Monday was the beginning of yet another school year. However, it was a new experience for me, for this semester marks the shift from being primarily taking classes to primarily teaching classes and working towards a dissertation. My time of being a student has nearly come to an end, and now I'm seeing the steps of transitioning toward being a professor.
This fall, in addition to working on my dissertation prospectus, I'm teaching an Intro to Logic class at Baylor and an Intro to Philosophy class and a Philosophy of Religion class at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, about 40 minutes away. The latter option came up in the last month, and is a great opportunity to teach in a small Christian liberal arts university and get some experience in that setting, as I hope to one day be a professor in that kind of institution.
I've done a little reflecting while doing the commutes about my life as a student. I've thought about all the great moments in my life and all the great people who have helped shape me into the man I am today. I've thought about the things that I think I'd probably do differently if I could. I've thought about the classes that I learned the most from, and thought about the times in life I learned the most. It makes me appreciate my past and motivates me to make sure I don't lose the connection to that past. It also makes me anticipate the future and the shaping that will occur and the ways I will be able to help shape the people and students I encounter. And, although it is incredibly cheesy, I also celebrate this present time as the intersection between the past and the future... and the fact that I'm really happy where I am right now.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
On Behalf of the Cubs
Frankly, I'm a little tired of the media bashing the Cubs. I mean, it's a subtle bashing, but it's a bashing nonetheless. The Cubs are 31-21, the best record in the National League by half a game, and 1/2 a game from the best record in the majors. However, whenever you see a power poll, it is likely to mention that 12 of the Cubs games have come against the Pirates, as though the Pirates were a team that EVERYONE beats on. The Cubs went 9-3 in those games. The Pirates are presently 24-27 (a half a game worse than the Yankees, for the record). If you take away those 12 games from the Pirates' record, they are actually 21-18, which is a winning record. It seems hard to bash the Cubs for winning 75% of their games against a team that would have a winning record if they didn't have to play the Cubs.
The Cubs don't get the respect they deserve. Maybe one day soon, they'll shed their "lovable loser" image for a World Series title.
The Cubs don't get the respect they deserve. Maybe one day soon, they'll shed their "lovable loser" image for a World Series title.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Coming Attractions
The semester is over... but the summer studying for comps has begun.
This summer I have roughly 4300 pages of primary source reading to do, covering philosophical history from Descartes to Plantinga (and other living philosophers). While I'm reading up for comps, I hope to have time to write a few posts that I've been inspired to write. Some potential ideas are:
However, for the time being, it's back to Spinoza.
This summer I have roughly 4300 pages of primary source reading to do, covering philosophical history from Descartes to Plantinga (and other living philosophers). While I'm reading up for comps, I hope to have time to write a few posts that I've been inspired to write. Some potential ideas are:
- A review of Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright.
- "The Constipation of Philosophy" - a realization of the misuse of philosophy to serve our own ends rather than to pursue truth
- Thoughts on the movie adaptation of Prince Caspian
- A review of Mario Kart Wii
- Thoughts about using Facebook as a professor/instructor
However, for the time being, it's back to Spinoza.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Random Thoughts
I'm in the home-stretch for the semester. Two more weeks of classes and then final papers are due. I'm nearly done with my paper for philosophy of science. I'm using Michael Polanyi to argue for the rejection of the traditional understanding of objectivity as well as a conception of 'sobjectivity'* to replace objectivity such that it can still be usable without having the difficulties of traditional objectivity. My paper for Hume is looking at the possibility of sympathy producing sentiments in us that will lead to actions similar to justice in situations where justice is not expected. This paper has a solid outline that needs to be filled in now. My final paper is for my independent study on Wittgenstein and Iris Murdoch. It'll be something great and interesting, I'm sure, probably involving religious belief or something along those lines.
In other exciting news, this semester is my final semester of coursework. This summer will be my second set of comprehensive exams, and in the fall I'll be teaching and working on my prospectus for my dissertation. Things aren't really slowing down, which is probably good.
Mario Kart for Wii comes out this Sunday. I'm not sure there is a worse time for it to come out, personally. This week will be a full week of studying in hopes of being able to justify getting it, but it is quite possible that the fun will have to wait a couple weeks till the papers are done.
