LISTEN. Let's introduce ourselves, Spring 2021 CoPhilosophy collaborators. (I'll tell you in class why I call my version of the Intro course "CoPhilosophy." But maybe you can guess, from the William James quote above.)
I invite you all to introduce yourselves in the comments section below, and answer some very basic questions: Who are you? Why are you here? (in this course, on this campus, in this state, on this planet...) What do you think Philosophy is? Do you have a favorite philosopher? Do you have an easily-summarized personal philosophy? (Maybe something short like Charlie Brown's sister Sally's?--"No!")We'll not go over the syllabus or get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of course mechanics on Day One, there's plenty of time for those details later. Peruse the blogsite and syllabus (linked in the right margin) before next class and let me know what's unclear. Meanwhile, read your classmates' intros and post your own.
I'm Dr. Oliver. I live in Nashville with my wife, two dogs we "rescued" in 2018 (Nell, a sweet & gentle Pit/Boxer, and Pita, a sweet and feisty Dachsund/Lab). Older Daughter lives in California. Younger Daughter is one of your peers.
My office is 300 James Union Building (JUB), but of course I'm not going to be around there much in the foreseeable future. Remote office hours are listed in the right sidebar, call or text at those times and let me know if you'd like to arrange a private Zoom session.
I've been at MTSU since the early '00s, teaching philosophy courses on diverse subjects including atheism, childhood, happiness, the environment (I'm teaching the Environmental Ethics course this semester, check out my Honors Lecture on the subject if you're interested), evolution, the future, epistemology, identity, metaphysics, Anglo-American philosophy, consciousness, and bioethics. I'm always open to working with students on Independent Readings courses as well, if you don't find a listed course in something you're interested in. Let me know if I can ever help you with that.
My Ph.D. is from Vanderbilt. I'm originally from Missouri, near St. Louis. My undergrad degree is from the University of Missouri ("Mizzou") in Columbia MO. (I wish my schools weren't in the SEC-I don't approve of the inordinate emphasis on major collegiate sports culture or football brain injuries, as I'm sure to tell you again. But I admit, I did enjoy the Titans' playoff run last winter.)
My philosophical expertise, such as it is, centers on the American philosophical tradition of William James and John Dewey. A former student once asked me to respond to a questionnaire, if you're curious you can learn more about me there.
What you most need to know about me, though, is that I'm a peripatetic and encourage you to be one too (If you're not sure what a peripatetic is, ask me. Or look it up.)
I post my thoughts regularly to my blogs Up@dawn and Delight Springs, to this and other course-specific sites, and to Twitter (@osopher). I've experimented with podcasting as a classroom tool, and with supplemental audio and video content. Follow me if you want to.
But of course, as Brian Cohen said, you don't have to follow me or anyone else. (Rhetorical extra credit if you get that reference.) Sapere aude, as Immanuel Kant said. (Real extra credit if you get that one. NOTE: my extra credit is in the form of "bases," as in the umpire's instruction to "take your base.")
So you don't have to follow me, but when a blog or audio link ("LISTEN") or video turns up you might find it helpful to read, listen, or watch.
I think maybe the best way to introduce myself is to introduce you to some recommended texts, videos, and pdocasts:
William James, Pragmatism lecture 1; Gymnasiums of the Mind (on the Peripatetic philosophy); Pale Blue Dot, & WATCH: Pale Blue Dot (Sagan). Also recommended, for general knowledge: What's Philosophy for? School of Life (SoL); LISTEN: What is Philosophy? and Who's Your Favourite Philosopher? (PB Philosophy Bites). And check out the This I Believe website, for examples of others' personal philosophies succinctly summarized.
But, enough about me. Who are you? (Where are you from, where have you been, what do you like, who do you want to become,...?) Why are you here? (On Earth, in Tennessee, at MTSU, in philosophy class)? Reply below with your introduction, and read your classmates'...
Looking forward to seeing you on Zoom starting Tuesday January 26 (links to be emailed & posted on D2L)
Please always include your section number (4, 7, or 8) in your reply below, and in all future posts on this site.
Our assignments for our second class meeting: (you can always find future assignments listed under "NEXT" in the upper right corner):
Please always include your section number (4, 7, or 8) in your reply below, and in all future posts on this site.
Our assignments for our second class meeting: (you can always find future assignments listed under "NEXT" in the upper right corner):
Look for my dated Questions posts, before each scheduled class date, if you need ideas for what to think and write about in connection with our assigned readings.Th 28 Socrates and Plato-LH1, FL 1-2, HWT Intro & prologue
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From my personal blogsite Up@dawn, 1.18.21-Introductions...
Some thoughts on democracy:
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August 2020...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kendra. I've lived most of my life overseas on military bases in Japan, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Cuba. I'm here because my dad decided he was homesick for America.
I have four cats, one dog, and a bunch of strays outside. My hobbies include hiking, science fiction, trading stocks, and watching survivor with my mom. I have the best job in the world because I tutor math to kids and no, I'm not being sarcastic.
My favorite philosopher, who is also my favorite author, is Olaf Stapledon. His general belief is that an emerging consciousness is the ultimate goal of the universe. After I read his book Star Maker, I couldn't read anything for months because I knew nothing would ever compare. I've since gotten over that and have found a few books that come close, but Star Maker is and always will be my favorite.
To me, philosophy is asking the question "Why?".
(Also my apologies if this comment was posted twice, it glitched the first time I tried.)
Thanks for going first, Kendra.
DeleteOlaf Stapledon is very interesting! Sounds like he may have had an impact on your thinking comparable to Carl Sagan's on me, back in the day when I first picked up and read his book "Cosmic Connection"...
Personally I don't believe the universe per se has an "ultimate goal," but I do think forming goals and pursuing them is crucially important for us all. And I do think we're vitally connected to the universe, we're "starstuff studying the stars"-that's our cosmic connection.
Hello! I'm Chris. I am very interested in trading as well. How long have you been learning or actively trading? I have been learning/doing trading for ~3 years so far.
DeleteVery nice!
DeleteDid you find out about it on your own or did someone start teaching it to you? I found out about it on my own and learned the hard way at first.
I'm not profitable yet. I'm still developing my trading plan, psychology, and strategy. I've tried pattern and harmonic trading but I prefer to keep my strategy as simple as possible and try to keep my own judgements out of the equation. Once my base is finished and I've tested my strategy I'll start FOREX trading and I expect to start that by the end of this year.
If you want you can email me at cmw9v@mtmail.mtsu.edu to avoid cluttering the comments section.
Hi Kendra! I need to check out Star Maker it sounds interesting.
DeleteHey, my name is Austin, I am in section 7, and I live about an hour and a half southwest from the Boro. I'm here at MTSU due to the great and sturdy science program, for I am a Chemistry major. Why I'm on this planet, well, I'm still trying to figure that part out, along with a bunch of other things.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy to me has always been one of those things that are beyond surface level. I've always been encouraged to think about why we do things/things happen, rather than just to know why A causes B. To dive into philosophy, you have to break the surface and go deeper, you won't find out why without asking yourself why. On a personal level, developing your mindset carries philosophical value. My personal favorite is having a strong cut of Stoicism. Roll with the punches, keep your head high, and don't complain. That's always stuck out to me.
You've hit on a couple of fundamental distinctions in western philosophy, Austin: appearance/reality, and causes/reasons. What's real and true vs. illusory and false (or "fake")... What explains events & actions vs. what justifies them...
DeleteStoicism is indeed a philosophy for our time, and maybe all times. I prefer the variant known as Stoic Pragmatism, which says don't complain UNLESS complaining leads to constructive action that fixes what's broken.
Christopher Walker-Reinecke --- Section 8
ReplyDeleteHello! My name is above but you can just call me Chris for short. I am 22 years old and I am just starting my second semester as a Freshman at MTSU (I joined the Air Force out of high school).
I am here at MTSU because I've always wanted to be a pilot, so I have come here for MTSU's pilot program. I don't think anybody knows the truth as to why they are existing (If there is a truth). The only thing I know is that I am existing at a point in spacetime, and that have the ability to define my own reasons why I am where I am. So I might as well pick a purpose and pursue it.
