other Eastern Philosophers who present us with the idea that the contemporary Western objective to "find oneself" negates true enlightenment. This speaks primarily to younger Americans, (possibly college students) who have gotten caught up in our cultures demand to put us into niche groups of people or career paths. This article spoke to me a lot, as someone who has always felt a bit behind because I do not have one specific "trade." To counter my own insecurities, this article rejoices in the individuals who do not put themselves in one particular box. In addition, it reinstates what I believe to be a very innate philosophy that has been back-burned: it is in the journey. It brings to our attention that like all things, the human is in constant flux. And what is flux? Continuous change! Above all else, we know that we grow. It starts before we even see the light of day – in our mother’s womb we are growing and we are changing. This is a cycle that never ends. It is very easy to observe these changes in the earlier years of life. The difference between a four-year-old and a six-year-old is nothing if not significant. From our elementary years, to our pubescent years, to our years of young adulthood, these changes are so empirical. But once we are adults, the changes we go through are less noticeable. Nonetheless, they are there are they are significant. Please read and share your thoughts!

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    1. They have a point. The notion of finding yourself, as though each of us were a fixed and unchanging object temporarily misplaced, as opposed to an ongoing cyclic field of dynamic revision and reconstruction, is misleading at best. Turn and face the ch-ch-changes, as David Bowie said...

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    2. P.S. I appreciate your industriousness, Grey, but I notice that you've claimed 8 runs in the 1st inning. We have a ceiling of 5 per class, just to keep it interesting and healthily-competitive for everybody. Sorry! But you can still note in your personal log that you WOULD have had 8 on Aug.31, were it not for the #@$%! ceiling.

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    3. This was actually done erroneously and I had intended to point it out on Tuesday. I misunderstood and marked my bases. So, that would be 8 bases, 2 runs.

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  87. Is there a separate link to post DQs ?

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    1. No. Post in any comments space you'd like.

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  88. Anonymous12:15 PM CDT

    #10
    Hello, my name is Dominic Roby. I am a sophomore here at MTSU and I am majoring in psychology. I have always been very interested by things such as the way we think, our purpose in life, the origins of our existence, why people enjoy watching contact sports, and the concept of a soul. I strive to become a radiologist, but I will definitely always have philosophy as an interest of mine. I am here in this class because I want to understand something that is a big part of my life. This year in philosophy I look forward to studying why people enjoy watching contact sports and the ethics behind them. My father played in the nfl for 16 years and it destroyed his body until the day he died. Many people seem to not even bat an eye at what these players actually go through. It is a very interesting thing for me to think about and I would like to study it further. Aside from my goals in this class, I will give you a few details about myself. I love music and playing any instrument I can get my hands on, I enjoy skateboarding, and I absolutely love studying both medicine and philosophy. As far as the question of why am I here, that is something I strive to discover before I die. I may not ever fully understand our existence, but I would at least like to become more comfortable with the thought of why we are here. I am looking forward to this class.

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  89. You may want to check out some of the links in the sidebar section called "Our games," including https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/opinion/college-football-black-athletes.html?_r=0

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  90. DQs for 9/5/2017

    I would probably consider myself a sedentary person. I would love to be more active though. I can't put my the blame of my sedentary life on school or work. I would like to but I won't. I'd say its from purely being tired. I have time in which I could be more active but I enjoy the comfort of my couch after a week of full time work and full time school. Again, I wont put the blame on those things I just am physically tired. I use my time at school to be active during my busy week at work. I'll walk around, eat lunch outside, try to converse with people at the bus stop, etc... If I had more time in the day I would gladly spend it outside on hike; be one with the elements. I used to be a runner. I would take my beagle to the park and run/walk with her. At the beginning of my college career I took my This I Believe book and her to the park. I put down a blanket and sat there with her under a tree reading. It is a good book by the way. I recommend it. This happened before I started working full time again. Now, time is just to sort. I wish I had more of it.

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  91. DQs 9/5/2017

    My most memorable outdoor experience was...
    Let's see, I was probably 14 and I was visiting my dad. He lived in a place called Hugo, Colorado. He passed recently and I find myself thinking about the rare moments I had with him. This moment I am about to share is one I think of often. He was renting a house on hundreds of acres just out in the middle of nowhere. When you stepped outside all you could see was land. The land in that area that time of year was not very green. It was mostly dirt and long dead grass. The wind was blowing; I believe there was a storm coming but the sun was still shining. I remember the sun was just a few hrs from setting. It wasn't the weather I remember most it is what I talked about with my dad.

