Teaching Philosophy

From Scientific American: Selmer Bringsjord at RPI (who made news last spring with an artificially intelligent agent in second life) has created a ‘purely sinister person’:
Are You Evil? Profiling That Which Is Truly Wicked

Douglas Todd at the Vancouver Sun has an interesting blog post about a new book The Book of Dead Philosophers that covers what some famous philosophers said about death: Bravest philosophers faced death to learn how to live . I could be used as backbone for an interesting First Year Seminar, Jan Term, or even intro class.

The Book of Dead Philosophers

Simon Critchley. Granta Books 2008, Hardcover, 256 pages, $24.55

In the Baltimore Sun, thanks to Stephen Kiehl: Bingo! Another Fallacy. The bingo cards we generated, along with our cheat sheet, are also available via the Sun: Play ‘Debate Fallacy Bingo’ during final presidential debate.

What is the likelihood of another 9-11?

Presidential Debate 1, Question 8 Static Link

Russia.

Presidential Debate 1, Question 7 Static Link

What is your reading of the threat from Iran?

Presidential Debate 1, Question 6 Static Link

Afghanistan - do you think new US troops should be sent? How many and when?

Presidential Debate 1, Question 5 Static Link

A 59-year old Home Depot employee from West Linn, OR won the Great American Thinker contest last month. I am not familiar with the contest, but it looks essentially like an oratory / essay contest. The web site (linked previously) has the finalist essays - which certainly should be usable in a CT course.

Much has been said about the lessons of Vietnam. What do you see as the lessons of Iraq?

Presidential Debate 1, Question 4 Static Link

What are you going to have to give up as a result of the financial rescue plan?

Presidential Debate 1, Question 3 Static Link