Up@dawn 2.0 (blogger)

Delight Springs

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Midterm report presentations

 Starting Sep 10 you can indicate your preference (in the comments' space of this post) for the topic and date of your report presentation. It can be on any relevant topic of your choice that you can relate to the reading assignments (required or recommended) on the corresponding date. Presentations will begin on the 15th. We'll do two or three presentations per class, hoping to finish before Fall Break. I'll give you a free base or two on the scorecard if you volunteer to present on the 15th.

Take a look ahead at the coming syllabus assignments (reprinted below). Scan the assigned texts and select your topic accordingly. You do not have to cover everything, just anything you can plausibly relate to something in that day's assigned material. Also scan the lists of recommended books in the right sidebar, to see if you would like to use any of them as a basis for your report. If the library does not have the text(s) you choose, go to the circulation desk and request via interlibrary loan.

Have fun with the project. Be creative. Consider using the podcast/video resources in the library's MakerSpace to prepare your presentation. Plan to present for about 10 minutes, with the goal of teaching us something we wouldn't have learned merely reading the assignment. Then lead a brief class discussion. Don't stress, you'll get all 25 available points if you fulfill these minimal criteria.

15 Kaag 1 - SSHM... Midterm report presentations begin. Machiavelli, Hobbes-LHP 9-10. Rec: FL 11-12. HWT 11-13. #1 Austin Vance-Machiavelli. #2 Max Lynch-___.  Fena-Hobbes.  #3David Vandelay-Hobbes. Alex Daniel-Epicurus


17 Kaag 2... Montaigne, Descartes, & Pascal-LHP 11-12. Weiner 14. Rec: FL 13-14. HWT 14-15. - #1 Adedoyin Adeyeni-Descartes. Krish Patel-Pascal. Jeremy Vargas-Machiavelli. #2 Charlie Mayo-Descartes & AI. Brennan Bortz-Machiavelli. Ella Shafer-Pascal. #3 Amanda Maldonado-Montaigne. Aliya-Descartes. Michelle Reyes-Free Will


22 Kaag 3... Spinoza, Locke, & Reid-LHP 13-14. Rec: FL 15-16. HWT 16-17. - #1 Aiden Kopp-Epictetus & Spinoza.  Zander Gomez-Spinoza or Locke. #3 Eric Chen-Stoicism. Nat Andrews-Locke. Kennedy Lavender-Spinoza


24 Kaag 4... Berkeley, Leibniz, Hume, & Rousseau-LHP 15-18. Weiner 3. Rec: FL 17-18. HWT 18-19. #1 Avery Evans-Berkeley/. #2 Violet Smith-Rousseau


29 Kaag 5... Kant, Bentham, Hegel, Schopenhauer-LHP 19-23. Weiner 5. Rec: FL 19-20. HWT 20-22. -#1 Vi Nobles-Schopenhauer & Indian philosophy. Zane-Hegel. Lanisa-Bentham. #2 Geena Caprio-Happiness. Lindsey Eavey-Kant. Tyler Scherr-Hegel. Nev Herzog-Bentham. #3 Young Zhang-Hegel. Spencer Hebel-Kant. Thomas Hemstalk-Bentham


OCT

1 Kaag 6... Mill, Darwin, Kierkegaard, Marx-LHP 24-27. Rec: FL 21-22. HWT 23-24.#1 Amariah Woods-J.S. Mill. #1 Brian Hussels-Mill Darwin. Charlie Glendowne-Marx. #2 Robert Orr-Darwin. #3 Will Shelton-Marx. Alex stover-Mill. Ethan Licea Gonzalez-Darwin. Cecile-Katya McKenna-Kierkegaard


2 Meet the author: Applied Philosophy Lyceum Friday Oct 2, 5 pm, COE 164. John Kaag, The Digital Cave" Reading, Thinking, and Dwelling in the Age of the Algorithm. Catered reception follows. Attendance expected.


