The premise of determinism is that, just as the physical laws of the universe prescribe all matters of cause and effect (past, present and future), by extension, morality is predetermined. We do not exercise free will, rather, we act according to baked-in moral principles (known or unknown), that mechanistically trigger consequents based on given antecedents.
Continue readingAre Possible Worlds Concrete or Abstract?
Concretism, ala David Lewis (et al), is the view that all objects in the physical universe stand in relationship to one another in space-time, from beginning to end. The “actual world” we experience is an “indexical” of all other possible worlds. While other (concrete) worlds are possible, the “me” in this world is different from a counterpart in another world. If two worlds were to “collide”—a plotline in some writings—they would constitute one and the same world. In the spirit of Occam’s Razor, this view does not require some other invention to explain the state of affairs in one world versus another.
Continue readingLegal Opining: Why Transparency and Oversight are Important Democratic Norms–for Superheroes and the Rest of Us
Though transparency and oversight are important democratic norms, and a tripartite system of checks and balances was put in place to foster them, there are cases where they have failed. The Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg affairs serve as exemplars.
Continue readingLegal Opining: Lying versus Truthful Misleading
Though both are reprehensible, in my opinion, there are pragmatic instances in which lying is worse than truthful misleading. These are hinted in vernacular distinctions made between “lies” and “white lies.” In the dictionary definition, “white lies” are given to be “harmless.”
Continue readingObjections to Premise P1 in the “Experience Machine” Experiment
We consider, herein, objections to the first premise (P1) put forth in the “Experience Machine” experiment delineated by Robert Nozick in his influential treatise, Anarchy, State, and Utopia.
Continue readingWhat is Art?
The answer to the question “What is art?” is contingent on a set of aesthetic judgements.
Continue readingA Dispositional Framework for Bridging the Gap Between Onsite and Online Education
The broad objective of this discourse is to change the way teachers and students think about onsite and online education—leading to ways that improve upon contemporary pedagogical practice and banishing the notion that one form is inferior to the other.
Participatory Tweeting as a Vehicle for Course Engagement
This paper advocates for engaging uses of Twitter (or similar clients or services) in the classroom. We cover how to use it efficaciously, and why the very notion of class participation needs to be redefined.
Continue readingNaughts and Crosses
Resort Gypsies
In the hospitality industry, Tyler Christian and Liz Sidbury are classified as seasonal employees. Continue reading