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Index for this page...(Be aware some links below may have expired.)
All The Following Items Were Posted On November 1, 2005 1. Karl Popper (1902-1994) German philosopher of science
Read about Karl Popper in The Radical Academy. 2. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) German Existentialist philosopher
Read about Friedrich Nietzsche in The Radical Academy. 3. William James (1842-1910) American Pragmatist philosopher
Read about William James in TheRadical Academy. 4. William of Ockham (1300? - ?1349) Medieval philosopher
Read about William of Ockham in TheRadical Academy. 5. William James (1842-1910) American Pragmatist philosopher
Read about William James in TheRadical Academy. 6. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Danish Existentialist philosopher
Read about Soren Kierkegaard in The Radical Academy. 7. Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) Recent British philosopher
Read about Bertrand Russell in The Radical Academy. 8. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Ancient Greek Realist philosopher
Read about Aristotle in The Radical Academy. 9. Plato (427-347 B.C) Ancient Greek philosopher
Read about Plato in The Radical Academy. 10. Confucius [K'ung Fu-tzu] (551-479 B.C.E.) Ancient Chinese philosopher
Read about Confucius in The Radical Academy.
FOR THE RECORD FBI: Marijuana Arrests Reach Shameful New Record The War Against Marijuana is at all-time high. Police arrested an estimated 771,608 persons for marijuana violations in 2004, according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report, released October 17. That total is the highest ever recorded -- a shameful new record. And a closer look at this figure reveals some startling facts about the Drug War.
"It's important to remember that each of these statistics represents a human being, and in many cases, a preventable tragedy," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "One of those marijuana arrests in 2004 was Jonathan Magbie, a quadriplegic medical marijuana patient who died in the Washington, D.C., city jail while serving a 10-day sentence for marijuana possession." "These numbers belie the myth that police do not target and arrest minor marijuana offenders," said Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of NORML. "This effort is a tremendous waste of criminal justice resources that diverts law enforcement personnel away from focusing on serious and violent crime, including the war on terrorism." References: Polls: Majority of Americans now say "Iraq war was wrong" For the first time, a Wall Street Journal poll has found that a majority of Americans believe the Iraq war was the "wrong thing to do." The poll was conducted October 11-17 and published Tuesday, October 25. Fifty-three percent felt that "taking military action against Iraq was the ... wrong thing to do." Only 34 percent said they thought the war was the right thing to do. Just a year ago, the same poll found both sides on the question even, at 43 percent. The poll results were announced as the U.S. troop death toll hit 2,000. Other results:
And then there's this shocker. Another poll -- secretly commissioned by Britain's Ministry of Defense -- stunned Americans and Britons when results were published last week in Britain's Sunday Telegraph. According to the poll:
References: Catholic League Attacks New Madonna Movie Madonna's new documentary "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret" - a behind-the-scenes look at her "Re-Invention Tour" - has raised the ire of Catholic League president Bill Donohue. "Madonna is a mess," Donohue declared. "The same woman who brags about her journey from Catholicism to Kabbalah, and who warns young people that they will 'go to hell' unless they renounce their 'wicked behavior,' makes a film that not only takes a stab at Catholics and Jews - it delivers an attack on diversity. "That it took her an entire year to make this movie suggests that her creative talents have dissipated." The film opens with Madonna reading from the Book of Revelation, and she later says that our modern culture is the "Beast" mentioned in Revelation. One scene caricatures Orthodox Jews and shows a woman dressed as a nun revealing her undergarments. Another shows a man dressed as a Cardinal making an obscene gesture with both hands. "It is not Madonna's quip about 'most priests are gay' that is the most telling commentary in this documentary," said Donohue. "No, it is what she says to men and women wearing various religious garb: She informs us that 'religion breeds fragmentation' and that 'these religious costumes, for most people, end up separating everybody.' "She then endorses getting rid of religious garb 'so you can be one consciousness, okay?' "In other words, Madonna hates pluralism (a.k.a. diversity) and loves uniformity (a.k.a. inclusion). She belongs teaching multiculturalism at a local college; her increased nuttiness would make her a sure bet to win tenure." "Vietnam presumably taught us that the United States could not serve as the world's policeman; it should also have taught us the dangers of trying to be the world's midwife to democracy when the birth is scheduled to take place under conditions of guerrilla war." -- Jeane Kirkpatrick, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Reagan administration, 1979. Acknowledgments Some of the information included in our "For the Record" section may come from one or more of the following sources or is referred to us by that source. The subject matter or any views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Applied Philosophy or any of its associates. It is simply presented for your information and thoughtful reflection. COUNSELING CORNER: CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE
