Majors Seminar Class Notes

AUG 30

First Day Notes:

• Welcome: introductions
• Goals -- becoming better philosophers, developing philosophical voice, improving expression

• About the course

• Previous versions and influences -- problems of method and style in philosophy.
• Philosophy and creative writing - parallels bt writers' workshop classes and seminars
• Applied philosophy -
• Philosophy as personal vocation -

• Structure of this course

• Websites in the course: alfino.org --> courses.alfino.org & wiki.gonzaga.edu/faculty/alfino

• fill out Roster Information
• Note on wiki editing

• Course Resources

• Break

• Philosophical ice breaker

• The Writing & Performing Philosopher

• Link to some of my current interests: [1]

SEP 6

1. Writing and Philosophy

Let's thinking about Stafford's view of writing as discovery in relation to both the NYT piece and the Dillard piece. How do these two pieces engage philosophy?

2. Discussion of Lakoff and Johnson chapter, "How Philosophical Theories Work"

This reading gives us an introduction to some of the "embodied consciouness" literature from it's early days. We'll track both the view and it's rhetoric. Note the rhetoric of the sample chapter as well and the reviewers.

Break

3. Philosophical Method, Progress in Philosophy, and Defining Philosophy

We'll do some philosophy together here by outlining and evaluating some positions on these three topics and their interrelationships.

4. Browsing in Philosophy

• A variety of search tools can help you find interests, pursue them, and join active philosophical communities.

NOV 22

• Thanksgiving Week: Optional Meeting Time