Author: Huenemann

Okay, here we go. Sour-minded cynics complain ceaselessly about there being no way to find answers to philosophical questions. We have decided to step up to their challenge by inaugurating a foolproof method for determining philosophical truth: BOWLING. All those disciples of Minerva interested in striking down some timeless mysteries (and sparing others) are hereby invited to gather at Logan Lanes (1161 North Main), at 7 pm on next Monday, September 19th. We will divide into “Yes” and “No” teams (“Sic” et “Non”, for you medievalists), then open the sealed envelope to read the question we are answering. Our plan is to do this each month, tracking the results on this blog, for the benefit of posterity.

Come join in the fun!

Your professors will give you some fine books to read, and they’ll probably help you understand them. What they won’t do, for reasons that perplex me, is to ask you if the books contain truths you could live your lives by. When you read Plato, you’ll probably learn about his metaphysics and his politics and his way of conceiving the soul. But no one will ask you if his ideas are good enough to believe in. No one will ask you, in the words of Emerson’s disciple William James, what their “cash value” might be. No one will suggest that you might use Plato as your bible for a week or a year or longer. No one, in short, will ask you to use Plato to help you change your life.

That will be up to you. You must put the question of Plato to yourself. You must ask whether reason should always rule the passions, philosophers should always rule the state, and poets should inevitably be banished from a just commonwealth. You have to ask yourself if wildly expressive music (rock and rap and the rest) deranges the soul in ways that are destructive to its health. You must inquire of yourself if balanced calm is the most desirable human state.

Read the whole essay here.

Aporia, Brigham Young University’s undergraduate journal of philosophy, is pleased to announce the Fall 2011 call for papers. Aporia is dedicated to recognizing exemplary philosophical work at the undergraduate level. We are now accepting submissions for the Fall 2011 issue, which will be published online. The winning papers will be announced in November. We hope that you will inform all philosophy students of this opportunity to be recognized and to participate in the philosophical community. We especially invite professors to encourage authors of outstanding undergraduate work to submit their papers. Attached is a flier announcing the call for papers; this flier also contains important information about the submission process, as well as the due date for submissions: October 7, 2011.

Call for Papers Fall 2011

We are putting together our team for the Ethics Bowl tournament this November. Ethics Bowl is like a debate tournament that has the aim not of winning arguments, but providing the best overall perspective on difficult moral cases. Our first meeting will be next Wednesday, September 14th, 4 – 5 p.m., in Main 203. It is possible to receive 1 credit for involvement; interested students should come to the meeting for details.

Mr. Deity tries to work through the Euthyphro problem, with the assistance of Christopher DiCarlo. Watch for “Tommy Aquifino”.