Science and Philosophy

On the importance of recognizing the relationship between philosophy (and other humanities) and science. The authors revisit the case of H.M. who was unable to form new long-term memories but could learn new skills. What is the difference between knowledge of skills and knowledge of facts: know-how and know-that?

Constructing an argument in mathematics or history is one kind of human activity. Football and cabinetmaking are others. We argue that skilled human activity generally requires the acquisition and manipulation of knowledge, as well as implicit processes that do not depend on propositional knowledge (for example, increased dexterity). It is hard, and perhaps not possible, to forge a theoretically significant distinction between working with one’s hands and working with one’s mind.

THE STONE October 27, 2013, Is the ‘Dumb Jock’ Really a Nerd?By JASON STANLEY and JOHN W. KRAKAUER

Become a Philosophy Major

Experience Philosophy in Greece

Philosophy in Greece

In the spring of 2014 we are offering PHI 394 Study Abroad--Greek Philosophy that includes two weeks of study in Greece (May 14-27). There are no pre-requisites for the course; we hope to attract students with diverse interests and backgrounds. The cost for a triple room is estimated at $3700 (double $3765 and single $4115). That includes airfare, hotel, travel between sites, breakfasts and two dinners. We will spend most of our time in Athens but also explore Delphi (home of the Oracle of Delphi), Mycenae, Corinth, and Epidaurus. We also plan to visit the island of Mykonos for a couple of days. It will be a fantastic experience. See our flyer for more information.

Philosophers' Cafe: Is There a Moral Grammar?

Philosophers' Cafe

Join us Friday as we discuss questions about the nature of morality. Is our knowledge of moral rules like our knowledge of the rules of grammar? And what kind of knowledge is that?

The talk will be presented as Pecha Kucha: twenty slides, twenty seconds each. Lots of great discussion.

Friday, October 25, 3:00-4:00 in GH 316.

Why Study Logic?

Logic is the means by which we manage reasoning's vulnerability to luck. Once we see that the form of a piece of reasoning is evaluable independently of the content of its premises, we make a large swath of our reasoning invulnerable to luck. This invulnerability is a focal objective of deductive logic – the aim is to show how, in the case of certain forms of reasoning, the truth of our premises absolutely guarantees the truth of our conclusions. This is a high calling, indeed.

3quarksdaily: Why Study Logic?

Information, Knowledge & Intelligence

Alistair MacFarlane writes about information, knowledge and intelligence and about whether computers could one day hold an intelligent conversation.

Information describes: it tells us how the world is now. Knowledge prescribes: it tells us what to do on the basis of accumulated past experience. Intelligence decides: it guides, predicts and advises, telling us what may be done in circumstances not previously encountered, and what the outcome is likely to be.

Information, Knowledge & Intelligence | Issue 98 | Philosophy Now

Film and Philosophy: Fight Club

Fight Club

Join us October 11 from 3:00-6:00 in NKU's Digitorium when we will screen and discuss Fight Club. Questions about self, self perception, self discovery, society, advertising, appearance and reality, and much more.

Part of our Film and Philosophy series.

Spring 2014 PHI Schedule of Classes

Spring 2014

The spring course schedule is out. Priority registration begins October 31. You can see the spring schedule of courses on myNKU and I attached a poster to this email. We are offering a number of 300-level PHI courses you are sure to find interesting.

• PHI 302 Research Ethics: Ethical, legal, and public policy issues stemming from scientific research. Pence MWF 12:00-12:50
• PHI 304 Zen: Foundational and developmental exposure to the fundamental and essential teachings of Zen. Miller M 6:15-9:00
• PHI 309 Global Ethics: How ethicists from many cultures do ethics from their unique cultural perspective. Kenney ONLINE
• PHI 315 Knowledge and Reality: Differing views on the nature of knowledge and reality. Garns TR 12:15-1:30
• PHI 320 Social and Political Philosophy: Nature and purposes of the state, grounds of political obligation, freedom and its limitations, human rights, social justice, and selected contemporary issues. Frimpong-Mansoh MW 2:00-3:15

And for the first time we are offering a special study abroad experience in Greece. Students who take PHI 394 Study Abroad--Greek Philosophy will spend two weeks in Greece--the birthplace of Western philosophy--during the last two weeks in May. (See attachment) In the course students will critically examine the issues and ideas that confronted the Greek philosophers at the advent of Western philosophy, and come to appreciate the cultural context in which they appear. Hancock TR 1:40-2:55. We are waiving pre-requisites for the course and it will count toward the philosophy major requirements. You don't need to be a philosophy major to take the course and travel to Greece; the course is open to all students; please tell your friends. We should have an estimate on the cost in the next few weeks. Contact Nancy Hancock (hancockn@nku.edu) or me (garns@nku.edu) for more information.