1. University of Chicago - With its reputation for academic excellence, the University of Chicago has long been one of America's foremost universities. We're ranking it first because of its emphasis on its core curriculum, which it calls the "Common Core," its rigorous academic standards and its diverse political atmosphere. Chicago's "Common Core" was designed in the 1930s. Undergraduates spend their first two years taking broad general courses in the humanities, physical sciences, biological sciences and social sciences. "It's the best school for students who want to spend four years reading serious books and talking to serious people," says John Zmirak, senior editor of "Choosing the Right College." That's because Chicago students are very serious about their studies. "Academics come first ¯ and second, and third," the guide notes. The political climate at Chicago is diverse and remarkably tolerant, with the op-ed pages of the main student newspaper, the Maroon, open to all points of view. Conservative professors can be found in many departments, and political considerations play less of a role in deciding who gets tenure and who doesn't. 2. Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan - Hillsdale's motto proclaims that it is "educating for liberty," and its history proves that motto. It was founded in 1844 on principles of nondiscrimination against blacks and women. During World War I, it defied an order from the federal government to racially segregate its Army ROTC unit. Since 1985, Hillsdale has refused federal funding and federally funded loans for its students. This conservative hotbed offers excellent teachers and a great curriculum. It spawns many of the conservative activists and scholars who wind up on the Beltway thanks to a core curriculum that stresses a "commitment to the Western heritage and to a rigorous liberal arts education." 3. Christendom College, Front Royal, Virginia - This solidly Catholic, profoundly thoughtful liberal arts college was founded in 1977 by laymen who were troubled by the abandonment of classical liberal arts education. The core curriculum goes beyond what many liberal arts colleges require, with six semesters of philosophy in order "to assist the student in using reason to understand the nature of reality and to illumine further the truth of revelation." Christendom College is highly recommended for students who are serious about their Catholic faith. Daily mass is an integral, but not mandatory, part of college life. Most faculty members and students would be considered conservative, but there is no lockstep conformity at Christendom. The college, however, does enforce a dress code. 4. Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois - The leading Evangelical school in the United States, Wheaton College is a solid bastion of reflective Christian formation and excellent scholarship. Students take courses in each of four learning clusters: faith and reason, society, nature, and literature and the arts. As a result, students graduate with a foundation in the fundamentals of Western culture and history. Wheaton is no hotbed of political activity, but with an active College Republican club but no College Democrats on campus, the atmosphere is definitely conservative. 5. Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, California - Located at the edge of the Los Padres National forest, this Catholic liberal arts college "is the perfect escape from the outside word ¯ ideal for undertaking the gravitas of Thomas Aquinas," say the editors of "Choosing the Right College." "It's like being on an intellectual retreat," says one student. There are no majors; students graduate with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. They study the Great Books, a rigorous curriculum that consists of the writings of some of the greatest thinkers ever. The 146 credit hours required for graduation must include mathematics, philosophy, foreign language, theology, science and music, as well as a senior thesis and seminars on St. Thomas. Many of the 330 men and women who are enrolled are passionate anti-abortion activists, but most students are apolitical. 6. Baylor University, Waco, Texas - This Baptist school, with a solid teaching tradition and a newly beefed-up faculty, is a place where conservative students can get a solid liberal arts education. It has one of the best core curricula of any school. Students are required to follow a structured curriculum and to demonstrate a proficiency in a foreign language. General education requirements make up more than half of a student's course load. College Democrats and Republicans coexist on the Baylor campus, along with a flourishing chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, a popular political group that has chapters on campuses throughout the state. 7. Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. - Chartered by Pope Leo XIII in 1887, CUA is the foremost Catholic university in the United States, with first-rate minds, excellent resources, a sincere student body and a sense of mission. Students are required to take courses to satisfy requirements in literature, foreign language, math, the natural sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences. Politics at CUA definitely lean to the right. The College Republicans have hosted, among others, Oliver North, Robert Novak, Ed Meese and Ben Stein. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is an alumnus, and former Attorney General John Ashcroft delivered the commencement address in 2002. 8. Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania - Like Hillsdale College, Grove City refuses to accept federal funds and federally funded student loans. Founded in 1876, this excellent, small liberal arts school is loosely affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its mission statement declares that the school "seeks to provide liberal and professional education of the highest quality that is within the reach of families with modest means who desire a college that will strengthen their children's spiritual and moral character." With dedicated teachers, Grove City focuses on undergraduate education, low tuition and small classes ¯ "an overall excellent choice, particularly for Evangelical students," says Zmirak. Students are required to take six courses in the humanities, two in social sciences/international studies, two in quantitative/logical reasoning and two in natural sciences, as well as four semesters of foreign language, which may be satisfied by demonstrating a proficiency in a foreign language. Most students are apolitical. "Political conflicts at Grove City tend to reflect differences among conservatives, rather than between conservatives and liberals," observes "Choosing the Right College." 9. University of Dallas, Irving, Texas - Founded in 1956 by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, UD is full of devoted scholars who are dedicated to teaching. Known for its focus on a rigorous core curriculum ¯ it was the first university to be accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education, a group that recognizes schools having solid core curricula ¯ UD attracts a serious student body. Many courses use the Great Books, and the university offers a Rome program that immerses students in the culture and faith of that city. "With high moral and intellectual expectations placed on the students through the core curriculum, one does not find the kind of politically charged 'activism' found at many other universities," observe the editors of "Choosing the Right College." About 70 percent of the students are Catholic, and students and faculty say that non-Catholics are welcome and feel comfortable at the school, which does not emphasize piety. One faculty member says that Dallas attracts "students who are serious about Western tradition but not necessarily serious about Catholicism." 10. Washington and Lee, Lexington, Virginia - W&L is a small, teaching-centered liberal arts college that maintains a strong link with its Southern heritage and traditions. One-time college president Robert E. Lee, now buried in the school's chapel, helped craft W&L's honor code and its genteel customs of civility. Teachers are said to be dedicated, students gracious, and most subjects still taught the way they were 30 years ago ¯ which is good news indeed. What's more, trendy majors such as media studies and gender studies aren't offered. W&L doesn't have a true core curriculum; required courses take up more than one-third of the credits needed for graduation. Among them are English composition and literature, foreign language, fine arts, history and religion, as well as three courses in science and mathematics. In addition, students are required to take five terms of physical education and pass a swimming proficiency test. W&L's students have earned a reputation for conservatism ¯ conservative-leaning groups predominate on campus ¯ and most students identify themselves as Republican. "It's a conservative's heaven," says one student, "but liberals still feel comfortable." There is a small but active gay and lesbian group on campus, but that's just about the only organization that could be deemed radical.
A LITTLE OF THIS & A LITTLE OF THAT A Little Wisdom: A hug is a great gift, one size fits all. It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange. A Little Advice: "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." -- General George S. Patton. A Little Question: If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy? A Little Put-Down: I've finally figured out why you always have that stupid grin on your face ... You're stupid! A Little Proverb: Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't. A Little Reflection: At my age, "getting a little action" means I don't need to take a laxative. A Little Observation: The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision. A Little Quote: "Until the day of his death, no man can be sure of his courage." -- Jean Anouilh (1910-1987), French playwright. A Little Bumper Sticker: Don't hit me - my lawyer's in jail. A Little Definition: Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind. A Little Quip: Support bacteria... it's the only culture some people have! A Little Request: "Think much, Speak little, Write less."
Some interesting & provocative articles on other websites: The Obesity Myth - The 'war on fat' is a witch-hunt masquerading as a public health initiative, by Paul Campos: Is your weight hazardous to your health? According to America's public health authorities, there's an 80 per cent chance that it is. From the Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and our leading medical schools, America's anti-fat warriors are bombarding us with dire warnings. According to such sources, no fewer than four of every five Americans maintain a medically dangerous body mass (nearly two-thirds of us are said to be overweight, while almost half of the rest of the nation is categorised as too thin). The Police State Is Closer Than You Think, by Paul Craig Roberts: Police states are easier to acquire than Americans appreciate. The hysterical aftermath of September 11 has put into place the main components of a police state. Habeas corpus is the greatest protection Americans have against a police state. Habeas corpus ensures that Americans can only be detained by law. They must be charged with offenses, given access to attorneys, and brought to trial. Habeas corpus prevents the despotic practice of picking up a person and holding him indefinitely. School meals - get real - The real scandal is the government's unwholesome attitude to parents, by Jennie Bristow: British school dinners are a scandal. And no, I'm not talking about the composition of a turkey twizzler, or the tiny amount of money spent on each meal, or the frequency with which chips appear on the menu, or any of the other nuggets of information that