Newest Posts
  • Discuss homework answers. Philosophy and Food:  Point 1: Branding drives our food preferences more than anything else. Show Lights, Action, Burger! Video: An emotional connection to branded food. “Gastroporn” phenomenon – show food ads that air on TV, including Hootie and the Blowfish BK commercial and truth in advertising fast food images. Review studies found in Food & Philosophy book in Taste and the Power of Branding.   We know more about nutrition but are eating worse than ever before.   Point 2:  Developing taste – example of how I grew to enjoy coffee, reference to Hume on the standards...

    Philosophy and Food

    Posted on June 6, 2013 | No Comments
    Discuss homework answers. Philosophy and Food:  Point 1: Branding drives our food preferences more than anything else. Show Lights, Action, Burger! Video: An emotional connection to branded food. “Gastroporn” phenomenon – show food ads that air on TV, including Hootie and the Blowfish BK commercial and truth in advertising fast food images. Review studies found in Food & Philosophy book in Taste and the Power of Branding.   We know more about nutrition but are eating worse than ever before.   Point 2:  Developing taste – example of how I grew to enjoy coffee, reference to Hume on the standards...

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  • Check out the discussion below on Descartes’ Meditations:

    Descartes’ Meditations

    Posted on June 4, 2013 | No Comments
    Check out the discussion below on Descartes’ Meditations:

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  • Open class with different versions of “Here Comes the Sun” to lead into happiness discussion. Discuss homework responses. Brief discussion of happiness and eudaimonia drawn from . Emphasis on research responses from the E-Media fast assignment. Difference between long term and short term happiness. E-media fast quotes from students: “Basically it seems that if I did not watch television, play video games, or talk on the phone, I would be a lot smarter and a better cook as well.” “The one thing I can say about this project is that it made me become more productive with my time.” “It...

    Philosophy of Globalization: Media and Happiness

    Posted on May 14, 2013 | No Comments
    Open class with different versions of “Here Comes the Sun” to lead into happiness discussion. Discuss homework responses. Brief discussion of happiness and eudaimonia drawn from . Emphasis on research responses from the E-Media fast assignment. Difference between long term and short term happiness. E-media fast quotes from students: “Basically it seems that if I did not watch television, play video games, or talk on the phone, I would be a lot smarter and a better cook as well.” “The one thing I can say about this project is that it made me become more productive with my time.” “It...

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  • The above image is from the Philosophy of Death and Dying course I taught at MGS in 2011. Quote of the day on board: “Don’t look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it comes, you’ll know you’re dead.” – Tennessee Williams Have scholars develop their own definition of happiness based on homework. Discuss answers. Watch Epicurus video: FIELD TRIP: CEMETERY Two modern views of death: deny it exists and don’t think about it due to fear OR think it’s no big deal and you don’t need to worry about it. But BOTH are misguided. We can use...

    Philosophy of Globalization: Day 3

    Posted on May 6, 2013 | No Comments
    The above image is from the Philosophy of Death and Dying course I taught at MGS in 2011. Quote of the day on board: “Don’t look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it comes, you’ll know you’re dead.” – Tennessee Williams Have scholars develop their own definition of happiness based on homework. Discuss answers. Watch Epicurus video: FIELD TRIP: CEMETERY Two modern views of death: deny it exists and don’t think about it due to fear OR think it’s no big deal and you don’t need to worry about it. But BOTH are misguided. We can use...

    Continue Reading...

Book Reviews
  •    vs.      In what may be described as an overzealous use of the library, my first trip to Wake County libraries consisted of searching for “Montessori” and checking out every in-stock book that appeared. While mostly successful, a few books that weren’t really Montessori related slipped under the radar, namely Amy WIlson’s  In one chapter, Wilson briefly mentions her child not getting into a Montessori school! Despite the lack of Montessori relevant research material, it turned out to be a pretty hilarious read, and offered a stark contrast to what I was reading in the other Montessori books...0February 26, 2013

    An Educational Philosophy Contrast

       vs.      In what may be described as an overzealous use of the library, my first trip to Wake County libraries consisted of searching for “Montessori” and checking out every in-stock book that appeared. While mostly successful, a few books that weren’t really Montessori related slipped under the radar, namely Amy WIlson’s  In one chapter, Wilson briefly mentions her child not getting into a Montessori school! Despite the lack of Montessori relevant research material, it turned out to be a pretty hilarious read, and offered a stark contrast to what I was reading in the other Montessori books…

  • As a follow-up to the reading of Dewey’s Democracy and Education, I recently read The Montessori Method. Written in 1914, it purports to be one of – if not the first – attempt at scientific pedagogy. The emphasis is on designing education around a method that actually works for the way children behave naturally, rather than the way we would like to make them behave. A quote from the opening chapter drew me in: The situation would be very much the same if we should place a teacher who, according to our conception of the term, is scientifically prepared, in one of the...2February 12, 2013

