Midterm report presentations

Your goal in the presentation is to research your topic, tell us something important about it that we didn't read in our assigned texts, and lead a brief discussion. Prior to your reporting date, post a brief summary (just a sentence or two), indicate your research sources, and pose a couple of questions for discussion. You can create a powerpoint if you wish, or show a brief video clip, or read from notes or a prepared script, or just talk to us if you're comfortable extemporizing. Prepare to speak for ten minutes, plus five minutes for discussion. If you have a topic preference, indicate that in a comment below.

FEB 15

1. Spinoza's God (and Einstein's) - #6 Aviyonna Stafford; #9 Dale Tilley

2. Thoreau and Emerson - #6 Dustin Roberson; The Chicago Columbian Exposition - #9 Sam Johnstone [FL 15-16]

3. Buddhism and the self [HWT 16-17] - #6 Kloey Jackson; #9 Katie Farrell

FEB 17 

1. Leibniz's philosophy-Is this really the best of possible worlds? And what's a "monad"? #6 Conor; #9 Connor

2. David Hume's philosophy-Why be skeptical? And do miracles really occur?-#6 Frank Snow; #9 Luke Schroder

3. #6 David Reyes "What are souls?"; #9 Gerges Cosmic philosophy [HWT 18-19 or FL 17-18]

FEB 22

1. Immanuel Kant vs. Jeremy Bentham: Is ethics about creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number? #6 Becky Vorabouth; #9 Nicholas Miller

2. Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophy of pessimism - #6 Sameria Bohanon; #9 Karmina Ghobrial

3. The rise of virtue ethics - #6 Daniel S.; Moksa and Nirvana - #9 Kaylee [FL 19-20 or HWT 20-22]

FEB 24

1. Charles Darwin's natural selection: its importance for philosophy-#6 Eden Tucker; #9 Phillip Smith

2. Karl Marx's revolutionary philosophy - #6 Bayleigh Elliott; #9 Keegan Barrett

3. Moksa - #9, Andrew Quinn Burton [ FL 21-22 or HWT 23-24]

MAR 1

1. William James's pragmatic philosophy-#6 Joseph Greene; #9 Kayla T.

2. Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy: What's an "ubermensch"? What is "eternal recurrence"?-#6 Weston Williams; #9 Austin Lowrance

3. Impartiality - #6 Liam; Mozi, Mill, and the harm principle - #9 Jarett W. [FL 23-24 or HWT 25-26]

MAR 3

1. Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not a Christian" and/or "The Conquest of Happiness" - #6 Aric Gilmack; #9 Clint Gregory (Conquest of H.)

2. The French Existentialists (Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus) - #6 Cole Caccavaro; #9 Michelle Saavedra-Leon

3. The distinctiveness of American pragmatism #6 Riley [HWT 27-28]

(More to follow, midterm presentations conclude after Spring Break)

Still to be scheduled: #6 Nicholas; Allison, Daoism; Cheryl, Freud... #9 Mia on suffering;