Archived Resource Lists from Past Meetings
Archived Resource Lists from Past Meetings
Embedded Files
What's it like to be a bat?
What's it like to be a bat?
Ever wondered what it's like to experience the world through echolocation? Can we ever truly understand another creature's consciousness?
This month we're reading Thomas Nagel's classic essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?"
Nagel argues that even if we knew everything about a bat's brain — every neuron, every physical process — we still couldn't know what it feels like to be a bat. Subjective experience has an irreducibly first-person character that escapes objective description.
This challenges physicalism, the view that everything can be explained by physical facts. If consciousness can't be captured by third-person science, what does that mean for our understanding of reality?
Spooky!
The text can be found here.
Is Life Pointless?
Is Life Pointless?
What's the point of life? Rivka Weinberg says that there is none. Weinberg distiguishes between everyday meaning (the purposes within our lives) and "Ultimate Meaning" (the point of living a life at all). As she thinks, while our daily lives can be meaningful, the enterprise of leading a human life as a whole is ultimately pointless. She also thinks that we should be sad about this fact.
The text can be found here.
Beauty and Needless Suffering in the World
Beauty and Needless Suffering in the World
Why does needless suffering exist? For theists, evil creates a puzzle: wouldn't an all-good, all-powerful God prevent unnecessary pain? Whether you see evil as contradicting divine goodness or revealing cosmic indifference, we all grapple with the same mystery: how do we find meaning when confronted with inexplicable suffering?
We'll look this month at an article by Tom Cochrane; Cochrane offers an unusual solution to the problem. He thinks that the beauty and aesthetic value of the world is what can allow us to regard it as a good world dispite all of the needless suffering in it.
The text can be found here.
Authenticity
Authenticity
What does it mean to live authentically in a world of roles, expectations, and competing values? Join us as we explore Ernesto V. Garcia’s The Virtue of Authenticity.
Philosophy and Humor
Philosophy and Humor
Did you hear the one about the philosopher who tried to write about jokes? No? Well, join us as we find out what happened next.
In honor of April Fools, this month, our reading group dives into Simon Critchley’s essay "Did You Hear The One About The Philosopher Writing A Book On Humour?" — a sharp, playful exploration of the uneasy alliance between philosophy and laughter. Can jokes be profound? What do they show about our relationship to common sense?
The text can be found here.
"Woman as Other" – from The Second Sex
"Woman as Other" – from The Second Sex
Join us for a deep dive into the introduction of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, one of the most influential feminist texts of the 20th century. In “Woman as Other,” Beauvoir examines how women have been historically defined in relation to men—cast as the "Other" rather than as autonomous subjects. She explores the roots of this dynamic in philosophy, history, and myth, laying the groundwork for her analysis of gendered oppression.
Perfect for those interested in philosophy, gender studies, and the structures that shape our understanding of identity!
The text can be found here.
Here is a great summery of the text!
Thursday Febuary 27- Alastair Norcross's "Puppies, Pigs, and People"
Thursday Febuary 27- Alastair Norcross's "Puppies, Pigs, and People"
In a tragic accident, Fred suffered damage to his godiva gland, which produces cocoamone, the hormone that allows one to experience the taste of chocolate. Fred's doctor, Dr. T. Bud, sadly informs Fred that there is little hope for recovering his taste of chocolate. But, when Fred learns of a recent discovery by a forensic veterinary surgeon, he takes matters into his own hands to produce a source of cocoamone and restore his chocolately joy.
What is going on in Fred's Basement?
When we reflect on Fred's actions, will be able to justify eating meat?
(Note: The "Fred's Basement" story can be somewhat disturbing. Please remember that it is fictional. Cocoamone, the godiva gland, and Dr. T(aste) Bud are all products of Norcross's imagination.)
▶️Alastair reads his entire paper (starting at minute 11) on YouTube HERE (Remember, we are only discussing the first two sections of the paper.)