I'm still reading the N.T. Wright book Surprised by Hope and hope to finish it here in my moments of relaxation the next couple weeks, after which I'll post some sort of review up here on it. I'm really enjoying it and would encourage people to take a serious look at it.
------------------------------------------------------
*I learned from Chad Meister that anytime you want to reform a concept in such a way that it closely resembles the previous concept, simply add an 's' to the front of the word for the concept you're reformulating. I know this is an old philosophical move, but I never saw it used as much as I did by Chad in class.
In other exciting news, this semester is my final semester of coursework. This summer will be my second set of comprehensive exams, and in the fall I'll be teaching and working on my prospectus for my dissertation. Things aren't really slowing down, which is probably good.
Mario Kart for Wii comes out this Sunday. I'm not sure there is a worse time for it to come out, personally. This week will be a full week of studying in hopes of being able to justify getting it, but it is quite possible that the fun will have to wait a couple weeks till the papers are done.
I'm still reading the N.T. Wright book Surprised by Hope and hope to finish it here in my moments of relaxation the next couple weeks, after which I'll post some sort of review up here on it. I'm really enjoying it and would encourage people to take a serious look at it.
------------------------------------------------------
*I learned from Chad Meister that anytime you want to reform a concept in such a way that it closely resembles the previous concept, simply add an 's' to the front of the word for the concept you're reformulating. I know this is an old philosophical move, but I never saw it used as much as I did by Chad in class.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Big Dreams
Today, I happened to be at Starbucks on campus at the end of the Kansas/Davidson game. As the game was ending, I walked across the room to Chili's Too to watch the end of the game, as Kansas emerged victorious, making it the first time since the field expanded to 64 teams that all 4 No.1 seeds advanced to the Final Four. Off to the side, I hear a funny comment:
Some girl in America is living my dream; picking all four of the Final Four teams.
Sadly, he's right, as most people who follow basketball never pick all 4 No. 1 teams to the Final Four, because of the history. Even more sadly, if his dream is to pick all four Final Four teams, he really needs bigger dreams.
Some girl in America is living my dream; picking all four of the Final Four teams.
Sadly, he's right, as most people who follow basketball never pick all 4 No. 1 teams to the Final Four, because of the history. Even more sadly, if his dream is to pick all four Final Four teams, he really needs bigger dreams.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Resurrection
This week is Holy Week, with tomorrow being Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This week I bought a book that I'd had my eye on for awhile. I bought Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. The inside cover flap says something to the effect of:
For years, Christians have asked the question, "If do died tonight, do you know where you would go?" Turns out they have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven.
His argument appears to be based on the idea that we have hope of resurrection when we die. It is not a matter of dieing and immediately going to heaven, but rather waiting in hope of the resurrection of the dead. He has hinted that he will be arguing against the idea that heaven is a disembodied state, but rather a new creation, or fulfillment of creation, a joining together or heaven and earth. When taken in this context, it makes a lot more sense why Paul commends us to take care of our bodies and this earth. However, our mindset typically is the opposite. We see little need to take care of our bodies for a spiritual purpose or to take care of the earth for such a purpose. Rather we see no need to oil the squeaky wheel of the cart that is about to go over the cliff.
I am only a couple chapters into the book, but it is forcing me to evaluate my thoughts on death and life after death. I had done some initial wrestling with the issue a few years ago, but had not come to any well-reasoned conclusions. I was leaning towards some of these conclusions, but now it's time to figure things out a little more.
I think our church is onto something with the celebration of Easter. Throughout Lent, the sanctuary has been decorated using gray primarily. On Good Friday, the decorations are turned to black and left that way till the service starts on Sunday morning. One of the first things in the service that happens is we sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", and as we sing, people come down the aisles carrying lilies, white cloth, and other "life-signifying" things and the sanctuary is transformed from death to life as we proclaim the resurrection of our Lord. It is a very moving time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On other things, I'm getting to be a "bachelor" for the weekend. Jess is up in Michigan visiting her family. She had Good Friday and the day after Easter off, so she flew back to Michigan Thursday evening. She flies back on Monday evening. My parents are coming next Thursday, so I'm using the weekend to get ahead in some classes and work on some papers... and cheering on Purdue this afternoon. I'm also getting a "guys night" tonight, which will be fun too. However, I'm already anxiously awaiting the return of my wife on Monday.