A philosophy should be a set of guidelines or a framework that you can reference to help you go throughout life. I think a philosophy should tackle existential questions and help cope with existence. A philosophy should also help build a constructive mindset.
I do not have a favorite philosophy or philosopher, I'd prefer to create my own.
I do not have a personalized philosophy either however, I have some ideas and I would like to create one but that might take a very long time.
It shouldn't take longer than, say, 14 weeks. Let's make that one of the purposes you pick & pursue this semester.
DeleteHey Chris! You replied to my comment and asked about trading.
DeleteI started learning about trading in 10th grade so it's been 4 years now. I only became successful in June of this year though lol
I do pattern day trading and trade gappers. I've also got another account where I do long term investing. I'm up 40% day trading and 65% long term investing in about 7 months and 4 months respectively.
How about you?
Hello, my name in Kassidy. I live in Murfreesboro. I am currently living in an apartment, but will soon be moving in a house with my fiancé. I am living in Tennessee, because my family moved years ago, and I never wanted to move back to Michigan. Why am I in this class, it is because it is required for my degree. Philosophy to me is a class that I am required to take. I have never taken a philosophy class before. I do not have a favorite philosophy or a favorite philosophy.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see if we can get you a favorite (or two) by April.
DeleteHello, My name is Kallie. I currently live in Johnson City, but I will be moving to Gallatin very soon with my fiancé. I am in section 7. I am at MTSU because I was looking for a new place for life and a new major and this is where I ended up. I have decided to take philosophy because I needed a fine arts class and philosophy sounded the most interesting. I am not sure exactly what philosophy means to me, but if I had to say what it meant to me it would be that philosophy is something that is central to who you are as a person. I am not exactly sure what my philosophy would be.
ReplyDeleteI taught in Johnson City for a year in the early '90s, right before moving back to Nashville and marrying. What pretty country!
DeleteWe academic philosophers don't normally think of ourselves as in the "fine arts," not at least in the primary sense:
1. "creative art, especially visual art whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content."
The secondary meaning comes closer:
2. "an activity requiring great skill or accomplishment."
But I always say that we're ALL philosophers, skillful or otherwise. One goal of our course is to all become at least a bit more skillful at articulating our personal philosophies, our sense of what it means to think and act with wisdom. ("Philo" + "sophia" in Greek means the love of wisdom.)
Hey, my name is Joshua Flowers. I am originally from Charlotte, NC and initially came to Tennessee for college. I attended Trevecca, a small private Christian university in Nashville, for two years before transferring to MTSU in Fall 2019. I am at MTSU studying Music Theory and Composition. I enrolled in this class because it is required for my degree, and it sounded like one of the more interesting options. To me, philosophy means one's outlook on life and the driving force behind why they function the way they do. It is their mindset and their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian and that is the driving force behind the way that I live. I believe that Jesus Christ died on a cross, resurrected three days later and in turn brought the opportunity of salvation to all people. I believe that my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ and that by knowing Him deeper, I will in turn know myself and my purpose on this earth. My purpose as a Christian is to be a light in this world, share the gospel and spread the love of Jesus Christ to all people I come into contact with. I believe that He has given me musical gifts so that I may use those gifts to tell stories through music and add something good to the "soundtrack" of the world. I am currently working towards a career as a film composer and musical artist.
Lastly, I want to say that I am trying to become who I was created to be and take ownership of that. Being a Christian doesn't mean that I have everything figured out or know all of the answers to life's hardest question. Even as a Christian I have plenty of questions, but for me that is where my faith in Christ comes in. There are parts of the Bible I am still seeking to understand and I still have tons of learning to do. So, I am simply trying to become a man that is grounded in faith, I am trying to be the best musician/artist I can be, and I want to be someone who adds light to the world by loving those around me.
Hello, Everyone. I am turner Wood and I am in my second semester as a freshman here at MTSU.
ReplyDeleteI am originally from Durham, North Carolina and have lived there all my life. But having moved to Tennessee it has become a new and interesting challenge being so far from home. In my free time I am normally hanging out with friends or riding my longboard around campus. The majortiy of my interests include anything with cars, I grew up in a car family and have been around them working on them all my life.
I live in a house with my dad and his wife. My mom passed away in 2009 due to ovarian cancer when I was 7 years old. Who I am internally has been mainly forged because of her passing. I had always been a Christian and gone to church, but I never really understood it or got what the Preacher was trying to tell me. It wasn't until a few years after my mom passed that I really understood why I was here. Ironically, the anger I felt towards God and the questions I had brought me closer to Him. I then made the decision to get confirmed into my church when U was 14 and joined a YoungLife group study.
As to why I am here on earth, I don't know if anyone truly understands why they are here. The gentleman above me, Joshua Flowers, put it beautifully by saying, "My purpose as a Christian is to be a light in this world, share the gospel and spread the love of Jesus Christ to all people I come into contact with." That is all I can do for now until I understand what I am here for later in life.
As to why I am in philosophy class is mainly because my major required it. I had a few philosophy classes at my high school but no too many to have a favorite philosopher or personalized philosophy. Maybe I do have a philosophy but just don't know what it is.
I am excited to learn in this class next semester and see what it has to offer!
Thanks for sharing your story man, and I am sorry to hear that you lost your mother. I am glad that you were able to grow closer to God despite the heartache and loss you experienced. That's encouraging! Also, I am glad that what I said stuck out to you. If you don't have a church you regularly attend, you should check the Experience Community Church and the college ministry called Evident. That's where I attend.
DeleteGood to welcome you Carolinians to class, one of my best pals teaches at Western Carolina.
DeleteI understand that religious faith is a great consolation for loss and heartache, for many; also that others find it hard or impossible to square the idea of divine providence with all that happens in our world. The problem of evil/suffering brings that difference of perspective into focus, we'll discuss it later.
Personally, I have a problem with the idea of my purpose in life being something already assigned or instilled into me by a supernatural creator... or maybe it's more I have a problem seeing how such a purpose would be truly mine. It sounds akin to saying that a puppet's purpose is to dance at the end of a string pulled my an external force: that's the literally-correct description of a puppet, not (surely) of a free human agent capable of fashioning his/her identity in the world. But that opens another can of philosophical worms, free will vs. determinism. Hope y'all are here for those conversations.
I am definitely open to those conversations. Also, I want to clarify that I am in section 8 of this course.
DeleteHI
ReplyDeleteMy name is Prophetess Turner and I am in section 4 of this class.
I am in my junior year of college studying Film and Video Production with a minor in writing. After I graduate, I plan on coming back to school and majoring in computer science. I was born and spent some time in West TN, but I have been living in Middle TN since i was about 6.
I find vocalizing who I am to be a bit difficult because I have interests in a large range of things. I can't define me, I just simply know what I like and what I don't.
I am here in this class because I really enjoy listening and reading about the way that others view life. I like conversation that doesn't necessarily lead to a right or wrong answer, but rather a larger point of view. I saw that many responses tackled why we are here on Earth. I am a Christian as well, and while part of me believes we are here because its our destiny, another half of me flirts with the idea that in the grand scheme of things this existence is a bit pointless. I don't say this in a pessimistic way, but rather I mean that when stuff hits the fan in my life my first response to stress is always " we're gonna die anyway." and that comforts me.
I can't really say I know how to define philosophy, but I do believe it is used as a comfort because at the end of the day all of our minds wander and entertain notions as to why we believe we are here. Some turn to faith and some of turn to books, but we are all searching.
As for a personal philosophy, I don't really have one. I wake up each day and try to do my best and be kind.
I don't have a favorite philosopher, but one of my favorite artists SZA stated in her song Good Days that "half of us chasin fountains of youth and their in the present." I like this view. It reminds me to be grateful and entirely in each moment I live, so I guess thats my favorite bit of philosophy :)
hello!! I am also a fan of SZA and that line stuck out to me to in good days!I kinda agree/disagree with the pointless part. I think even the smaller parts of life can account to something big and even greater :)
DeleteYou're the first Prophetess I've met (I'll bet you get that a lot)... but on Thursday we'll talk about the famous Delphic Oracle who said Socrates was the wisest Athenian.
ReplyDelete"We're gonna die anyway" doesn't exactly "comfort" me, but it does put things in perspective. It reminds me that I need to get on with doing whatever I'm going to do, our ground time here (as the poet said) is brief.
