We begin with an invitation: tell us who you are, and why you're here. We'll introduce ourselves in class and online (hit "comments" below). I'll start.
I'm the prof for this course, PHIL 3345, Bioethics. I hold degrees from the University of Missouri and Vanderbilt, and I'm here because the ethics of life and death is at the very heart of what philosophy, defined as the love of (and quest for) wisdom, is about. I'm still here in middle Tennessee, after relocating for Grad School, because I met my wife here and decided to stay. Our eldest daughter graduated in another state two years ago. Our youngest daughter is a sophomore at another university, currently majoring in Biology.
I also teach courses on Atheism, Environmental Ethics, and Happiness, among others. My favorite philosopher is William James (1842-1910), who once advised a friend: "Keep your health, your splendid health. It's worth all the truths in the firmament." I wrote a book about his philosophy. Let me know if you want to buy or borrow it.
I love the peripatetic approach to philosophy (and to life), maybe we'll try it if enough of you are game.
I am smitten with our two rescue dogs (since May) Nell and Pita. Nell loves everyone, Pita's a skeptic about human intentions (including those of Older Daughter, who understandably calls her Demon Dog).
Enough about me.
Who are you? Why are you here? (Bear in mind, as you reply, that this is an open site. There's nothing preventing the world from reading what we post here, except of course the world's own distraction.)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Josiah Gibbs and I am a Philosophy major and soon to be a double major with Psychology. Other than being a student, I am a coffee lover working as a barista in Nashville, a musician (of course), and ex-actor. Outside of philosophy and all things related to the brain/mind, my intellectual curiosity has led me to interests in history, literature, geography (i heard a student in one of my classes yesterday say they wouldn't "pretend to know where Scotland is" so I now feel it is valid to list as an intellectual interest), and political science.
I am in this class because of my interest in how philosophy/ethics plays a role in the relationship between doctors and patients (sometimes seen as a relationship between treating a patient and an illness), how we diagnose disease (fuzzy logic and philosophical vagueness), etc. My hope is to bring whatever I learn in this class into my study of philosophy of mind and psychology/neuroscience.
I realize my description of the practitioner/patient relationship may seem vague. What sparks my interest is the dualism inherent in some medical practice which treats an illness as something separate, a res extensa, from the patient, or res cogitans. To put it simply, a focus solely on the bodily ailment without incorporating the mental life of the patient and the effects it has in treatment.
DeleteI also find it intriguing that Dualism, although outdated as a solution to the mind/body problem, still affects lives and views.
For anyone interested here are some links, one short and one long,
http://www.cohealth.com/mind-body-dualism-an-outdated-approach-to-health-care/
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/cff4/27578ef7350fa3eb85dab1b2dfd4c3e30676.pdf
My name is Nathaniel Deel. I am a former high school teacher making a career change into medicine and signed up for the class to prepare for the MCAT, which I am scheduled to take this summer. My goal is to eventually become an emergency room physician.
ReplyDeleteThat is such an exciting transition! The emergency room is such an exciting place to work and ethics definitely plays an extremely important role in any hospital setting. I have spent a lot of hours in the emergency room in my current occupation and there has never been a dull moment.
DeleteMy name is Lilly Alegria and this is my first semester here at MTSU. I transferred from The University of Memphis after 3 years. Still, I am quite familiar with the city because I was raised in Antioch, TN. I decided to move back to Nashville for financial reasons as well as to spend more time with my family before I miss out on anymore time with them.
ReplyDeleteMy worst quality is my lack of discipline and its taken a toll on my very ambitious goals. Nonetheless, I am learning and taking it step by step (as I am my college career). I have switched my major 3 times and am finally very happy with my pathways: Poli-sci and Philosophy.
My ultimate goal is to work in Education Policy. I adamantly believe that education reaps far more benefits than a pathway to a well paying career. It should inspire self-awareness and collective understanding.
As serious and tedious as my coursework often is, I enjoy environments that are often boisterous.
I am looking forward to meeting you all.
If you are willing to talk about it, what field of education would you like to work with?
DeleteI am a daughter, wife, employee and student. As this is my second time in college, I have decided to do better at making time for the things that I value the most. In the past, I put all of my focus on my academic success and left little time for anything else. This year, I will focus on my family, reconnecting with old friends and becoming reacquainted with the outdoors.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I would stay up late filling my brain with pages of information only to wake up early the next morning to do the same. I would sacrifice my physical and mental health all in an attempt to make an “A”. This time it will be different.
Making an “A” is not what is most important to me. I believe the most important goal for any student should be spending every day doing the things that they value most.
If I died tomorrow, what value would there be in my academic past? “Ah, Elizabeth H., she had a B.S in Human Sciences and she was a good student”… what a boring eulogy that would be. I suppose that I am here to be inspired and to use what knowledge I gain to enrich my life, a life that is not defined by academia itself but defined by the things and people that I love.
There is always a goal in sight isn't there? I can understand the drag of education on social needs, I spent my first year nose deep in the books only for the next year to have to take a hard break and re-learn how to be flexible. I look forward on hearing your healthy progress, and wish you good mental and physical health.
DeleteMy name is Sean Winsett. I have lived in Murfreesboro my whole life, but in a year and a half, I will be leaving to live outside of Murfreesboro for the first time. My goal at MTSU is to prepare myself for the MCAT and applying to medical school. Aside from school, some of the things I enjoy are playing games, hiking, exploring, medieval strategy and weaponry, astronomy, and many more.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I am taking this particular class is simple, it is recommended for those preparing for the MCAT. Why I am taking the MCAT, preparing for medical school, and want to be trained as a surgeon is because I have a fascination with the many ways humans can perish and I would prefer to use this fascination to aid others in what ails them and increase their quality of life.
Hi, my name is Emma Long. I have lived in 6 different states and spent 2 years in Japan with my parents. Being a military family is difficult, even with all of the experiences I have had, I would never outright suggest it as a lifestyle. I have a younger brother who also studies here at MTSU, like our parents before us. I want to work in a lab, but beyond that I am still thinking. I was diagnosed with autism my second year of college, so most of my life I have been harder on myself than I probably needed. I like to be creative in my spare time, writing and storytelling with my friends through role playing games of various genes and styles.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy challenging myself and expanding my understanding of the world and it’s truths. Science is a search for truth, much like philosophy. Beyond this, there is a fine line of right and wrong as biological experiments often require quality of life for a living thing to decrease for the benefit of other living things. Sentience and rights of creatures that cannot communicate as humans know it are at risk of abuse with no advocacy. On the other hand, medical intervention can cause rifts between medical professionals and the communities at risk. Deaf families hesitate to advocate for early treatment in hearing deficiency, and those that are disabled are offended by some genetic tests being required for screening. There is a conversation to be had and it is that is what I am here for.
Hello friends,
ReplyDeleteMy name is crystal and I am a psychology major and religious studies/philosophy minor.
I have lived in Tennessee all my life and currently reside in Brentwood. I have attended Lee University, Columbia State, and now MTSU. I have changed my major and taken a long break along the way but now I am a senior and working towards graduate school.
https://scontent.fbna1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/32802195_10155296654972540_6637923555705094144_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&_nc_ht=scontent.fbna1-1.fna&oh=1f767b273affaa49a5e630c44cc0eea0&oe=5CC84559
Here is a picture of the love of my life Luca, he is a rescue from the murfreesboro paws shelter that I adopted in February of 2018. He was an abused pup and has to wear a muzzle around men since he has trust issues with them and has random outbursts of attacking.
My name is Christopher Julsgard, I am a conglomeration of Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, etc. I am on my trajectory, directed toward med school and a career in medicine after
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