For years, Christians have asked the question, "If do died tonight, do you know where you would go?" Turns out they have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven.
His argument appears to be based on the idea that we have hope of resurrection when we die. It is not a matter of dieing and immediately going to heaven, but rather waiting in hope of the resurrection of the dead. He has hinted that he will be arguing against the idea that heaven is a disembodied state, but rather a new creation, or fulfillment of creation, a joining together or heaven and earth. When taken in this context, it makes a lot more sense why Paul commends us to take care of our bodies and this earth. However, our mindset typically is the opposite. We see little need to take care of our bodies for a spiritual purpose or to take care of the earth for such a purpose. Rather we see no need to oil the squeaky wheel of the cart that is about to go over the cliff.
I am only a couple chapters into the book, but it is forcing me to evaluate my thoughts on death and life after death. I had done some initial wrestling with the issue a few years ago, but had not come to any well-reasoned conclusions. I was leaning towards some of these conclusions, but now it's time to figure things out a little more.
I think our church is onto something with the celebration of Easter. Throughout Lent, the sanctuary has been decorated using gray primarily. On Good Friday, the decorations are turned to black and left that way till the service starts on Sunday morning. One of the first things in the service that happens is we sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", and as we sing, people come down the aisles carrying lilies, white cloth, and other "life-signifying" things and the sanctuary is transformed from death to life as we proclaim the resurrection of our Lord. It is a very moving time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On other things, I'm getting to be a "bachelor" for the weekend. Jess is up in Michigan visiting her family. She had Good Friday and the day after Easter off, so she flew back to Michigan Thursday evening. She flies back on Monday evening. My parents are coming next Thursday, so I'm using the weekend to get ahead in some classes and work on some papers... and cheering on Purdue this afternoon. I'm also getting a "guys night" tonight, which will be fun too. However, I'm already anxiously awaiting the return of my wife on Monday.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A Dilemma
This coming weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year, every year. The NCAA Tournament begins play on Thursday morning and continues through Sunday evening. It is an extravaganza of basketball, with great upsets along the way.
This afternoon, I watched the selection show, waiting for my two teams to be named to the bracket. I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting... and the last game they announce involves both of my teams. Purdue and Baylor in the first round. Now, although Baylor will be giving me a degree in a couple years, my allegiance still lies with Purdue. It's just too bad that both of my teams can't make it past the first round.
To further complicate things, the game is on Thursday. I have class till 2 PM (3 EST) on Thursday, and then I'm taking Jess to the airport in Dallas at 4 and won't return till 8. So not only are both of my teams playing each other in the first round, but there's a 50% chance that I won't be able to watch the game.
Four positive notes though: 1) There is only one game that I have to watch in the first round. 2) One of my two teams will be playing on Saturday. 3) Since Purdue is playing Baylor, if the game happens while I'm driving Jess to the airport, at least it'll be on the radio. 4) After the first round, there is no possibility of divided allegiance... especially since cheering against IU is a part of being a Purdue fan.
This afternoon, I watched the selection show, waiting for my two teams to be named to the bracket. I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting... and the last game they announce involves both of my teams. Purdue and Baylor in the first round. Now, although Baylor will be giving me a degree in a couple years, my allegiance still lies with Purdue. It's just too bad that both of my teams can't make it past the first round.
To further complicate things, the game is on Thursday. I have class till 2 PM (3 EST) on Thursday, and then I'm taking Jess to the airport in Dallas at 4 and won't return till 8. So not only are both of my teams playing each other in the first round, but there's a 50% chance that I won't be able to watch the game.
Four positive notes though: 1) There is only one game that I have to watch in the first round. 2) One of my two teams will be playing on Saturday. 3) Since Purdue is playing Baylor, if the game happens while I'm driving Jess to the airport, at least it'll be on the radio. 4) After the first round, there is no possibility of divided allegiance... especially since cheering against IU is a part of being a Purdue fan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