Everyone who is "searching" is a philosopher, and those who are searching beyond their comfort zones are good ones.
Philosophy is not always a comfort, sometimes it's experienced more as a curse or an affliction. But Socrates seemed comforted by the thought that truth could not be executed, and tried to comfort his friends and followers with that thought. Boethius famously wrote of "the consolation of philosophy" in his prison cell, awaiting execution. I think of it (following William James) as simply "an unusually stubborn attempt to think clearly." Come to think of it, clarity CAN be a comfort.
Waking up each day and doing your best, and being kind, sounds to me like at least the beginning of a solid personal philosophy. As Kurt Vonnegut Jr. wrote, addressing our newest citizens:
“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
And persistent gratitude, in a world that so often invites regret, is a solid personal philosophy too.
Hey, my name is Koltin McCrary. I am a freshman here at MTSU and my major is pre-law right now, but that could change. Right now after I graduate I plan on passing the bar test and going to law school, but like I said this could likely change. I am in section 8 of this class. I think philosophy is different ideas from different people that makes sense to a select amount of people that choose to believe in it. I do not have a favorite philosopher , unless religion falls into the philosophy category, I hope to learn if it does in this course, as I do not know much about the subject, but I would like to learn more.
ReplyDeleteI am actually in section 7 of this course.
DeletePhilosophy and religion have in common their origin in humans' sense of wonder, curiosity, and confusion. They diverge when people dogmatically assert that they already know it all and have nothing left to wonder about: good philosophers try to keep the wonder alive, they remain curious and open to new perspectives. Dogmatists, whether religious or not, are those who've stopped wondering about and listening to other views.
DeleteHey, my name is Dylan Love. I am a sophomore here at MTSU and I am a Pre Vet Major. I am originally from Knoxville, TN. Philosophy to me is the study of basically who, what, when, where, and why, if that makes sense. Currently I do not have a favorite Philosopher but hopefully I have one in mind after this class. Looking forward to this semester even though it is online.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a vet.
DeleteEspecially WHY...
Hey, my name is Jacob Malugin. im from Columbia TN where I have lived my entire life. I have been to all 48 continental US states and to Cuba. I am a avid weight lifter and video gamer on my free time. my dream is to become a practicing lawyer and to attain a level of finical freedom in my life. I am here because I have always been in intrigued by philosophy and wished to learn more and it is also a requirement for my degree. As why I am on earth, that I cannot answer until my time here is done and the answer is revealed.
ReplyDeleteCONT. My favorite philosopher is Socrates. While my own personal philosophy is "Failure is the product of effort"
DeleteAnd effort can be the product of failure too, right? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get back on the horse that threw you...
DeleteBut what if there's no post-mortem revelation? I've always thought I'd better ask my questions on this side of paradise.
My name is Patrick and I am here to be happy and to make those around me happy. I think philosophy is the way we try to explain things and solve problems using all the knowledge available to us. My favorite philosopher is Lao Tzu. I chose this ancient Chinese philosopher because he is the founder of Taoism, a traditional Chinese religion that focuses on balance and simplicity. My personal philosophies are very similar to the Taoist principles of having patience and going with the flow of things. We could all benefit from being a little more humble and compassionate in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you again, Patrick.
DeleteI agree, there's much to admire in the Taoist "way"... especially Wu Wei -- though I've not yet figured out how action can be effortless, I do appreciate the appealing paradox of "trying not to try" and going with the flow. But as a pragmatic philosopher I also see the value in contributing to the flow and collaboratively making an effort to channel it. Anyway, there's much wisdom in the Tao of Pooh.
What's up everybody. My name is James Currie but I go by Adam(my middle name). I'm a transfer student from Nashville State. I am here to get a career. From what I understand philosophy is understanding the meaning of life, morals of people, maybe a group of people outside asking each other questions. I don't have a favorite philosopher due to my lack of knowledge of all the philosopher's and their beliefs. I guess my philosophy is to see things as they are whether or not they follow what you thought to be true.
ReplyDelete"I am here to get a career" -- good, but college offers so much more than just a career. Don't cheat yourself. Get an education and a disposition to learn for the rest of your life, while you're here getting your career, too.
DeleteHello everyone. My name is Brandon, I'm 26 years old and originally from Cincinnati. I've been to a few interesting places, mostly outside of the US. I enjoy riding my motorcycle and playing guitar.
ReplyDeleteHow did I end up in the middle of Tennessee? I ask myself this daily. growing up I went straight to work after high school because I was unsure about taking out loans for college as I did not have a major in mind. I also did not want to stay where I grew up so I decided on a whim to move to Nashville. I got into trades and currently work as a carpenter full time for tailored living in Nashville. I enrolled at age 24 into the ISA program at MTSU. I'm in this class because I assumed I could take away some insight from this course.
"Tailored living" means you help people get organized, right? Get their clutter sorted? Simplify their material lives, like Thoreau advised?: “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” Maybe you can help me, after glimpsing my office on Zoom?
DeleteI think I particularly enjoy philosophy because of the variety of views and lack of judgement. While others may not agree with me and I may not agree with others, in philosophy, this serves as the purpose. Our views are to be challenged. I am excited to learn from Dr. Oliver, but I am also equally excited to learn from my fellow classmates. I look forward to hearing your views on subjects throughout the duration of this course and to share mine with you. Best of luck to you all in the remainder of this semester.
ReplyDeleteI was having difficulties posting and it seems my discussion has cut off the first part. I will attach the beginning of my post below:
DeleteHi all, my name is Morgan and I am currently residing in Murfreesboro to attend MTSU. I am enrolled in section 4 of this course. I made the decision to disembark on somewhat of a spiritual journey in hopes of finding more of an explanation to the posed question of why I am here. Of course, most of us are probably here (in this specific course) to fulfill a degree requirement, but the question of why we are physically here is one that I was pondering on for quite some time. Somewhere along my journey, I made my way to the jungle to partake in an Ayahuasca retreat. For those who are not familiar, Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that has been used in indigenous cultures for years and is most commonly consumed in an attempt to discover the meaning of life.
In my experience, I stayed with a shaman for seven days and was able to learn about other philosophical views in shamanism and other indigenous cultures, such as the Shipibo. I was able to learn about their views and found it to be quite interesting. Within one of my ceremonies, I came to terms with the fact that I am not here to fulfill a great purpose. I am here to be present in the moment and my most important takeaway was to stop seeking out an answer and to instead, just be. Upon my realization that I do not require an explanation for my existence, I felt free and have taken on a more optimistic outlook on life. I was able to free myself from the anxiety I had been carrying for years that was caused by seeking out an explanation to everything and pondering upon questions that simply did not have an answer. I would have to agree with Charlie Brown’s sister, in her philosophical statement of, “No.” While I understand the desire to discover answers, I now cannot help but ask why we need an answer to begin with. While I understand the appeal of having answers, I also believe that there are too many opinions and outlooks on life to agree upon a fact. This does not mean that I am not open to hearing about these different outlooks and expanding my knowledge on the matter.
Fascinating, Morgan. Learning from one another, assuming we can learn something from everyone and at least ought to be open to that possibility, is exactly what James meant by the pluralistic form of philosophy, "the philosophy of 'co'..."
DeleteAnd doubly fascinating, the shamanistic retreat. I'm reminded of Michael Pollan's account of his similar experience in "How to Change Your Mind"...
"I am here to be present in the moment and my most important takeaway was to stop seeking out an answer and to instead, just be" -- Presentism is the view that only the present is real. I don't believe that, but I do agree that attending to the moments of our lives is one of the "secrets" of happy living. (See the comment above re: taoism.) And as a philosopher I can't renounce "seeking out answers" but I do recognize that the quest for THE meaning of life is probably futile (see Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, when the philosophers ask the Deep Thought mega-computer for the answer to "the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything"...but never specify what the question actually IS, and thus cannot comprehend THE ANSWER)...
Thanks for such a thoughtful introduction!
