Philosophy   

This class brings to life the words of renowned second-century Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius: "Your ability to control your thoughts – treat it with respect. It's all that protects your mind from false perceptions – false to your nature, and that of all rational beings." You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. Come to class and discover how we can trick ourselves into believing everything the brain says.

This class will discuss four questions based on papers from the second half of the twentieth century. Each proved to be an important contribution to its area. The first three are by American philosophers; the fourth British. After Warhol: what is art? ("The Artworld" by Arthur Danto); What is consciousness? ("What is it Like to be a Bat?" by Thomas Nagel); AI: Can machines think? ("The Chinese Room" by John Searle); Is there free will? ("Freedom and Responsibility" by Peter Strawson).

This introductory class will provide an overview of Hinduism, the religion of India that originated about 3000 years ago. It will include a brief history about the origin of Hinduism and the contributions to it from different sources, the religion of Hinduism and its many components, the different philosophies that underpin the religious practices, including the non-dualism of Vedanta; and the interactions between Hinduism and Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Also covered in the class are the rituals, practices, customs and festivals related to Hinduism.

In 1997, Don Miguel Ruiz published The Four Agreements. He writes that we have, mostly unconsciously, agreed to living as what he calls "the domesticated human," leading lives that can be unfulfilling and difficult. The four agreements can create the experience of inner freedom and contentment. In class, we will discuss each agreement and ways to apply them in everyday life. Familiarity with the book is helpful but not necessary. Just come and learn how to live a more wholesome life!

We will explore social changes and how people choose to adapt to or resist them. Potential topics for discussion include the changing landscape of gender identity, attitudes about social welfare programs, and right-to-die movements. We may also discuss advances in technologies such as self-driving cars and chatty artificial intelligences and what these mean for our lives going forward. Do these disruptions threaten to dissolve or perhaps expand our conception of what it means to be human?