MLK & the Epistemology of Racism
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I thought I’d repost this piece I wrote on racism back in August. Continue reading MLK & the Epistemology of Racism
Tag: epistemology
Intellectual Virtue for the New Year
I often launch my freshmen philosophy classes with a discussion about this painting, The Death of Socrates, by Jacques Louis David: I write a quotation from Socrates on the board: “Philosophy is preparation for death.” What do you think this could mean? One answer is that philosophy, literally the “love of wisdom,” is a lifestyle that helps you live a life you won’t regret in the end. To love wisdom and pursue truth, even to the point of sacrificing other important things, fosters human flourishing and happiness. Another way to describe the goal of this pursuit is intellectual virtue. So, … Continue reading Intellectual Virtue for the New Year
The Epistemology of Christmas
God came quietly. The arrival of the divine on earth was much subtler and cloaked than most of us would expect, or demand. It’s worth asking, “Why?” I could launch into a theodicy about the strategicness of God’s particular mode of infiltration. How God values seekers more than mere believers. In other words, if God just wanted maximal belief in his existence, he would have come differently. But the subtlety of his visitation leaves the path home only partially traversed. He waits for us somewhere in the middle, sending word of his presence. Only those who sincerely want to meet … Continue reading The Epistemology of Christmas
The Rationality of a Flu Shot
I don’t like shots, in fact, I avoid them. Ironically, I visited my doctor yesterday, and left with a band-aid on my arm. I didn’t plan to get a flu shot, in fact I’ve never had one and never wanted one, but he talked me into it. I thought the whole dialectic was interesting, so I’ll share it with you. I think it illustrates some valuable principles of rationality and good belief formation. (The doctor actually said some of these things, and some of them I said to myself during the conversation.) The Conversation “Have you considered getting a flu … Continue reading The Rationality of a Flu Shot