    He talked about his ambitions and what he wanted to with his life. We sat on this vehicle trailer that was old and not in working condition. I remember him saying he wanted to fix it up. But anyway, he said he wanted to build a place called Hartman Towers. It would be a mega park for activities. It would be an indoor dirt bike park, you be able to do all kinds of things inside the mega indoor activity park. It would be a place that the family would work and be together. Even at 14 I knew nothing like that would happen. My dad had a thing for saying he would do something but I just knew he couldn't It wasn't that he couldn't strive to bigger better things just in my heart I didn't believe he could achieve anything outside his sedentary life. I remember this moment because my dad never gave up on trying to achieve great things. He never gave up on thinking he couldn't achieve great things. Even today he brings me hope. He isn't around anymore but the memories I have of him pushing forward are ones I wont forget.

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  92. DQs 9/5/2017
    Have I ever attempted to share my beliefs, convections, core principles Etc...
    I would have to say I only do so if its the topic of discussion. I won't just bring up those topics. I do a lot of expressing when its talked about. Sometimes, I feel like I over express and come off as overbearing. I can be over opinionated sometimes as well.

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  93. DQ's 9/5/2017
    Am I a good listener..
    I would have to say no..
    I do find myself talking over people a lot, especially when its something I feel strongly about.
    It is a problem I know. I can see it in the persons face I am conversing with... Like, "Gosh is she done talking yet." I have been trying harder lately to ask others questions and opinions and letting others talk. I normally don't speck until I'm spoken to but when I am shoooot.... I don't stop.
    When it comes to others beliefs I will listen but most the time I will dismiss something if it just sounds, I don't know, eh to me. I won't say, "Oh that sounds dumb or that doesn't make since." I'll keep that to myself. So more or less I'll dismiss it unless I agree. I may ask a questions to figure out why someone is saying what they believe but most of the time they don't why themselves. Most the time I don't why I believe things either to be honest.

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  94. DQs 9/5/17
    Do I believe we live in a time of intolerance and incivility, when is comes to dissenting points of views..

    I guess from my previous DQ question it would have to be a yes. I feel like most people want to talk about themselves. I am one of those people. It's not something I mean to let happen, it's like I just an automatic response I guess. I have been trying to be better at listening but I have a hard time hearing what others are trying to say. I want to pick out the flaw or the why in stories.

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  95. Merna Ghobrial8:52 AM CDT

    #6
    Do you consider yourself an active or a sedentary person, by preference?

    On a nice day outside, I would prefer to go outside and take a little walk. If I were asked this question a few months ago, my answer would have been completely different. I guess I had just never found it fun before, but then I went hiking with the right people and it made all the difference. I guess walking and getting up and moving around really can change a person's mood.

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  96. Merna Ghobrial8:59 AM CDT

    #6
    What's the most memorable outdoor experience you've ever had?

    The most memorable outdoor experience I have had was in early January of this year when my friends and I thought it would be a good idea to go for a walk at Radnor Lake State Park. It was freezing cold and we were definitely not dressed appropriately for the weather. We ended up leaving after about 30 minutes and had to defrost in the car. We had fun laughing about it later,and it's a day we won't forget.

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  97. Merna Ghobrial9:05 AM CDT

    #6
    Have you ever attempted to share your beliefs, convictions, core principles (etc.) in public?

    I have only shared my beliefs and core principles in discussion based environments. For example, if I am in a group discussion and this certain topic comes up, I will share and expand more on what my beliefs are and what I am passionate about. I don't think I would ever just voluntarily start sharing.

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  98. Merna Ghobrial9:11 AM CDT

    #6
    Are you a good listener?

    I am only a good listener when the person I am talking to has valid points for the discussion at hand or for whatever argument he or she is making. I guess that would make me a bad listener. If the person I am having a discussion with is only arguing for the sake of "winning", then my ears immediately shut down. I do like being right, just like everyone else, but I also like being proved wrong, as long as the person doing it has some valid reasoning.

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  99. Merna Ghobrial9:18 AM CDT

    #6
    Do you agree that we live in a time of intolerance and incivility, when it comes to dissenting points of view?

    I do believe we live in a time of intolerance and incivility because we do not all have the same points of views. A lot of this shows up in countries where different points of views about religion kills many people just for the fact that not everyone has the same opinion about one religion.