Hi, my name is Akol and I am currently a Freshman at MTSU in my second semester there and my major is Computer Engineering Technology. I live in Nashville, Tennessee and I commute from home to MTSU everyday that I have classes on campus. I'm originally from Des Moines, Iowa but I moved to Nashville, Tennessee and lived here for 17 years since I was 2 years old in 2004, so I guess I lived here for a pretty long time. I chose to go to MTSU because when I was in high school, I heard a lot of good things about this University and the very good academic majors you could study in this school, especially majors that offer the study of Technology. In my opinion, I think that Philosophy is a topic that includes the way people study about the existence of how well things are known, how real important things are, and how well things exist in the first place, especially when Philosophy is seen as a way people can academically discipline themselves. Although I have learned about philosophers throughout the time I have been in school before I started college, I never took the time to choose a favorite philosopher. A summarized personal philosophy is doing no harm and striving for success because I know that it's a good thing if you obtain the victory that you want on your own and not a "victory" that comes at someone else’s expense that won’t get you closer to becoming a person you’d be proud of.
ReplyDeleteA Hippocratic ("do no harm") philosophy, combined with a resolve not to succeed at the expense of others' failure, is noble!
DeleteHello, my name is Sydney. I am currently a junior at MTSU as an animation student. I honestly don't have any idea on philosophy other then i believe its something about how people view and think of the world. I'm taking this class as a gen ed to help space out my lab classes.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Richard Linklater's great animated philosophy film "Waking Life"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2DeTet98o
DeleteI'm in section 7 as well. Thank you!
DeleteHi, I am Karson Hamlin. I am a Freshman at MTSU, and I am a psychology major. I am 18. I enjoy making music, drawing, and playing games.
ReplyDeleteI am taking this class because I want to be a family counselor. I just thought that it would be a good idea to understand how and why people think in certain ways. I think that philosophy will help me understand how and why people think the way they do.
I think Philosophy is the study of why people think the way they do. I don't have a favorite philosopher, and I haven't developed my own Philosophy yet.
It's an interesting question, philosophically, why people think as they do. Behavioral psychologists approach that question more from an external perspective, I think, viewing individuals as exemplars of something general and impersonal. Philosophers who respect personal subjectivity, though, will want to know why people think as they do from their own perspective.
DeletePeace, My name is Vernon and I am a business and computer information systems major who is here because it required for me to complete my major and get my degree. I thought that maybe this would be a great opportunity to help develop a different way of thinking and gain another perspective in life. I think philosophy is the mental expression of things that cannot be explained through physical expression. At the moment I do not have have a favorite philosopher so I may have one or a few when this class is finished. My philosophy in life is that humility is very necessary for our lives. We need it. We can thrive better as a society if we had more humility. When I say this I do not mean this In the sense of embarrassment but more so in the sense of discomfort and vulnerability. We need it because it breeds trust and understanding. I allows for growth and interpersonal communication. We need it because humility cannot exist at the same time as ego.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, humility breeds humanity. Haven't seen a lot of that on display in our public life the last few years.
DeleteIf your interested in the group chat to keep up with this class please join this link for
ReplyDeletegroup-me: https://groupme.com/join_group/65835893/9APtD4Lo
I'd just ask that you not do the group chat during class. People think they can multi-task, but end up zoning out of huge chunks of discussion while reading and composing texts. That, btw, is why I disabled the chat function on zoom: people were abusing it, talking about everything BUT the course. During class!
Delete
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Graham Anglin and I am a senior chemistry major here at MTSU. Like the majority of people on this earth, I do not know why I am here or what my purpose is. These unknown principles has led me to take this intro to philosophy class to gain different perspectives of philosophy from peers as well as professor Oliver. I believe that philosophy is mainly how you see the world and interpret things that happen in your life. As far as having a favorite philosopher I would have to say I have none since my overall general knowledge of philosophy is about as limited as it gets; however, I try to look at the world through a more optimistic stoic perspective as I have found that to help me be less stressed while accomplishing the goals I need to accomplish. I find that not worrying about things out of your immediate control and focusing on the things you can have a direct impact on can save yourself from added frustration. That being said I look forward to hearing and reading different perspectives into how other people see the world.
Stoicism doesn't always seem optimistic, but the pragmatic version of stoicism is at least melioristic - which to me is better than either optimism or pessimism, and does indeed prevent a lot of pointless "added frustration."
DeleteHi class, my name is Caitlin Warner and I am a 27 year old sophomore here at MTSU. My husband and I just moved here from Washington state after both of us had just separated from the Air Force. There are several reasons that I am here at MTSU, one of those being my dream to become a social worker. However, we picked MTSU because of the location (we love Nashville) and due to the pilot program flying lessons being covered by the GI bill at this University. The reason behind why I am in your classroom is not only because my major required it, but also that I would love to learn more about this to area of study.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I do not know that much about philosophy. I know that Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions, but beyond that I don’t. However, it has always been a topic I have been extremely interested in, and look forward to learning so much more during this semester!
My sister is a social worker... and I wish I'd learned to fly when I was 20-something. (But I'm glad I didn't join the military to pay for lessons, I just missed draft eligibility during Vietnam-a thoroughly immoral war, on our part, in my opinion.)
DeleteHello, my name is Haley Flanagan and I'm a psychology major. I minor in sociology and I'm working to minor in fashion merchandising as well. I'm here for this class because I learned that philosophy is the building blocks of psychology. I also just have a genuine interest in philosophy so I wanted to take this class. I think of philosophy as one's own view of life, or how an individual justifies getting through each day. As for my favorite philosopher, I can't name only one off the top of my head, but I do have a few that I like. I like the philosopher Diogenes, for his quote "In a rich man's house, there is no place to spit but in his face." Though a bit negative I find this quite funny. I also like my mother's philosophy, "Never do anything that will get you in jail." My own personal philosophy is to simply "ramble on" quoted from the Led Zeppelin song. No matter what happens each day, I have to keep going, not just for my own sake, but for everyone else's. This song happens to reference the Lord of the Rings, my favorite book series. So no matter how small or insignificant my daily tasks, I treat them as part of a greater scheme of progressing through day to day to ultimately reach my goals, even if I don't know what they are yet. I think it's important to keep going, no matter how hard it is.
ReplyDeleteDiogenes was a rude dude. Check out the cartoon in which he hurts Plato's feelings! https://existentialcomics.com/comic/219
Delete"Ramble on" could be a peripatetic anthem! (My best man sent me a picture of himself and JP Jones in a bar in Amsterdam not too long ago.)
Did you ever see Robert Altman's film "Nashville," featuring a country song called "Keep a'goin"? THere's another good anthem for you.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mark Broekhuizen, I am in section 4 and I live about 40 mins away from Murfreesboro in Mount Juliet. I am here because MTSU was my first choice originally, but I ended up going to UTC. I did not enjoy it there, so I transferred here to MTSU to continue my college experience. I view Philosophy as the way people view the world and other people's interpretations of the world. Many people view situations very differently and can all compare their different views. I guess I would say my favorite philosopher is Socrates because he is the only one that I can name of the top of my head lol. I live by my personal philosophy of an eye for an eye, meaning if I help you, I expect some help back when I need it.
Our daughter had a similar experience, starting at UTC. Chattanooga's a fun place, though. I love walking that pedestrian bridge over the river, breakfasting at Aretha Frankenstein's...
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ReplyDeleteI am Carter Barnett, I was born and raised in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am a big fan of sports and I have spent a lot of time playing and coaching basketball and volleyball.
ReplyDeleteI am at MTSU for a couple reasons, probably the most important being I hate the cold, and living in Minnesota was full of it. Another reason is I have family in and around Nashville, so it’s nice to have dinner with them every once in a while. Lastly, MTSU is one of few Colleges that has their economics major as part of their business college, which will allow me to have more versatility in my career choices.
Philosophy to me is just a word for broader thinking. I don’t have a favorite philosopher although. My personal philosophy is “Loading” I have this word tattooed on me and to me it means to set goals, to reach those goals and then to continue setting goals. This allows me to keep growing as a person and never be satisfied.
#8
DeleteI agree about goals and Loading. One of my favorite cartoons features a guy holding a sign that says "The end is near," while another says "Yes, but what are your goals?"