December 12 - On the Shortness of Life
December 12 - On the Shortness of Life
"On the Shortness of Life" is a philosophical essay that is addressed to a man named Paulinus. It becomes clear toward the end of the text that Paulinus is a Roman administrator responsible for managing Rome’s grain supply. Seneca urges Paulinus to retire from public life so that he can truly live.
Although Seneca does not argue for Stoic principles or claims in this essay, Stoic ideals lurk just under the surface.The most prominent of these is the Stoic notion of the dichotomy of control: External things are not up to us. Only internals (specifically, our thoughts and actions) are up to us, and so this is where we should focus our attention.
Get the text
Read online: https://archive.org/stream/SenecaOnTheShortnessOfLife/Seneca+on+the+Shortness+of+Life_djvu.txt
Get the reading guide
Your facilitators have created a reading guide that includes summaries as well as some questions for thought
We store our files on OneDrive. If you have trouble downloading from OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
November 14 - Could better democracy require less political action?
November 14 - Could better democracy require less political action?
Philosopher Robert Talisse has argued in recent writings that intense political action can lead to belief polarization and worse democratic practices. The solution is for citizens to get some "social distance from the political fray." This month we'll discuss Talisse's arguments as he presents them his online essay "The Need for Socially Distanced Citizens."
Get the text
Read online: https://heterodoxacademy.org/blog/the-need-for-socially-distanced-citizens/
or
We store our files on OneDrive. If you have trouble downloading from OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
Get the reading guide
Your facilitators have created a reading guide that includes summaries as well as some questions for thought
We store our files on OneDrive. If you have trouble downloading from OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
October 10 2024 - The Paradox of Horror
October 10 2024 - The Paradox of Horror
Why do people enjoy being frightened by horror movies (and haunted houses, scary novels, etc.) when most of us do NOT like being frightened by real life terrors?
Why do people enjoy being frightened by horror movies (and haunted houses, scary novels, etc.) when most of us do NOT like being frightened by real life terrors?
There is a tendency to think that well-adjusted people do not seek out terrifying and disgusting situations. Yet people flock to see the latest horror movies, and the more immersive the better! What gives? This apparent paradox - the "paradox of horror" is a particular version of the so-called "paradox of tragedy," which has fascinated philosophers since ancient times.
We'll begin with two short videos that describe the puzzle and suggest some solutions. We'll then get some more psychological insight by reading a short online essay by Professor Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Get the text
Start with this 5-minute video "What is The Paradox of Horror?" by Carneades.org
https://youtu.be/MwzdPDXUUBw?si=Redz6KybXngK8iaD
Then enjoy this 5-minute video "Noel Carroll: The Paradox of Horror." Carroll is a leading researcher in the philosophy or horror. (The video includes some brief images from horror movies, but no full scenes.)
https://youtu.be/dcX9dur-px8?si=42bxBOXerwdjvuHv
Finally, read (3400 words) or listen (21 mins) to this short essay (published online by Aeon) by Professor Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. Find the "listen" link on the left side, near the beginning of the essay. (The essay includes some descriptions of horror scenes and plots, but the descriptions aim to be clinical or campy rather than scary or gross.)
https://aeon.co/essays/fear-not-horror-movies-build-community-and-emotional-resilience
Get the reading guide
Your facilitators have created a reading guide to accompany Clasen's essay. In it you'll find helpful summaries and questions to think about.
How can philosophy help us face the climate crisis?
How can philosophy help us face the climate crisis?
In the essay, "Why Seek Self Realisation?" philosopher Helen De Cruz explores the thoughts of several other philosophers (especially Næss, Spinoza, and Lorde) regarding how to properly relate to our environment. As a witness to climate destruction, it is easy to feel like a divided person because we are losing our home. Yet, De Cruz contends that finding our identity (or achieving "self-realization") as part of the world we live in is a key step towards addressing the climate crisis. It also helps us see what is worth saving.
Get the reading and reading guide
Join us on September 26 to discuss De Cruz's essay and what it can contribute to our lives and thinking!
Read online at Aeon magazine: Why Seek Self Realisation?
or
If you prefer to read offline, here's a PDF version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13aZuaUOrq_SYfNGZ9GD67XkO5DbLCXKQ/view?usp=sharing
Aug 8 - How free should speech be?