6 Exam 1.


8 Peirce & James, Nietzsche, Freud-LHP 28-30. Weiner 11. Rec: FL 23-24. HWT 25-26.

Russell, Ayer, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus-LHP 31-33. Weiner 13. Rec: FL 25-26. HWT 27-28. - #_ Camryn Noel-Philosopher Queens. #2 erik angelo-Freud


Fall Break

85 comments:

  1. Sep 22
    1. Stoicism: What Is Actually Under Our Control? (or something similar to this and compared it to modern day)
    2. Can We Trust a Student to Represent Their Teacher? (or something along the lines of why philosophy document themself).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oct 8
    1. The Philosopher Queens by Rebecca Buxton (de Beauvoir)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Charlie Mayo - Section 2September 10, 2026 at 12:00 AM

    Sep 17
    1. Descartes and “I Think, Therefore I Am” — What Does It Actually Mean to Be Conscious? (possibly connecting it to AI/AM from I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream?)
    Sep 24
    2. Can We Actually Trust Our Own Minds? — Hume and his ideas about perception, experience, and the self.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Section: H03 - Amanda Maldonado
    1. September 17th, How to die like Montaigne from The Socrates Express - Weiner Ch 14.
    2. September 29th, Schopenhauer - LHP Ch 23

    ReplyDelete
  5. Midterm Selection: Section 2#
    1: Sep. 15th, Machiavelli
    2: Sep. 22nd, Locke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for picking the 15th, there are bonus bases in it for you!

      Delete
  6. Section 3

    Option 1: Sep 29th Hegel

    Option 2: Kagg 4

    ReplyDelete
  7. Section 2:
    October 1st
    1. Stoicism and Epicureanism: how they may compliment eachother while differing and even being rival philosophies.
    2. The philosopher Epictetus

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Section 2-
      Correction: If the presentation is to be on the topic that day, my first option would be Sigmund Freud on October 8th or Nietzsche.

      Delete
  8. Section #2
    First choice: September 29, talking about happiness and different ways to achieve it according to philosophers.
    Second choice: October 8th, talking about how different philosphers find meaning in life and define the meaning of life.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Vi Nobles (Section 1)September 10, 2026 at 8:08 AM

    September 29th: What Indian Philosophy Inspired Schopenhauer, Connections between Schopenhauer and Advaita Vedanta

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sept 24, Berkeley, Leibniz, Hume, & Rousseau
    1. Do the flaws of the world disprove God's existence, or prove it?
    2. How can we prove God's existence and how can we use it in our own lives?

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. first choice: oct 1 Kaag 6... Mill, Darwin, Kierkegaard, Marx
    second choice: sep 17th Montaigne, Descartes, & Pascal

    ReplyDelete
  13. Remember, everyone, to include your section #. FIrst come, first served in each section.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Section 2
    1. September 24th, Rousseau
    2. October 8th, Camus

    ReplyDelete
  15. Section 1
    1. September 29th Hegel, a dive into the concept of individuality and the environment that pours into it
    2. Oct 1st

    ReplyDelete
  16. Section 1
    1. September 22, Epictetus
    2. September 22, Cicero

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correction: 2. September 24, Cicero

      Delete
    2. New Correction
      Option 1: September 22, How Epictetus relates to Spinoza
      Option 2: September 22, How Cicero relates to Spinoza

      Delete
    3. Definitely the most final of changes,
      Option 1: September 22, Reid
      Option 2: September 22, How Epictetus relates to Spinoza

      Delete
  17. Section #3
    September 22nd, Locke
    If someone loses their memory due to trauma/dementia, are they still the same person?

    ReplyDelete
  18. September 17: Descartes: “Can We Really Trust Our Senses?” explaining Descartes' method of doubt and his famous idea of “I think, therefore I am.”
    Section H01

    ReplyDelete
  19. Section 1
    Option 1: sept 24 Berkeley
    Option 2: sept 24 Rousseau

    ReplyDelete
  20. Section 2
    Option 1: Sept. 29th Kant
    Option 2: Sept. 24th Rousseau

    ReplyDelete
  21. Section 2 - Tyler Scherr
    September 29th
    Immanuel Kant

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. H02 - Reply is because I forgot to give another option

      Delete
    2. Kant - Expansion of Morality and the Good Samaritan.
      Hegel - His controversial view of reality

      Delete
  22. Max Lynch Section 2
    First choice September 15th
    Second Choice September 17th

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for choosing the 15th, but what's your topic?