DeleteMy name is Pai Shan Ning. I was born in Myanmar, but was raised in Malaysia. I came to Nashville, Tennessee five years ago, and have been living here since then. I am a freshman in pre-nursing at MTSU. I work part time at a retail store while going to school, so I don't really have time to do any extracurricular, but I try to stay active in the little time I get. I usually go hiking or running. For me, growing up as a Buddhist played a big part for my interest in Philosophy. People are always arguing whether Buddha was a philosopher or not, and I believe he was. I wouldn't really say I have a favorite philosopher, but my favorite quote is by Guatama Buddha, "You only lose what you cling to."
ReplyDeleteFrom section 008.
DeleteBuddhism is definitely a philosophy, as we'll encounter it in How the World Thinks.
DeleteThat's a good quote. But I'm still expecting to suffer loss in life, as I already have, because I'm never going to stop "clinging" (though I prefer the term "attaching") to loved ones (including humans, canines, some books and authors and musicians and foods and other sources of delight that make me smile and make life worth living. So I guess I'd be a bad Buddhist, while still appreciating "loving kindness" and mindfulness and such.
Hey guys my name is Jacob I'm from Nashville, TN, specifically from the Hermitage area. I am currently pursuing a major in Business management, focusing on supply chain and getting a minor in Japanese. I want to travel and teach English in countries expanding kids and including my own communication and cultural understanding to connect and understand each other better. But I only see myself doing that for so long id like to be able to come back to America and pursue a career in business specifically supply chain so I can better source materials ethically and earth mindful.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy to me is finding the reason why and how we should do things. My favorite philosopher is Empedocles his philosophy of the four elements and love and strife creating all objects in the universe was very interesting from his work "on nature" that still hasn't been fully found. His life was a mystery his whole life is just a enigma. My own philosophy I cant quite tell what my own philosophy but I see many of my values in eastern philosophy and also Aristotle's work Nicomachean Ethics particularly book 5 in which he talks about what is justice.
section 7
DeleteCOntrary to popular legend, Empedocles evidently did NOT end his life in strife by leaping into Mount Aetna. Too bad, it's a great story.
DeleteMy name is Chris I am in section #7. I relocated to Murfreesboro three years ago with my family, and wanted to start a new chapter in my life. I applied to MTSU in hopes to earn a degree in Plant and Soil Science and I am well on my way. I do not have a favorite philosopher but one of my favorite poets is James Douglas Morrison and he studied Nietzsche. That is about the extent of my knowledge. I am looking forward to learning more about philosophy.
ReplyDeleteJim Morrison, you mean, of The Doors? Like many great romantic poets before him, he didn't make it to thirty. Sad, for him and for us.
DeleteMy name is Patrick. I am in section 8 of this course. I am a freshman and am majoring in economics. I plan to be an attorney and want to use my economics major to be something like a financial analyst or advisor if being an attorney does not work out. I think Philosophy is asking why instead of just going about things without care or because you are told or taught not to question it. My simple philosophy would be to keep doing your best.
ReplyDeleteYou know what Harry Truman said about needing a one-armed economist? -Because they're always saying "on the other hand" etc.
DeleteHowdy, I'm Porter. I am here because I needed a credit and this sounded like the most interesting class to choose. I thought philosophy was studying how and why things happened the way they did, but after class today I realized that is not entirely correct. I definitely do not have a personal philosophy, but I feel I might after this semester.
ReplyDeleteSection 4
DeleteSorry just realized I'm section #7 not #4.
DeleteWhy and how, but especially WHY, is definitely a big part of it.
DeleteHello, my name is Paroh and I'm here at MTSU as a nursing student and because it is close to home. My family moved around middle TN a bit when I was younger but finally settled in Murfreesboro when I was starting middle school.
ReplyDeleteI joined this course (section 7) because I have always loved hearing how other people viewed the world and I have always found philosophical conversations to be more interesting. I think philosophy is a great way to see how different people view different aspects of life and can be quite interesting.
I don't have a favorite philosopher or a philosophy of my own at the moment, but I'm sure that will change in the future.
Hello My name is Rebecca Kumar and I am a sophomore at MTSU. I enjoying reading and spending time with my friends. My major is Biochemistry because science seems really interesting to me. I lived in Middle Tennessee for most of my life and MTSU has a great science program, so I chose MTSU.
ReplyDeleteI've never really thought about philosophy other than the popular question, "What is the meaning of life?" I don't have a favorite philosopher and quote, but I'm always open to learn and hopefully in the end, I will have a favorite philosopher.
I prefer meaningS, in the plural. Surely there's more than one.
DeleteI am in Section 8
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Justin Curry. I'm here because I am really interested in learning about philosophy and expanding my horizon on it. I think Philosophy has to do with how things came about in this world and why things are the way they are. I do not have a favorite philosopher in which I am very new to this.
ReplyDeleteOriginally, before the natural sciences got going, philosophy included natural philosophy... and thus was indeed about "how things came about" etc. Most philosophers nowadays cede most of that territory to the empirical sciences, and turn instead to clarifying concepts, constructing and deconstructing arguments, taking up questions of value and ethics etc. But the philosophy of science still focuses on how we can rationally know and relate to the natural world of which we are part.
DeleteHello! My name is Gracie Sizemore in class section number 4 ,I'm from Birmingham Alabama and I am currently learning remotely this year. I am an interdisciplinary media studies major with two main concentrations in visual communications and video and film production. I am here because one of my favorite shows, "The Good Place" had a plot line that had to do with the creative use of ethics and philosophy. In the show they discussed John Locke's Theory of Personal Identity, which caught my attention very easily. The quote that I like a lot is "The wave returns to the ocean, where it came from, and where it's supposed to be" from William Jackson Harper. I do not have a favorite philosopher yet, but will probably have one in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteI've finally come around to appreciating The Good Place. Had to get over my aversion to Ted Danson. But they did actually have professional philosoper-consultants on that show, and it shows.
DeleteHey everyone, I'm Liam, and I'm currently majoring in electro-mechanical engineering. I'm originally from the suburbs of Chicago, and moved to TN right after high school with my band to pursue a recording deal with a local studio. I'm a musician mostly, but I like to also build and repair my own equipment so that's why I chose to pursue a degree in that field. In my past-time I like to enjoy other forms of art, mostly books, and I've always loved reading books concerning different viewpoints of the meaning of life, religion, politics, etc. and spend a lot of my time educating myself on philosophical views from around the world and throughout history. I don't really have a favorite philosopher, though if I had to pick it would be Albert Camus. I'm in section 8 of this course, and i'm super excited to learn more about philosophy formally.
ReplyDeleteLotsa fun Camus-inspired Sisyphus cartoons on the internet, particularly for a guy who said the ultimate philosphical question was that of suicide. Fortunately he comes out against it, saying Sisyphus must have been happy pushing that stone.
DeleteI am in section 7
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Marim Sameer. I am currently majoring in biochemistry. Since I was younger my dad would bond with me through math and science. Those were always his favorite and best subjects. He would always call on me to sit with him for hours trying to help expand my learning for math and science. He saw it as a way to bond with me and spend time especially since there is a language barrier between us. My family and I came here from Egypt ever since I was young. For that reason I was able to adapt to the American environment quickly. I quickly began to pick up English more than I did Arabic. My dad got to the point were he enforced that I could only speak Arabic around him just so I wouldn't lose my culture. Honestly, I chose this class mainly because I feel as though it would help me challenge my thinking. I feel as though philosophy is the study of looking at why things are the way they are from a different angle. Not a scientific one. I also feel as though it would be your take on life. My person philosophy would be to strive for happiness and take every opportunity that comes your way
ReplyDeleteSorry for posting multiple times. It was showing me it did not publish
I agree: striving for happiness is in our nature, though some cultures discourage it. Aristotle agreed also, happiness (flourishing, eudaimonia) is the one thing we pursue for its own sake, not instrumentally for something else.
DeleteHello, my name is Kendall Perssico. I am in section 4. I am originally from Nashville, but my family moved to Cookeville,TN in May 2020. I am a psychology major and very interested in how the mind works. Some of my hobbies are music and working out. I am taking philosophy to fulfill my requirements for gen ed. However, I chose philosophy because I want to expand my mind and become a more intellectual thinker. I do not currently have a favorite philosopher but hope to by the end of this semester.
ReplyDeletePsychology was part of philosophy, before William James literally wrote the book (Principles of Psychology) on it.
