This shouldn’t be missed. Deals with consumerism & the environment. I couldn’t embed it in the post, so you’ll have to get there the old-fashioned way — clicking a link. http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Hat Tip: Mike at Morality and the Good Life
Archive for March, 2008
The Story of Stuff
Thursday, March 20th, 2008“S shows that P to T”
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008There is a difference between “shows that P” and “explains that P”. Consider the following: suppose I have temporary amnesia; I ask Andrew what my name is. Andrew instructs me to look at my driver’s license. Andrew has shown me that my name is ‘Christopher’. I now believe that my name is ‘Christopher’, but I would like to know why; in short, I need an explanation for the fact that my name is Christopher. A variety of kinds of explanation are available; the nature of explanation is controversial and not something I am eager to tackle. Instead, as I am unaware of a formal definition, I would like attempt some necessary conditions for the relation “shows that”. Or, if one can provide a definition or discussion in extant literature, providing such a source will be greatly appreciated. (more…)
An Argument for the Moral Permissibility of Homosexual Sex
Friday, March 7th, 2008There is not much out there by way of arguments either for or against the moral permissibility of homosexual behavior. Most of the arguments that purport to show that such behavior is wrong presuppose religious claims, and arguments that purport to show that such behavior is permissible simply beg the question. But in seminar the other day, the following line of reasoning seemed promising to me, but I’m not sure of the crispest way of formulating the argument (more below the fold).
Placement news
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
Congratulations to Justin McBrayer, who, despite his pessimism about job prospects (both for himself and for philosophers in general), has recently accepted an offer to join the faculty at Fort Lewis College as an assistant professor of philosophy!* Fort Lewis is the state liberal arts college of Colorado, and is located in Durango.
Please join me in congratulating Justin!
* This, of course, doesn’t mean that the rest of us aren’t still in trouble.