Aug 8 - How free should speech be?
We're often told that censoring opinions is a bad thing. It is easy to imagine, however, certain opinions that we wouldn't mind being censored. Consider, for example, Holocaust denial. Do we even have reason to permit people to publicly engage in Holocaust denialism?
Nishi Shah seems to think so. In his essay "Why Academic Freedom Matters" he argues that censoring Holocaust denialism undercuts our justification for censoring the opinion in the first. If we censored it, we would deprive ourselves of opportunities in the future to have our reasons for censoring Holocaust denialism challenged.
Join us on August 8 as we take up the important questions of what free speech is, what grounds the most plausible defense of free speech, and why free speech is important!
Get the reading and reading guide
Read "Why Academic Freedom Matters" online at The Raven: A Magazine of Philosophy
or
Download a PDF version (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
Your facilitators have created a reading guide with helpful summaries and some discussion questions to jump start your thinking.
📗View PDF (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
July 11, 2024 - Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality"
July 11, 2024 - Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality"
What does global poverty demand of us?
Some things about our world remain the same today as when Singer wrote this classic 1972 essay -- most notably, many people in the US live in luxury and amid plenty while people in other parts of the world live with far fewer resources. What, if anything, do the affluent owe to the poor? What difference does it make if we are separated by thousands of miles and/or geopolitical borders?
Get the reading
Singer's essay was written for a professional philosophical audience and published in an academic journal. This means it is on the longer side. However, it is remarkably accessible and clear for this genre. You will find that Singer is explicit at every step about what he is claiming and why he thinks his claims are correct.
Info: Peter Singer, "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," Philosophy & Public Affairs, Spring 1972, Vol 1, No 3.
📚Available online for download by clicking HERE (You will be downloading from Prof. Bryan Roberts' website. You can also Google search for it - this essay is widely posted online)
🎧Audio version on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwYqMJc_IM
This essay is archived by JSTOR. If you have full access to JSTOR (e.g. an academic account) you can find it here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2265052
Get the reading guide
Your facilitators have created a reading guide with helpful summaries and some discussion questions to jumpstart your thinking.
📗View PDF (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
June 13, 2024 - Echo Chambers and Epistemic Bubbles
June 13, 2024 - Echo Chambers and Epistemic Bubbles
What is an "echo chamber"?
How should we interact with, listen to, and trust people we disagree with?
Why are conspiracy theories attractive?
This month we explore issues in social epistemology and the kinds of social structures that affect how we explore our beliefs. These two essays are “popular philosophy,” versions of articles the authors have published in professional philosophical journals, and are chock-full of subtle and substantial points about how we form our beliefs about the world and how these beliefs can be affected by our social networks.
C. Thi Nguyen, in "Escape the Echo Chamber," thinks there is an important distinction between epistemic bubbles—social structures in which we don’t hear contrary information—and echo chambers, which are social structures which diminish our trust in sources that disagree with us. In his essay, he explores how this distinction affects how we should think about engaging with those whom we disagree.
In his essay, "The Warped Epistemology of Conspiracy Theories," Maarten Boudry explores why we believe in conspiracy theories and how conspiracy theories are unique kinds of theories.
Get the readings: This month we'll read two recent pieces written by philosophers for non-academic audiences
C Thi Nguyen's "Escape the Echo Chamber," written for Aeon (published April 9, 2018)
🌐🎧Read/Listen on Aeon's website. (Look for the little speaker symbol to start the audio version.)
📗View PDF (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
Maarten Boudry's "The Warped Epistemology of Conspiracy Theories," written for the blog of the American Philosophical Association (published Sep 8, 2020)
🌐Read on the APA's website (Sorry, no audio version.)
📗View PDF (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
Get the reading guide: Your facilitators have created a reading guide with helpful summaries and some discussion questions to jumpstart your thinking. Both essays are addressed on one reading guide.
📗View PDF (hosted on OneDrive) - If you have trouble with OneDrive, email us at popco@colorado.edu and we can send you the PDF as an attachment.
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