DeleteWho are you?
ReplyDeleteI am Urielle Umutoni. I am Congolese, Rwandan, and American. I am a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend, a student, and a soldier.
Why are you here?
I am here in this class because a friend recommend it to me. I am here in the states because my sister was sick when she was young and needed medical attention. My mother and sister came first and a year and some months, my father said it is best for the family to be together. I am here in this world because my parents created me and I am just living life the best way I know how.
What do you think Philosophy is?
I believe Philosophy is a sophisticated version of the why game. I enjoy philosophy because it pushes people to explore more than the surface answer. In high school I took a class called The Theory of Knowledge. I appreciated the class because it pushes me to question and understand the ways of knowing (emotion, sense perception, reason, and language) and the areas of knowledge (mathematics, natural sciences, human sciences, history, the arts, and ethics). I learned a lot in that class and I hope learn more in this class.
Do you have a favorite philosopher?
No, I do not have a favorite philosopher.
Do you have an easily-summarized personal philosophy?
I don't believe I do.
I am in section 4 class
DeleteI like the way you identify yourself relationally (daughter, sister, cousin...) instead of hyper-individualistically, the way so many of us do.
DeleteHi! I'm Matthew Wells from section 8. I'm a computer science major (although I'm learning it's probably not what I want to do for the rest of my life) and a senior looking to graduate in the fall. I enjoy playing games, hiking, art, and generally just trying new things. I'm from Franklin TN and I've lived here since I was 5.
ReplyDeleteI'm here because of a gen ed requirement, but I'm in philosophy specifically because I find philosophical thinking absolutely fascinating. The idea of answering all of these life questions in this unique way of human expression is just really cool, and as someone that spends a lot of time thinking to myself, I can relate fairly well.
Philosophy to me is this innate sense of principles that we have but cannot always express in words. It's our attitude towards life, how we approach obstacles, and how we work within the bigger picture of society and our universe as a whole.
I don't have a favorite philosopher since in all honesty, I haven't read many philosophical texts. However, that James quote from class today where he said that not everything can be explained in words really resonated with me. I feel like there are a lot of things I have a good understanding of, but am unable to concretely explain to other people unless they also already understand that feeling. I'm excited to dive more into that mindset this semester.
If I were to summarize my personal philosophy, I'd say that my ultimate core value as a person is the freedom of choice. I want everyone to be able to live life and be themselves as much as they can be without harming others. We only have one life on Earth, so it's very important to me that everyone gets a chance to make it count.
In terms of universal philosophy, I'd say that I believe that life has no ultimate meaning, but in a positive way. In other words, life itself is the meaning, and living your own life as your best self is the best path towards fulfillment. I don't think there's necessarily a formula for the best life you can live, and I think that idea of a "good life" comes from within yourself and your own personal motivations, using your fullest potential to do great things.
"I want everyone to be able to live life and be themselves as much as they can be without harming others"-so maybe John Stuart Mill will turn out to be your favorite?
DeleteHi, my name is Raegan Faught. I'm from here in Murfreesboro and I'm a freshman. Currently I'm majoring in Journalism and I aspire to work for a news organization in the future. I chose to take this course because I've never fully understood what exactly philosophy is. Whenever we've discussed it in past classes I've brushed it off as I thought it seemed very complicated. But i would like to step out of my comfort zone and learn more about the topic. With that being said I think that philosophy is studying the human thought and our existence (or like the reasoning behind our actions). I don't have a personal philosophy. Hopefully I'll have one by the end of the semester!
ReplyDelete"I know that you, ladies and gentlemen, have a philosophy, each and all of you, and that the most interesting and important thing about you is the way in which it determines the perspective in your several worlds. You know the same of me... the philosophy which is so important in each of us is not a technical matter; it is our more or less dumb sense of what life honestly and deeply means. It is only partly got from books; it is our individual way of just seeing and feeling the total push and pressure of the cosmos." Wm James, Pragmatism lec.1
DeleteHello! My name is Ashley Wagner, I am in section 4 and a freshman this year. My major is kinesiology; I hope to attend chiropractic school after my time at MTSU. My family moved to Murfreesboro from Michigan a little over a year ago. It hasn't always been easy, but I am slowly falling in love with this state. I am taking this class because it is required for my major, but I have always been interested in the subject. My brother is currently in graduate school earning his PhD in philosophy, so perhaps the curiosity for this concept is genetic. Despite my brothers vast knowledge, I myself know little about the matter. However, I think philosophy deals with existence, presence, and thoughts. I do not currently have a favorite philosopher, but I'm sure this will change in the next few weeks. Regarding my personal philosophy, I like to live by the notion that we should learn from our mistakes and failures rather than dwell on them.
ReplyDeleteI'm married to a chiropractor. (You'd think I'd be better adjusted...)
DeleteHi, legally my name is Jonathan but I prefer Joe. I'm from Tullahoma which is about 40 minutes south of here. I'm a freshman in the section 8 class. I'm currently taking the prerequisites for the audio production program with hopes of becoming a formal studio engineer. I've never been big on philosophy so I currently do not have a favorite philosopher. I would say I have a pretty simple personal philosophy as well.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ernest (Wayne) Jones. I am in my eighth year of retirement from the textile industry. My wife I celebrated our 50th anniversary this past July. I am a pastor of a small church in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This pasted January completed my 20th year as pastor. I have three children and nine grandchildren. I am currently a student at Huntsville Bible College. I am pursuing a bachelor degree in Pastoral Care. I hope to graduate this fall. Taking this class will help me achieve my goal.
ReplyDeleteI think Philosophy is the study of different world views from many different cultures. I do not have a favorite philosopher. My personal philosophy is to Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not on my own understanding. In everything I do I will acknowledge Him, and He will direct my path in life to help someone along the way.
We will agree to respectfully disagree, pastor, on the merits of leaning on one's own understanding. I follow the Enlightenment line of Immanuel Kant (who was a believing Christian, by the way) on that issue: "Sapere aude," he said (in Latin, in his influential essay "What is Enlightenment"), [dare to know, think for yourself], "have the courage to use your own intelligence is therefore the motto of the enlightenment." file:///home/chronos/u-17c1c2e5bf69858148a93a5c9f0d0dabbefd037d/MyFiles/Downloads/Kant_What_is_Enlightenment.pdf
DeleteHello, my name is Austin, I am in section 04. I come from a small Amish town in northern Indiana that no one has ever heard of. I am using my GI Bill to earn my education and give myself a better opportunity at a brighter future. My major is History, which is something I absolutely love! I hope to one day use the degree and education that I earn at MTSU and use it to work for historic sites or a national park! I have a pretty simple philosophy that I try to live by. Treat every human as if they are a human. To me, philosophy is human beings trying to understand concepts that were not created by another human. I look forward to learning more about philosophy and its rich history and to hopefully expand my understanding this crazy journey we call life!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in Missouri, I had the impression that "Hoosier" was some kind of slur. But then I learned that Indianans are proud of the moniker.
DeleteI love history too.
Philosophers actually try to understand all kinds of concepts, and on my view they were ALL (that we know of at least, so far) created by other humans. Who else around here is thinking conceptually? Not my dogs, I'm pretty sure.
My name is Ash Warner, I'm in section 7 and I'm a freshman here at MTSU, I've grown up in the Nashville area practically all through out grade school. I'm currently at MTSU because of how close it is to home while also getting the college experience. I'm currently in philosophy because the subject has always intrigued me I think philosophy is about expanding your mindset and changing your horizon. I do not have a favorite philosopher nor a favorite philosophy.
ReplyDeleteWe're not getting much of a "college experience" during the pandemic, alas... though I guess zoom is beginning to grow on me.
DeleteHi, my name is Aaron Byrd. I'm a sophomore here at MTSU and I'm a pro pilot major. I'm from Clinton, TN. I absolutely love the aerospace field, and I'm excited to see how I can apply what I learn in this class to that. I wouldn't consider myself a great philosopher, but I like to live by the saying "keep on keeping on" from the movie "Joe Dirt".
ReplyDeleteByrd is a great name for a pilot. I guess you've heard that once or twice before.
DeleteAnd "keep on keeping on" is something I always hope my pilot will do.
