Author Archives: The Doc
Rouzer, A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese, Overview
I am currently using Rouzer’s A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese to teach first-year Literary Chinese to students with at least two years of modern Chinese. As I teach, suggestions for other instructors and notes for my own future … Continue reading
Philosophy Majors after Graduation
My department had a large graduating class last year: 28 senior majors. I sent out a poll, asking students what their post-graduation plans were. This is part of a project I have to work up a handout of what our … Continue reading
World Series of Poker
Okay, this post is going to be addressed to a narrow audience: poker fanatics who understand the politics of the World Series of Poker. I attended the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas last year. I won $1600 by … Continue reading
Ethical Relativism and Realism
“What makes a man go neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?” — “Captain Zapp Brannigan,” Futurama There is a considerable body of philosophical argumentation pro and con ethical relativism. However, … Continue reading
Obama: Marriage-Wrecking Marxist
I’m surprised that anyone is surprised that Obama came out in favor of gay marriage. When Joe Biden expressed his support of gay marriage, my assumption that Obama was about to announce his own support. I also don’t buy the … Continue reading
What Is the Standard for Reading Classical/Literary Chinese?
If you want to read Confucius in the original language, you need to know Classical Chinese. If you want to know much of the later two and a half millennia of Chinese philosophy, you need to know Literary Chinese. (Classical … Continue reading
Does Science Advance?
Does science progress in a cumulative way? In other words, do later scientific theories build upon earlier ones by keeping older established truths about the world, and adding us more truths? The standard answer, familiar from Whiggish history and brief … Continue reading
Student Praise
I don’t want to make this blog a record of student praise, but I got an email today from a former student that made me smile. I hope you’ve been having a great semester and enjoyed your spring break! As … Continue reading
My Job
I have to work out the days and times for our department’s courses for next year, based on the preferences of my colleagues. Of course, I have colleagues who teach at the same times, on the same days, in the … Continue reading
Gingrich
I recently heard a great political zinger: Newt Gingrich “is a stupid man’s idea of what a smart man sounds like” (Paul Krugman on This Week with Christiane Amanpour). Sounds accurate to me. Then again, I’ll be laughing out of … Continue reading