De current events

Q: Do you disbelieve climate scientists?
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/world/climate-talks.html?referrer=

Evolution: A Short History

Did reading this book help you understand some of the concepts we discussed in class?  Please explain.

I just watched a Cosmos episode that you would like about many of the concepts we discussed when finishing the book last week.  Here's a description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_of_the_Things_That_Molecules_Do

You can watch Cosmos on Netflix if you have access.  Otherwise, it looks like National Geographic channel will rebroadcast them.

End-of-Course Reflections

Please comment on at least several if not all of these questions -- use separate posts if you like.   

What have you learned in this course that surprised you?

Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?  

Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of science?

Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?

Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?

Feminism

*new 30Nov14* Taking action to prevent domestic violence: How to be an engaged bystander:
http://nomore.org/take-action/preventviolence/

Feminism & rape culture & domestic violence:
It is never morally acceptable to have sex with another who cannot or will not consent. Feminism tries to protect women from rape & sexual assault like these horrible stories illustrated in this most recent Rolling Stone magazine:
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/a-rape-on-campus-20141119?page=7


Q: What is feminism? How does it relate to our class?

How U. of San Diego Added 8 Female STEM Professors - The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://m.chronicle.com/article/How-U-of-San-Diego-Added-8/150051/?cid=wc&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en
Q: Should we be concerned with the number of female scientists?  Why or why not?

Q: are men better than women?
Q: is motherhood the highest calling for a woman? (Is fatherhood the highest calling for a man?
Q: are feminists against motherhood?
What does the current president of Turkey say?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/turkeys-president-says-women-equal-men/

Limits on basic research?

*new* 21Nov14 Brain-Computer interaction (neural code) research
http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/41367/title/Mind--Powered/ 
A short video explaining some current research & applications.
 
Sentinels in the Sewers - NYTimes.com
This article describes a new area of basic research -- trying to map out the genome of our cities by sampling our sewage.  So gross yet so cool!
http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/11/10/what-our-sewage-can-teach-us/?nlid=25414714&src=recpb&referrer=

Q: What is basic science research?  What is its role in the development of technology, treatments, other improvements for our lives?  Should there be limits on basic science?  Are those limits due to ethics?  Should there be limits on what companies, in contrast to government or the academy, can research?   GMOs? Chemical/biological research that might be turned into weapons?

The Concert

What did you think?  Parallels between the practice of science and the performance of music? Improv? Flow? Beauty? The humanity of science?

Talk about the experience and respond to each other.

Interstellar

Christopher Nolan's newest film on human relations & space travel:
Off to the Stars, With Grief, Dread and Regret - NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/movies/interstellar-christopher-nolans-search-for-a-new-planet.html?referrer=

David Brooks on Interstellar
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/11/21/opinion/david-brooks-interstellar-love-and-gravity.html?referrer=