2009 Enrollment

[RCAJUN90]

_ Hey I agree a lot of philosophy is empty thought, but I enjoy studying it from a historical viewpoint.

Clearly, the teaching of the immortality of the soul is much older than the Greeks and goes back at least to Babylon and perhaps farther. I was talking about the idea of the immortality of the soul specifically in Judaism and Christianity and how research I have read about lends credence to Socratic and Platonic influence.

I am just a big fan of history and think that understanding how concepts arose helps in the present.

It is also why I like to study how athletics helped UL grow by leaps and bounds from the outset and how shunning athletics has led to a stagnation of sorts in recent years.

In both instances I am intrigued by the question “What were they thinking?”

jmo _

I love history also. Most people I know don't. At least with a history degree you are qualified to teach history. I agree you can learn things from the past to help with the present. Some would argue that Philosophy teaches you how to think which I suppose has some validity to it. Why don't they have the Philosophy channel?

[CajunFun]

_ Hey I agree a lot of philosophy is empty thought, but I enjoy studying it from a historical viewpoint.

Clearly, the teaching of the immortality of the soul is much older than the Greeks and goes back at least to Babylon and perhaps farther. I was talking about the idea of the immortality of the soul specifically in Judaism and Christianity and how research I have read about lends credence to Socratic and Platonic influence.

I am just a big fan of history and think that understanding how concepts arose helps in the present.

It is also why I like to study how athletics helped UL grow by leaps and bounds from the outset and how shunning athletics has led to a stagnation of sorts in recent years.

In both instances I am intrigued by the question “What were they thinking?”

jmo _

I don't think it's empty thought. It asks the fundamental things we need to run our lives: what is good? what is evil? how can we tell if this stuff we experience is real?

Or the one most important to me: how do we know what we think we know?

That one is important, because it turns out that a lot of the stuff everyone "knows", is just wrong. If you can't see the validity of studying that, just think what you can do in business or the stock market once you divorce yourself from the herd.

In fact, a lot of shrewd businessmen do just that: they don't assume that what everyone else 'knows' is true. So they look for themselves, think for themselves, decide for themselves.

Then they buy into trends before everyone else, and bail out of bubbles before they burst... and make a killing.

[geo_cajun]

_ What is moronic to one man is pure genius to another. I suspect I'm not the only one that hated philosophy. I'm just the only one brave enough to say it. They executed Socrates. _

Yes, and some men are morons and some men are geniuses. Who is who becomes apparent quickly. No bravery, just an opinion on an internet forum. An opinion based not in facts, but in emotion an perception. If you had listened in your philosophy class, perhaps you would have gained better critical thinking skills.

[CajunFreak]

_ This is happenning because this state doesn't have the guts or the wisdom to do what should have been done after Katrina/Rita.......

CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS _

BRAVO!!!

[RCAJUN90]

_ Yes, and some men are morons and some men are geniuses. Who is who becomes apparent quickly. No bravery, just an opinion on an internet forum. An opinion based not in facts, but in emotion an perception. If you had listened in your philosophy class, perhaps you would have gained better critical thinking skills. _

Who decides who are morons and geniuses? Define what makes a man a moron or a geniuses. What criteria did you use? Who says that criteria is correct? By many accounts Albert Einstein was one of the smartest people to walk on the face on the Earth. How long would he have lasted in the jungles of Africa? FYI I made A's in the Mickey Mouse courses of philosophy.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Who decides who are morons and geniuses? Define what makes a man a moron or a geniuses. What criteria did you use? Who says that criteria is correct? By many accounts Albert Einstein was one of the smartest people to walk on the face on the Earth. How long would he have lasted in the jungles of Africa? FYI I made A's in the Mickey Mouse courses of philosophy. _

The questions you're bringing up right here is the reason why philosophy is essential in college.

[Turbine]

_ I don't think it's empty thought. It asks the fundamental things we need to run our lives: what is good? what is evil? how can we tell if this stuff we experience is real?

Or the one most important to me: how do we know what we think we know?

That one is important, because it turns out that a lot of the stuff everyone "knows", is just wrong. If you can't see the validity of studying that, just think what you can do in business or the stock market once you divorce yourself from the herd.

In fact, a lot of shrewd businessmen do just that: they don't assume that what everyone else 'knows' is true. So they look for themselves, think for themselves, decide for themselves.

Then they buy into trends before everyone else, and bail out of bubbles before they burst... and make a killing. _

Hey, hey, I'm not knocking the love of wisdom.

However, the "love of wisdom" doesn't automatically equal "wisdom."

It takes a lot of thought (a lot of which ultimately proves to be empty) to arrive at true “wisdom.”

jmo

[RCAJUN90]

"I don't think it's empty thought. It asks the fundamental things we need to run our lives: what is good? what is evil? how can we tell if this stuff we experience is real?"

I'm pretty sure the pink notices the Philosophy professors are about to get are real. What is good? What is evil? That is relative to your culture and environment. I don't think anyone argued that Philosophy has no value. It is if you are forced to make tough decisions then I would surely give Philosophy the axe as opposed to Accounting.

"Or the one most important to me: how do we know what we think we know?

That one is important, because it turns out that a lot of the stuff everyone "knows", is just wrong. If you can't see the validity of studying that, just think what you can do in business or the stock market once you divorce yourself from the herd."

Who says? What I know to be true is true to me. It may not be true to you nor your concept of reality. I know of no successful businessmen or stockbrokers that majored in Philosophy. I don't any that majored in the Humanities period.

"In fact, a lot of shrewd businessmen do just that: they don't assume that what everyone else 'knows' is true. So they look for themselves, think for themselves, decide for themselves."

I could see where thinking outside of the box would be helpful at times in business. You are mistaken if you don't think there are proven business models and formulas that work and someone looking for a future in business would be better served majoring in business are a related field.

"Then they buy into trends before everyone else, and bail out of bubbles before they burst... and make a killing."

So are trying to say that if you want to be the next Donald Trump you should major in Philosophy??? I would argue skills gained from a background in business and the real world ( you know the place were you eat, sleep, work,feel pain and pleasure) would go much farther than any of the Philosophical abstract concepts I learned in class. What would you suggest they cut?

[RaginFan2]

_ Dangerous ideas? Democracy was a dangerous idea at one time! _

Still is, ask the Obama-philes.

[CajunNation]

The questions you're bringing up right here is the reason why philosophy is essential in college.

Nobody is saying that we can't offer a class or 2 about philosophy. Right?

[Boomer]

_ Still is, ask the Obama-philes. _

My class featured Idealism, Realism, and Pragmatism---Love to see what the politicos take from each to their political philosophies-----Enjoyed the falacious arguments segment--ad hominem/post factum ergo propter factum----hope they can work around it----In Hawaii--what did other schools loose?????

[Turbine]

My class featured Idealism, Realism, and Pragmatism---Love to see what the politicos take from each to their political philosophies-----Enjoyed the falacious arguments segment--ad hominem/post factum ergo propter factum----hope they can work around it----In Hawaii--what did other schools loose?????

My sister is visititing from Hawaii.

The idealist in me would have her staying at your place.


igeaux.mobi