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Wikipedia for Dr. Mark Alfino, Department of Philosophy Gonzaga University

 

 

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Why a Wiki for college courses?

Actually, the wait for a simple collaborative, "built-in" hyper-text web editor has been unnecessarily long.  We had to go through all kinds of product development and many failed "hypertext" programs to get to this point.  My best guess at how things actually worked out is that the wiki became a social phenomenon first, in part because of its technical design, which made it virulent.  Then people started asking (again) how multiple people might be able to collaborate on document contruction without creating a mess.  Anyway, to answer the question:

 

A wikipedia is a quick way to create collaborative online pages.  Everyone can access the pages and collaborators (that's you) can either edit or comment on items online.  You can create your own content, share answers to study questions for the exam, engage in collaborative research projects, and share papers.  This version of Wiki is easy to use and allows users to add any HTML content, pictures, and video.  Or you can just read it occasionally.

 

For more informaiton about wikis follow this link: <a href="/WhatWikiIs" id="p-0d51d2646486b47a21f01325838863e5b9b9aa68" class="WikiLink">WhatWikiIs</a>

 

Ze Frank

<img border="0" isapbwikiattachment="1" src="http://alfino.pbwiki.com/f/zefrankface.gif" />Check out the Ze Frank show, one of my favorite video blogs.  Interesting shows include the one on Daniel Gilbert's Stumbling <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2006/09/092106.html" id="p-4edff42a26ef07f958f87c10b235be832d5295bc" class="WikiLink">on Happiness</a>, and one on <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2006/12/122906.html" id="p-37d95daab7dd0725b7a463cac8790659270b6e2e" class="WikiLink">Somalia</a>, and on <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2007/01/010807.html" id="p-62b2303e3eca2b65c6f86779c0c4271cd4ba9682" class="WikiLink">Consciousness</a>.

 

 

Noteable Reading from 2006

Here's a somewhat random, but oddly representative list of 10 things I found interesting to read last year:

 

  10 from 2006

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   1.   Bartsch, Shadi. The Mirror of the Self: Sexuality, Self-Knowledge, and the Gaze in the Roman Empire. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006

Abstract: An excellent scholarly study of the emergence of the self in Hellenistic thought, particularly in relation to the emergence and use of the mirror, contrasting cultural meanings of the gaze, and the understanding of self and sexuality. 

 

   2.   Bloom, Paul. "Is God an Accident?" The Atlantic Monthly  (2005): 105-12.

Abstract: A challenging account of the psychological evidence of the centrality of the concept of a transcendent self.

 

   3.   Dworkin, Ronald. "Three Questions for America."Vol. 53. New York, 2006.

Abstract: Close argumentation on three issues of the day: the teaching of evolution schools, gay rights, and the pledge of allegiance.

 

   4.   Gaca, Kathy L. The Making of Fornication: Eros, Ethics, and Political Reform in Greek Philosophy and Early Chritianity. Los Angeles: UCLA, 2003.

Abstract: A sustained analysis of the classical sources and influences on the Christian conception of sexuality. Really brilliant.

 

   5.   Gawande, Atul . "The Malpractice Mess." The New Yorker  (2005): 63-71.

Abstract: An insightful discussion of medical malpractice.

 

   6.   Hansson, Sven Ove. "The False Promises of Risk Analysis." Ratio  (1993).

Abstract: A good discussion of the limits of risk analysis.

 

   7.   Menand, Louis . "Everybody's an Expert." The New Yorker  (2005).

Abstract: A good discussion of the idea of the "expert" in contemporary culture.

 

   8.   Paul, Gregory . "Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health With Popular Religiosity and Seuclarism in the Prosperous Democracies." Journal of Religion and Society 7 (2005): 1-17.

Abstract: Discusses evidence of mass secularization and the correlations between religious culture and social disfunction.

 

   9.   Pope Benedict XVI. "Faith, Reason and the University: Memories and Reflections." (Public Speech)  (2006): 7.

Abstract: The controversial anti-islamic speech given by Pope Benedict this year, on the eve of his trip to Turkey.

 

10.   The Economist. "Economics Discovers Its Feelings."London, 2006. 33-35.

Abstract: A round-up of recent work in economics and well-being.

 

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