Introduction to Philosophy (Fall 07)

Final grades are submitted. Except for cases where required assignments were not turned in and cases of low class participation, they turned out very well.

Don’t forget to pick up your portfolios Thursday, 1-2 pm, in E Building.

Cheers,

Brandon

I’ve had some questions about when final grades will be done; it is unlikely that they’ll be done before Thursday. It takes some work to grade a large number of portfolios fairly.

If anyone was not able to turn in their portfolios due to a medical or family emergency excuse that they can document, please contact me immediately so we can set up a time on Tuesday for you to turn it in.

If people want to pick up their portfolios, with my comments, you’ll have an opportunity to do so Thursday from 1 pm to 2 pm in E building (either the lobby or room 7002). Alternatively you can contact me by email early next semester and set up an appointment for collecting it.

I’d like to thank everyone who made it to the end of term; it was a great experience teaching you, and a privilege to be able to interact with some of you. If I don’t see you on Thursday, have a great break!

Portfolios are due today at the end of class. This is a hard deadline.

If for medical or emergency reasons you are unable to hand in your portfolio today, contact me immediately; we will make an appointment for handing in your portfolio (along with documentation of the medical excuse or emergency) on Tuesday.

Otherwise students not turning in any portfolio material by the end of class today will receive an F grade for the portfolio section of the course.

Today we discussed feminist epistemology and philosophy of science. Those who were interested in today’s topic may also find the following resources interesting:

* Feminist Epistemology and Philosophy of Science at the SEP

* Feminist Social Epistemology at the SEP

* Feminist Epistemology at the IEP 

* Sharon Crasnow’s paper, Feminist Philosophy of Science: ‘Standpoint’ and Knowledge (PDF)

* Laura Aline Ward’s thesis, Objectivity in Feminist Philosophy of Science (PDF) 

* The Knowledge and Experience blog 

*  Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper and her short essay Why I Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper

 ***

Don’t forget to keep working on your portfolios, which are due the 13th at the end of class (hard deadline).

Today we took a brief look at some issues in feminist philosophy with a focus on ethics. Feminist approaches in ethics are very diverse, so we only had time for a quick glimpse at a few approaches.

Those who were interested in the discussion today may also be interested in the following resources:

* Feminist Ethics at the SEP

* Feminist Bioethics at the SEP

* Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s science fiction classic Herland

* The Feminist Philosophers blog

* Mary Wollstonecraft’s 18th-century classic A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

* John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women

* Adrienne Rich’s Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence

* Connell and Messerschmidt, Hegemonic Masculinity (PDF)

Thursday we will discuss feminist epistemology and philosophy of science.

DON’T FORGET THAT YOUR PORTFOLIOS ARE DUE THE 13TH! If you are missing one of the quizzes it is imperative that you contact me as soon as possible!

Last one!

For your last reflection paper write about whether this course in philosophy has contributed anything to your worldview (especially those points you mentioned in your first reflection paper). If not, discuss what it would have had to do to make such a contribution. If so, how has it contributed? End with some thoughts about how you might apply philosophical ideas/approaches to your life in the future (or else how you might continue the refinement of your own philosophical ideas). This paper is due with your portfolio (December 13).