Feeling vocab chart

http://www.tammycamp.com/2010/02/24/one-word-barometers.html

Due to popular demand...

Updates, 11/22--political/moral philosophy projects

Lots of good presentations on Monday!

Two groups have formed definitively:

1. Forgiveness and judgment--can we make public who we have wronged, and so doing, create a more honest and just society?

The fourth step in 12-step programs like AA is to make an inventory of ourselves; the fifth is to admit the wrongs to ourselves and to another person. What do we need to do to understand how we have injured--and been injured by--other people? When have we lied, or cheated, or used harsh words...or, especially, acted out of misplaced judgment or prejudice?

2. Choice and not-choice--what is a choice, and is abstaining from a decision possible?

In some kinds of voting, you have three choices: you can vote in favor (yea) you can vote against (nay) or you can abstain. Some people argue that choosing to abstain is a type of vote, just like voting for or against something. Similarly, you can choose to speak up or be silent; some people argue that staying silent in the face of injustice is as good as collaborating in the injustice itself. What does it mean to choose? What does it mean to choose not to choose?

Both these groups are hard at work coming up with projects!

Something unusual happened, as well. A third group earned enough votes, but when it came time to divide, this group only had one adherent on Monday. This group aimed to explore questions of the sacred and the secular--of the separation (or not) of church and state. We decided to reserve decision on whether this would be a group until Wednesday.

The game is afoot!

Reminders 11/16 and 11/21

Lots of political philosophy ideas to chew on last time! Sovereignty, law, consent, representation, property, and more! Don't forget, on Monday, 11/21, you will be responsible for delivering a one-minute proposal for a project to get Boston talking about moral and political philosophy. Bring in a text-message-sized description on ballots (strips of paper). COLORED strips are nice (remember Colleen's?) because they let us sort more effectively. You will deliver your one-minute proposals and we will vote on your project ideas on Monday!

White House "Campus Champions of Change Challenge"

President Obama is urging college students to self-report stories of change within their communities that they were involved in. It’s called “Campus Champions of Change Challenge” http://www.whitehouse.gov/CampusChallenge Share your Awesome Philosophy stuff on here! Maybe become famous!

One Cool Idea--for your portfolio

So, you know how our imaginary friend, Bob The Student, met with a tragic fate because he didn't publish all the pages on his portfolio?

And you know how there's nothing in your templates under "One Cool Idea"?

Monica The Professor neglected to publish one of the sections on her portfolio template. Oops!

Here's the prompt for "One Cool Idea" in your e-portfolio:

In 150-200 WELL CHOSEN words, choose ONE of the ideas that makes up a chapter in The Philosophy Gym, and write an engaging exploration of that idea. Get your audience to think about the idea more deeply! Include at least ONE piece of multimedia--photo is OK, but video is better!