    Philosophy Book Review: The Montessori Method

    As a follow-up to the reading of Dewey’s Democracy and Education, I recently read The Montessori Method. Written in 1914, it purports to be one of – if not the first – attempt at scientific pedagogy. The emphasis is on designing education around a method that actually works for the way children behave naturally, rather than the way we would like to make them behave. A quote from the opening chapter drew me in: The situation would be very much the same if we should place a teacher who, according to our conception of the term, is scientifically prepared, in one of the…

  •   This week’s meditation from the  is the technique Noting Body Sensations. This is exactly what it sounds like. As opposed to last week when we were listening to the noises outside of us, we’re “listening” to the sensations within our own body. Overall, very similar to last week. They key is to not dwell on the sensation that we’re noting. Try not to think about what the sensations mean or why you’re feeling them. And as always, just try to let thoughts come and go. Note, and release. Let me know how it goes!0January 30, 2013

    Learn To Meditate: W3D1

      This week’s meditation from the  is the technique Noting Body Sensations. This is exactly what it sounds like. As opposed to last week when we were listening to the noises outside of us, we’re “listening” to the sensations within our own body. Overall, very similar to last week. They key is to not dwell on the sensation that we’re noting. Try not to think about what the sensations mean or why you’re feeling them. And as always, just try to let thoughts come and go. Note, and release. Let me know how it goes!

Film & Philosophy
  • Merry Moral Monday! Several of us—JustHeath included—here at Philosophy Matters are purveyors of the British science fiction series Doctor Who.  In fact, J J Sylvia, the founder of the website, has even written a very good chapter in a  centered on the philosophy of the television program.  This past Saturday night, I happened to catch an episode on MPB, the Mississippi affiliate of PBS that will serve as a starting point for today’s moral dilemma. So, come along [Ponds], and…Geronimo! “The Wedding of River Song” (2011) In the  finale, the show’s main protagonist, the Doctor, has to save the entire...0February 11, 2013

    Moral Monday: The Wedding of River Song

    Merry Moral Monday! Several of us—JustHeath included—here at Philosophy Matters are purveyors of the British science fiction series Doctor Who.  In fact, J J Sylvia, the founder of the website, has even written a very good chapter in a  centered on the philosophy of the television program.  This past Saturday night, I happened to catch an episode on MPB, the Mississippi affiliate of PBS that will serve as a starting point for today’s moral dilemma. So, come along [Ponds], and…Geronimo! “The Wedding of River Song” (2011) In the  finale, the show’s main protagonist, the Doctor, has to save the entire…

  • “There’s everything in this movie, / Everything that fits. / From the Meaning of Life in the universe, / To girls with great big tits. / We’ve got movie stars and foreign cars, / Explosions and the lot / Filmed as only we know how, / On the budget that we’ve got. / We spent a fortune on locations / And quite a bit on drink / And there’s even the odd philosophical joke, / Just to make you buggers think. / Yet some parts are as serious / And as deep as you could wish / But largely it’s...0February 4, 2013

    Movie Monday: The Meaning of Life

    “There’s everything in this movie, / Everything that fits. / From the Meaning of Life in the universe, / To girls with great big tits. / We’ve got movie stars and foreign cars, / Explosions and the lot / Filmed as only we know how, / On the budget that we’ve got. / We spent a fortune on locations / And quite a bit on drink / And there’s even the odd philosophical joke, / Just to make you buggers think. / Yet some parts are as serious / And as deep as you could wish / But largely it’s…

  • Bonjour, mes amis! Well, it’s been precipitating quite a bit here recently in the Golden Triangle region, so I’ve been catching up on the 1980’s reincarnation of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone (TTZ).  Much like Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek, TTZ are often a mix of science fiction and morality tales.  We emphasize critical thinking and ethical decision-making a lot here at Philosophy Matters, and TTZ does not disappoint as a topical tool.  I think I’m going to be using more of TTZ episodes in postings because I have found them effective discussion pieces in my classes.  So, get ready...0January 14, 2013

    Moral Monday: The Hellgramite Method

    Bonjour, mes amis! Well, it’s been precipitating quite a bit here recently in the Golden Triangle region, so I’ve been catching up on the 1980’s reincarnation of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone (TTZ).  Much like Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek, TTZ are often a mix of science fiction and morality tales.  We emphasize critical thinking and ethical decision-making a lot here at Philosophy Matters, and TTZ does not disappoint as a topical tool.  I think I’m going to be using more of TTZ episodes in postings because I have found them effective discussion pieces in my classes.  So, get ready…

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