Philosophical Summer Reading

Well, it's that time of year again, when students and teachers begin wrapping up the Spring semester and look forward to the relaxation of the summer break. Which means it is also the time of year to plan philosophical reading groups. Currently deciding what book or books to read with some friends, I find that I may have too many possibilities to choose from, but hopefully a consensus will arise soon as to what we shall read. In the meantime, enjoy the classic Germans vs. Greeks football match, courtesy of Monty Python.

Southwest Seminar in Continental Philosophy

From June 7-9, I will be attending the third annual Southwest Seminar in Continental Philosophy entitled, "Continental Philosophy in the Great Basin." Being held at Brigham Young University, this will be my first visit to the state of Utah. While attending the conference, I will present my paper, "The Person as Objective Subject." The paper focuses on the dichotomy between Sartre's and Buber's views on relationships and the human person. I bring in some of Wojtyla's (John Paul II's) work to show how there is middle ground between the two men where we find a more robust view of human relationships than some may think.  

Kierkegaard on Teaching

Every day I teach my logic students, I find Kierkegaard's statement to be more true.

"To be a teacher does not mean simply to affirm that such a thing is so, or to deliver a lecture, etc. No, to be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner, put yourself in his place so that you may understand what he understands and the way he understands it." 

                                                                                                                   - Søren Kierkegaard