Posted for Chloe Guzowski (#4)-
ReplyDeleteHello! My name is Chloe Guzowski (yes, like Mike in Monster's Inc) and I am here at MTSU to major in Elementary Education to become a teacher. I am not quite sure how I found my way to this class, considering it is not necessary for my major, but I am excited. Currently I live in Knoxville but originally from Ohio so I call it "pop" not "soda" which gets on peoples nerves. One recent thing I picked up once college started was long-boarding which is something my friends and I do around campus every day. Based on the fact that I long-board, much can be assumed about me.
I used to play soccer for my entire childhood until I dislocated my knee in a very embarrassing way. Was then nicknamed "knee girl" for most of my senior year. I want to try to pick up sports again since college has given me more freedom and I am especially excited to learn ultimate frisbee and then form a dodgeball team once intramural start up.
I also own a Wii. :) and anyone who faces me in Just Dance will perish.
One philosophy that I like learning and talking about is anything regarding space and time. I love hearing other people’s theories because no one can truly be proven right or wrong so all the theories are just that. The possibility are endless. I have always found space interesting, I even took a few astronomy class in high school. Even though those were a lot more math than I bargained for, I learned a lot. In junior year I even joined the philosophy club at my school until everyone else jumped the ship and it fell apart.
I hope in this class we can discuss more about space and time and I can maybe grasp a standing on it all.
We sure can. As I think I mentioned, I credit Carl Sagan with introducing me to cosmic philosophy and drawing me to philosophical studies.
DeleteWe nominally have a philosophy club at mtsu, but lately it's fallen inactive. Let me know if you'd be interested in trying to revive it.
Hey, my name is Aalayis (Uh-lay-iss), and I'm in section 8. I moved to Murfreesboro a few years ago. Before that, I lived in Alabama and spent a year in Illinois. I'm studying nursing and taking this class as a Gen.Ed. requirement, but I'm really excited to take this class and learn about philosophy. I don't know much and don't have a favorite philosopher yet. But I started reading A Little History of Philosophy, and I already know my favorite isn't Plato. I wasn't raised with a religion, so I've just been looking around and keeping the philosophies/values that resonate with me. I also like psychology, so I'm interested to see how/if these studies connect. I believe I'm on Earth to think, experience life, and be happy.
ReplyDeleteSame here, re: Plato.
DeleteTo all who've said they're here for happiness, please consider taking my Philosophy of Happiness course in the Fall-on campus, let's hope!
Hey, my name is Nicholas Sellers but I go by Nick. I transferred to MTSU last semester to pursue a degree in Aeronautics. I am from Clinton Tennessee but I currently live a little bit outside of Nashville, about 40 minutes from campus.
ReplyDeleteI do not know much about Philosophy but I love learning new things and I like the debates that Philosophy can create. I think Philosophy is the way people think and act based off of what they think is right, similar to ethics.
Like I said, I do not know much about Philosophy so I am not too sure if I could have a favorite Philosopher. After doing a little bit of research, I would say that I am interested in learning about these philosophers and their ideas so that I can find and define what my philosophy is.
I am looking forward to all of the things that we will be learning in this class!
I am in section #7 for this class, if that is important. After reading some other replies, I realized I forgot to mention it. Thanks!
DeleteFunny how often people who volunteer their distance from campus say "about 40 miles" - me too.
DeleteHello, My Name is Andrew Little. I worked on my Computer Science degree for two years at Tennessee Tech and intend to finish my degree here. I am from Manchester Tennessee and currently about an hour away from campus.
ReplyDeleteI do not know too much about Philosophy , However I love having debates especially around similar topics such as Philosophy and Ethics with my friends as it is a common pastime for us.
I do not personally have a favorite Philosopher but I am hoping to change that by the end of this course.
I am not 100% certain that this counts as a personal Philosophy , but if I had to apply a personal belief to that category I would say this "If a project does not hold the safety of those who interact with it in high regard, it is doomed to fail"
Hello, my name is Ethan and I am a freshman pursuing a nursing degree. I live in Manchester (Bonnaroo), and I am taking this course as a gen ed requirement. My guess is that philosophy is a way to pose a question that forces the individual to consider new perspectives. I don’t know a lot about philosophy, and I can’t say that I have a favorite, but if I had to choose it would be “I think, therefore I am". I do not have a personal philosophy yet, and I look forward to hearing about different points of view within this class.
ReplyDeleteSo you're a Cartesian, eh? No offense, but...
DeleteMilan Kundera said "I think therefore I am" is the statement of an intellectual who underrates toothaches.
Hello, my name is Sean Duhig and I am a sophomore here at MTSU. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois but my time in the military has taken me all over place. I have never been one to feel comfortable staying in one place for very long and like to expand my horizons. I enjoy spending time in the outdoors and seeing as many hidden gems that this world has to offer as I can. This class peaked my interest in hopes that I will be able to open my mind to different view points and ways of thinking. Philosophy to me is something of a way thinking or a lifestyle, similar to how the Marines have a sort of philosophy of their own of superiority. One of my favorite quotes by General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, "We're surrounded. That simplifies the problem." may not necessarily be a philosophy but it does a good job of summarizing what Marines stood for.(Section 8)
ReplyDeleteSemper fi is also a marine philosophy, no?
DeleteHello, my name is Colby I am a sophomore in the concrete industry program. I'm from Shelbyville about 30 minutes away from campus. I am in section 8 of this course. I am taking this course for a gen ed. My guess is that philosophy is for people to see things in more than one perspective, and see the way other people think. I don't know much about philosophy and don't have my own philosophy. I am looking forward to this class and hoping to have my own philosophy and favorite philosopher by the end of the semester.
ReplyDeleteDo people in your program joke about "getting into concrete"?
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy name is William Turner and I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My father was in the military so we moved around a lot and that's how I ended up in Tennessee. I am currently majoring in Concrete Industry Management and I am taking this class for gen ed. My understanding of what philosophy is questioning anything and everything. I don't really know if I have my own philosophy or at least put my own philosophy into words.
See above.
DeleteMy name is Ernest (Wayne) Jones. I am in my eighth year of retirement from the textile industry. My wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary this past July. I am a pastor of a small church in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This pasted January, I completed my 20th year as pastor. I have three children and nine grandchildren. I am currently a student at Huntsville Bible College. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Care. I hope to graduate this fall. Taking this class will help me achieve my goal.
ReplyDeleteI think Philosophy is the study of different world views from many different cultures. I do not have a favorite philosopher. My personal philosophy is to Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not on my own understanding. In everything I do I will acknowledge Him, and He will direct my path in life to help someone along the way.
Hey! My name is Morgan Farmby and I am in section 7. My hometown is Chicago, Illinois and I am going on my 3rd year living here in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. My major is elementary education, so I am here in hopes of graduating and becoming a 2nd grade teacher. Moreover, I think of philosophy as reasoning as to why things are the way that they are in life. I do not have a favorite philosopher (yet), but my personal philosophy is along the lines of, happiness leading to your personal beauty and success. Therefore, the happier you are, the more beautiful and successful you become.
ReplyDeleteWell... I've been working on happiness for a long time, but will make no claims for beauty!
DeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jasmine Shore. I am in section 4! I am from Maryville, TN but now live in Friendsville, TN. They are both close to Knoxville.
I say that I live here in Murfreesboro now though becuase I do for more than half the year for school. I love to sing and do musical things and also go out and adventure the world! I am hoping to one day, take my education I recieve and become a Psychologist.
I am here on Earth becuase why not! There is a purpose for everyone and I believe my purpose here is to remind everyone how amazing they are and to make sure that others are happy and never even think of doing anything bad to themselves. I am here to encourage other to live their life to the fullest and to make decisions that are benificial to them! I am in Tennessee because I was born here and I am at this school becuase I was originally coming here for Music but changed this past semester to Psychology because even though I love music, it is only a hobby and not what I need to take into the world.
To be completely honest, I am in this course becuase my fiance said this would be more interesting than Intro to Theater! But I am beyond excited for this course and cannot wait to see what I get out of it.
"I am here on Earth becuase why not!"
DeleteNice - but when I first got here I didn't think I had a choice (Existentialists like to say we're "thrown" into existence... but once you've landed, as you say, why not stay?