have been listed in mind-boggling detail by the government and the media. I am talking about the scandal of a government that thinks it should turn education into one long lecture about healthy living, and assumes the authority to dictate how parents should feed their children. Let the free market be free, by John Stossel: The Internet has revolutionized the marketplace by, among other things, eliminating middlemen. Internet car-buying services let you shop for prices and options without leaving home. "For sale by owner" websites show you houses for sale. Uh oh. Can't have that, can we? Here's Your Cup, Junior, by Paul Armentano: Students from Paradise, Calif., to Pequannock, N.J., are turning in more than just their homework this school year. At the behest of the White House, tens of thousands of middle and high school students are required to randomly submit their urine to school authorities -- and it's America's taxpayers who are footing the bill. Pentagon wants new spying powers in US - Pentagon says it won't spy on 'innocent' Americans, but critics say past record shows this is false, by Tom Regan: Claiming it needs greater latitude for the war on terror, the US Senate Intelligence Committee has approved a request from the Pentagon for the right to "covertly" gather intelligence on US citizens in order to determine whether they can recruit them as informants, without telling them that they are doing so on behalf of the US government. Class(room) Warriors, by John Leo: The cultural left has a new tool for enforcing political conformity in schools of education. It is called dispositions theory, and it was set forth five years ago by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education: Future teachers should be judged by their "knowledge, skills, and dispositions." What are "dispositions"? NCATE's prose made clear that they are the beliefs and attitudes that guide a teacher toward a moral stance. Why do we fear freedom? - The first casualty of the politics of fear is open debate, by Frank Furedi: Politics has little in common with the passions and conflicts that shaped people's commitments and sentiments over the past two centuries. There is no longer room for principles, ideals or even a clear political purpose. "National Service" And Involuntary Servitude, by Joseph Sobran: Here in and around the Beltway, a local talk-radio host started the day with a bright idea: Let's put welfare recipients to work. The idea of nonmilitary "national service" has a stubborn charm for many Americans who should know better. Even William Buckley has endorsed it. So do some of my liberal friends. If the government is paying people money, shouldn't it be able to require something of them in return? Even rich people occasionally speak of "giving something back to the community." Are Jews Smarter?, by Jennifer Senior: Did Jewish intelligence evolve in tandem with Jewish diseases as a result of discrimination in the ghettos of medieval Europe? That's the premise of a controversial new study that has some preening and others plotzing. What genetic science can tell us -- and what it can't. Deviled eggs, by John Leo: The "tiny cross" people at the American Civil Liberties Union are at it again. These are the folks with extra-keen eyes and powerful magnifying glasses, who examine the official seals of towns and counties, looking for miniature crosses that ACLU lawyers like to trumpet as grave threats to separation of church and state. US robot builds copies of itself, by Roland Pease: US researchers have devised a simple robot that can make copies of itself from spare parts. Writing in Nature, the robot's creators say their experiment shows the ability to reproduce is not unique to biology. Why do we believe these anti-human horror stories? - From Lozells to New Orleans, unsubstantiated rumours of rape, murder and depravity are now being spread as hard fact, by Mick Hume: Why do we seem so ready to believe the worst of others these days? The police have blamed the rioting in Lozells in Birmingham, England, on the spread of 'rumour, myth and speculation' about the alleged gang rape of a teenage black girl by Asian men in a local shop. It was certainly striking to see such an established black newspaper as The Voice carry the front page headline GANG OF 19 RAPE TEEN as a statement of fact, without any of the usual qualifying quotation marks. Yet neither victim nor witnesses have emerged, and it now seems certain that no such attack occurred. The revolt against reason - The culture war and the fight to save rationality, by Fred Hutchison: The culture war is part of a collision of two world views. Can the disagreements between these world views be settled through rational discussion? This can only happen if both sides are amenable to reason. If one side withdraws from the interaction of ideas and throws up defenses against reason, the possibility of authentic conversation is negated. One of the assumptions in the works of the popular theologian Francis Schaefer (1912&endash;1984) is that postmodern liberalism is in revolt against reason. The fatal turn against reason in the West, he believed, began over two centuries ago and has made intermittent gains since then. The present postmodern renunciation of reason has reached a high water mark of irrationality. I hope to offer an abbreviated history of the revolt against reason in another paper. PETA asks state to impose code of ethics for anglers: Anchorage, Alaska - State Department of Fish and Game officials say they'll probably not enact the latest request from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA wants the department to make fishermen promise they will follow a federal code of angling ethics before they can legally hook salmon, trout and halibut. It is asking the state to put the requirement in place before people can buy fishing licenses.
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