      Delete
  23. Section H01

    1. "Would You Bet Your Life on God?” - Pascal
    2. "What If Pascal Bet on the Wrong God?” - Pascal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Section H01

      I had a change of topic ideas

      1. “Why Do Humans Distract Themselves?”
      2. “Why Are Humans Afraid of Death?”

      Delete
    2. Both topics are related to Pascal, September 15th for both

      Delete
    3. September 17th for both*

      Delete
    4. I am in section 2 and I want to do September 29th. My topic is “Is Happiness about Feeling Good or Livibg Well?.

      Delete
    5. That topic and date are already taken, Keziah. What's your second choice?

      Delete
  24. Section 3
    Option 1: September 17th, Descartes
    Option 2: October 8th, Freud

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Section 2. September 29th. Is Happiness about Feeling Good or Living Well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Second Option October 8th. "Can Letting Go Makes Us Happier? LHP 28-30

      Delete
    2. That topic is taken, but if you'll coordinate with Geena to make sure you don't duplicate one another's reports you can do it.

      Delete
  27. Section 3 JS Mill

    ReplyDelete
  28. Option 1: Sept 15th, Hobbes
    Option 2: Sept 22nd, Reid

    ReplyDelete
  29. Option 1: Darwin Option 2: Reid

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Section 3

      Delete
    2. Option 1:Oct. 1st Option 2:Sept. 22nd

      Delete
  30. Section 3
    1. September 29 Kant
    Spencer Hebel

    ReplyDelete
  31. Section #2 (1pm)

    September 15th Hobbes or October 8th Freud

    ReplyDelete
  32. Zander Gomez Section 1

    1. Spinoza
    2. Locke

    September 22nd

    ReplyDelete
  33. Section #3
    option 1-Marx
    option 2-Pascal

    ReplyDelete
  34. Section 3
    Oct 1- Mill or Marx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both already taken. Another selection please.

      Delete
  35. Section 3
    Sep 22
    Options:
    1. How to be a better stoic? Do we have to be stone cold? Must we allow ourselves to give into our emotions?
    2. Can we make our time here enjoyable? Relating to Epicurus and The Garden

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can have Epicurus on the 15th

      Delete
    2. Im so sorry, what do you mean? I'm not prepared to present tomorrow.

      Delete
  36. Section 3
    September 17
    1. Descartes and the extent something could be called "free will"(Mentioning Girl 555 from Cute Girl 555).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Descartes is taken but you can do free will and the cute girl(?)

      Delete
    2. I'll replace Descartes with Montaigne if that's okay!

      Delete
  37. Section 2
    1. Oct 1 LHP John Stuart Mill
    2. Sept 29 LHP Bentham

    ReplyDelete
  38. Section 3 October 1st
    1.) Kierkegaard LHP
    2.) Darwin LHP

    ReplyDelete
  39. Section 2

    Sep. 29
    Kant LHP - How morality and emotions coincide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kant is already taken in #2, but you can do it if you coordinate with Lindsey to make sure you don't duplicate one another's reports.

      Delete
  40. Robert Orr
    Section 2
    Oct 1st
    Darwin and Marx

    ReplyDelete
  41. Replies
    1. Amariah already requested Mill. Why don't you do Darwin?

      Delete
  42. Section #1
    1. Sep 29. Hegel
    2. Sep 29. Bentham

    ReplyDelete
  43. Section 3

    September 22nd - Locke LHP
    Option 1: what makes you, you?
    Option 2: are you responsible for things you don’t remember?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Locke is already taken in your section that day. Why don't you do Spinoza? Or something from Kaag's chapter 3? I'll put you down tentatively for Spinoza.

      Delete
  44. Section 3
    September 29
    Option 1: Bentham
    Option 2: Schopenhauer

    ReplyDelete
  45. I already wrote this on the other post, but section 1 Karl Marx on OCT 1st( I'm confused on where we were supposed to write it, but I wrote mine on September 10th)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Jeremy Vargas section #H1

    Sept-17. Machiavelli
    Sept. 24 Rousseau

    ReplyDelete
  47. Section 3, Nietzche or Goethe, October 1st

    ReplyDelete
  48. Baker Kilmartin Section 1
    Freud Oct 8

    ReplyDelete