Author: Huenemann

Curious about the ways humans use their minds and hearts to distract themselves from the meaninglessness of life.

T-shirts — again!

Sorry to bother everyone with this silliness, just at the end-of-term rush, but I’m hoping to get this vital matter settled before summer begins, so that we’ll have something ready at the start of Fall semester.

What should go on the back of the t-shirt? (I am assuming the front will be a Greek phi.) There have been quite a few suggestions, which I am dictatorially reducing to these six finalists. Which (if any) do you prefer?

1. “USU Philosophy (I think)”
2. “Anticipatorily hearkening the eschatological apokalupsis of Sein”
3. “Are we thinking yet?”
4. “The unexamined life sucks”
5. “What do you really know?”
6. “I think I think; therefore, I think I am”

Let me know!

Philosophers’ Carnival

Philosophers’ Carnival is a kind of philosophical conference that is held on the web every 3 weeks or so. It’s worth checking out — some items are funny, others serious, and many are very interesting. The permanent site can be found here. The most recent Carnival – which includes a good essay by Daniel Dennett on what kinds of questions are worth pursuing in philosophy – can be found here.

Enjoy!

What’s essential to philosophy?

As the semester comes to an end, you might take a few minutes to ponder this question: what’s essential in a philosophical education? Is it stuff you learn (names, theories, etc), or how to argue, or personal discovery/enrichment? What sort of experience said to you “This is what it’s all about”?

News about students

Here are a few announcements about achievements by our students. (I’m sure I’m missing things, so please send me a note or post a comment!)

• Andrew Blackwell has been awarded the Brett E. Blanch Memorial Scholarship for Philosophy.

• Benny Nyikos successfully presented his honors thesis, “Holding onto Belief,” at the USU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

• Doug Beazer, Brian Morrison, and Joshua Smith were initiated into Phi Sigma Tau, Philosophy’s honor society.

• Chris Healey has been accepted into medical school at Ohio State (he’s waiting to hear from a couple of other schools).

CONGRATULATIONS!