Thank your fiance for the referral.
My name is William Ewert I am from section 8, I major in psychology. I am here for this class due to needing a class to be a full time student as the other class was already full, but never the less philosophy is interesting so I am interested to see what other people perspectives are in life. I do not have a favorite philosopher but I will end up getting one as this class goes on. My philosophy is essentially called '"the golden rule" meaning treat others how they treat you, as someone who is kind to you, you are kind to
ReplyDeleteIs it better to treat others as you want them to treat you, or as they want you to treat them?
Delete(Section 8)
ReplyDeleteHello,
I'm Keylee Crutcher and I'm from Section 8. I'm in this course because I needed an extra class to have enough hours to be full time but I went through a philosophy phase a couple years ago and really liked it.
To me, philosophy is how people think (about anything really, reality for example) and their approach to living life and how they think it should and shouldn't be. Obviously I know philosophy encompasses more than just that but that's always what I think of. Making sense of the uncertainty of life, I guess.
My favorite philosopher used to be Nietzsche, but that was a couple years ago.I still agree with the core idea of Nihilism but more in an optimistic way now. I would probably like other philosophers more if I had a broader knowledge about them.
My personal philosophy can be summarized to doing whatever makes me happy. Simple enough. I've never really sat and wrote it down but it changes a lot anyways.
Also, I'm a Nursing major (eventually want to become a CRNA) but I'm only doing it for the money because the only thing I want to do is travel and to do that as much as possible, I need as much money as I can get.
Nice to meet you guys.
I went through a Nietzsche "phase" too, as a younger person. Fortuntely, I got better.
DeleteOnly doing nursing for the money? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that. (People also don't say they're doing philosophy for the money.)
Hello! Apologies for the late intro. I am Ryan Crist from section section seven. I am a Deleuzian who believes the definition of philosophy is best described as the rearranging of things to create new concepts. I am interested in the Deleuzoguattarian definitions of the body without organs and deterritorialization. I am mostly against ideas like egoism, nihilism and physicalism as I think they are both non-starters for conversation and much too inductive to be taken seriously. I am mostly interested in continental philosophy, but I like the occasional analytic thinker like Wittgenstein.
ReplyDeleteI am a biology major.
I'll bet you find "Deleuzoguattarian" a bit of a non-starter too.
DeleteNot sure what you mean by "too inductive"... and in my experience egoism, nihilism and physicalism have all been great conversation-starters. But of course I talk to a lot of philosophers.
I am Noah Salcido. I am an Aerospace major with a concentration in Pro-pilot. This course is fulfilling part of my general education requirements as I rather learn about philosophy than take an art class. I do not have a favorite philosopher, but my personal philosophy is: To keep a narrow mind is to put reality in the hands of another. This deals with perception and how closing your eyes will only lead to ignorance.
ReplyDeleteOf course you could hit both birds with one stone by studying aesthetics.
DeleteI like your personal philosophy. "There's none so blind as he who will not see."
My name is Ivan Orta but I go by my middle name Drew. I was born in Louisville, KY, but I have lived in Murfreesboro, TN for most of my life. My interests are history, sciences, and music. I like to live a life with security, therefore, I don't like to take risks which something very challenging to overcome. That is the reason why I am in college to get a bachelor's degree because it seemed like the natural next step after high school. I chose MTSU because it made it possible for me to live at home while attending school. Being safe, hesitant, and cautious basically sums up who I am. I chose this course for multiple reasons: I did not like my other options, I wanted to learn more about professional philosophies, and I wanted to develop my own philosophy.
ReplyDeleteAs for why I am here, I am here by accident. As for my purpose, which I believe is the purpose for all living things, is to survive and reproduce.
My favorite philosopher is Diogenes. While I don't completely agree with his philosophy, I find his antics and his wit quite humorous. My personal philosophy is a mixture of cynicism and existentialism.
Another fan of the Cynic. That's a bit at odds with your risk-averse self-description: he lived in a barrel, behaved badly in public, and constantly pissed people off.
DeleteMaybe "survive and nurture" would be good too?
My name is Trenton French and I am from Knoxville, Tennessee. My major is Aircraft Maintenance. I have lived in Knoxville for almost my entire life, and this school year is the first time in my life that I am living away from home. My interests are Aviation, Cars/Trucks, and Hiking. I also play in the Band of Blue and I play sousaphone/Tuba. I love playing tuba and my favorite pieces to play is fugue in G minor, loch lomond, and lux arumque. I don't necessarily have a favorite philosopher, but I believe my personal philosophy is "To keep a narrow mind is to put reality in the hands of another."
ReplyDeleteDoes the tuba get enough respect?
DeleteWait, that was also Noah's philosophy. Precisely. What are the odds?
DeleteHey everyone, my name is Lisa Maguffee and I am from section 4! I have lived here in Murfreesboro my entire life, and currently still live in my childhood home.
ReplyDeleteI go to MTSU because luckily enough my mom works here, and with all the scholarships I have received I get to attend this wonderful college for free. If I had to pay my way into college I most likely would not be here, as I would have no way to pay for my education. I am currently a Psychology major but that is going to change soon!
I'd like to think that everyone has a purpose to be alive right now on this Earth but I don't exactly know what mine is yet. I grew up a Christian but over the past couple years as life continuously got tougher I realized I don't believe in anything; at least not in a "higher power". However I would still like to believe that I'm here on Earth for a reason :).
I honestly do not know very much about philosophy, but I am eager to learn throughout this semester. Philosophy to me sounds like it means questioning everything, and slowly learning about what it means to exist. I currently do not have a favorite philosopher, but I'm sure I will by the end of this course. My personal philosophy was said by my brother (who also took this class and had the same teacher!) We got to talking one night and what he said has just stuck with me ever since. He said something along the lines of; one day our mom and dad are going to pass away, and one day we won't have each other anymore. At the end of the day the only person you are certain to have forever is yourself, so you have to do everything you can to create happiness and succeed on your own.
Fortunately we're not restricted to a choice between Christanity or Nothing. See "How the World Thinks," and maybe consider taking my Atheism & Philosophy course (where we learn, among other things, that atheist do not believe Nothing either).
DeleteMy view is that while we're here we need to lean on one another, not try to "succeed on our own" entirely. See Bill Withers.
Say hey to your brother.
My name is Janai Blakemore (section 7). I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee but am originally born in Atlanta, Georgia. My major is currently political science but I am sure if that will continue to be my major the entire time here in school. I do know however, that I do want to be apart the change that I believe is coming to America through the upcoming generation.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to philosophy, I am not sure what philosophy is to me because I don't know the definition of philosophy. That is why I chose to take this course. I have always been interested in conspiracy theories and different ways of thinking so, I am excited about listening to other people along with the instructor to learn what philosophy really is. I do not yet have a philosophy or a favorite philosopher but I am hoping to have one by the end of this course.
To all who've said "I don't know much about philosophy" or "I don't have a favorite philosopher" etc., may I suggest you reflect on whether you've known any wise persons... what made them wise, to you? That will begin to tell you something about your incipient philosophy.
ReplyDeleteAlso: there are many definitions, as we noted. Love of wisdom... stubborn attempt to think clearly... et al. But you'll end up fashioning your own definition, once you're clearer on what philosophy means to you.
DeleteMy name is Derica Brown (section 8). I live in Smyrna, TN and am originally from Knob Noster, MO which is three hours away from St Louis. My major is psychology and I am currently undecided with my minor. I'm leaning towards 'Religion and Society.'I am new to MTSU, in fact, I just transferred this spring from Albany State Uni in GA so I still need to tour the campus and get used to the atmosphere while I'm on campus for my one in person class. I think of philosophy sort of like psychology because it is to me about reasoning, underlying things, and wisdom that is important to make you sit back and think. Very analytical.The strings behind the puppet. I never considered myself to have a favorite philosopher,but this person was wise and alot of the quotes still make my brain freeze. Angela Davis. "We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society." She is head strong and her words always have in every activism march or everyday life held power.
ReplyDeleteI thought I already posted this, guess not...
DeleteIt's good to welcome another former Show Me Stater. Growing up near StL I always heard about Knob Noster, which I now think of as the Bell Buckle of Missouri.