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  100. #9

    Hello everyone. If anyone needs a little motivation for this upcoming week I advise you to read this short article from Muhammad Ali. http://thisibelieve.org/essay/62638/

    My favorite quote from this is ". . . my belief in my abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will was stronger than their skills."

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  101. Anonymous7:44 AM CDT

    #6

    Hello, my name is Serena and I commute from Nashville to school everyday. This is my second semester at MTSU. I am majoring in Teaching English as a Secondary Language. I'm taking this class as I am very interested in the subject of philosophy.

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  102. #6

    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/39783/

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  103. Merna Ghobrial10:22 AM CDT

    #6
    Is it a good practice in science and/or philosophy to try and reduce complex phenomena to a simpler explanation?

    I think that trying to simplify things in science is something that might be necessary for people to fully understand how certain things work, but I think that philosophy is an idea that should not be broken down into too many "simpler" ideas, or else it's not really a phenomena. It would be something that is broken down into too many ideas, and would technically not all be the same, because it may be explained differently by different people.

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  104. Merna Ghobrial10:26 AM CDT

    #6

    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/41850/

    I thought this essay was interesting and relevant to yesterday's class, since we talked about being outdoors.

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  105. Merna Ghobrial10:35 AM CDT

    #6
    Do you share or reject young Russell's "feeling that intellect is superior to sense"?

    I reject this because I believe that no one is superior to the other. In many cases, I believe, you would need to use both,intellect and sense, to make a decision or to work out something. As humans, we should be able to use reasoning and our consciences at the same time.

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  106. Merna Ghobrial10:50 AM CDT

    #6
    Do you believe numbers can "unlock the secrets of how the world work[s]"? (32) Or does the world include important qualities and experiences that cannot or need not (should not?) be quantified? Is it "madness" to relate everything to a corresponding number?-eg, maleness=2, femaleness=3, justice=4...(34)

    Life is all about experience and important qualities that cannot be understood. Numbers mean nothing if we have nothing to connect them to, for example to an experience or something other important quality of life. Numbers just help us keep a system, but we cannot relate everything in our lives to numbers.

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  107. Merna Ghobrial10:58 AM CDT

    #6

    http://thisibelieve.org/essay/9691/

    The author of this essay clearly explains why intuition is way more important than rational pocesses.

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  108. Merna Ghobrial11:05 AM CDT

    #6
    Alternative Quiz Question:

    Although the mathematical inquiries of the Pythagoreans eventually paid off in all sorts of practical ways, what were their motives for undertaking them?

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  109. Merna Ghobrial11:09 AM CDT

    #6
    Another Quiz Question:

    What did the Pythagoreans believe should be investigated purely for the sake of disinterested knowledge and not for any practical reward?

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  110. DQ question: Does atomism "liberate [us] from superstition, fear of death, and the tyranny of priests"?

    No, I believe that regardless of facts, science, or any other proof people will continue to hold onto superstitions, because for many people they are something to hold onto in order to comfort themselves.

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  111. #10
    DQ: If everything is comprised of atoms does it follow logically that there is no life after death?
    Yes I believe that follows logically since in a mechanical sense at least being "alive" is ultimately determined by atomic configuration and once we reach death our body will reach chemical equilibrium. Most chemical systems strive for equilibrium but once reached they are difficult to reverse. If w think of life in a chemical sense then it follows logically that there is no life after death

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  112. #10 I am of the belief that devotion to reason is the pursuit of understanding. Faith is synonymous if not the same as belief in that it is essentially just as frail. That frailty comes from the hope that a desired outcome will come into fruition. This is quite different from understanding the mechanics of a physical or chemical process in the universe.

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  113. #6

    https://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate

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  114. #6
    Alternative Quiz Questions:
    1. In what form do Aristotle's writings come in?
    2. What is the name of the school that Aristotle opened?
    3. What would Plato have been content to philosophize from?
    4. Why did Plato reject his teachers' Theory of Form?
    5. What was the one question that Aristotle mulled over?
    6. What does the phrase "seek happiness" mean?
    7. What was Aristotle's approach to ethics?
    8. What was the one unfortunate side effect of Aristotle's brilliance?
    9. Where do most geniuses emerge from?
    10. What does your happiness partly depend on?
    11. What is Aristotle's doctrine of the Golden Mean?

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