Chpt 3 (for 2 Feb 12)

1. Are we the only animal that is aware of its mortality? What do we make of the fact that we will die? What do we feel in response to that fact and why?
2. Rank states: "We have a need to feel that life matters, that we are both special and a part of something larger and more encompassing." Do you agree? Why?
3. Epicurus stated: "When I am, death is not, and when death is, I am not." Is he right? Based on this statement is fear and anxiety concerning death irrational?

Definitions of Death / Becky Tacy's visit

Dear Sparkles,

Please discuss your definitions of death and/or issues related to Prof. Tacy's visit today.  I would like you to start by discussing death as an event vs. a process.

Other prompts from Jillian & Kelsey's presentation:
* When is a person dead and when can we harvest his/her organs?
* Is there a difference between being declared dead and no longer living?
* Is it unethical to take someone off of life-support?  If it depends on the situation, explain.

Marx (end of Jan12)

Here are some related links regarding wealth and class, workers and jobs, the election and political influence.  Do you think Marx's critique of capitalism still holds?  To what degree?

{You don't have to read all these - you can respond here to something we discussed in class, or to something else you thought of regarding Marx, address the question above regarding his critiques, and/or comment on one or more of the stories below (whatever interests you).}

* Regarding the use of technology for selling girls

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/opinion/how-pimps-use-the-web-to-sell-girls.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 

* Regarding the making of (working conditions) iPhones and iPads

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/opinion/how-pimps-use-the-web-to-sell-girls.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 

* Regarding Marx and the upcoming election:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/brooks-free-market-socialism-.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

* Regarding Gov. Romney's taxes:

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/01/24/us/24reuters-usa-campaign-romney-taxes.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha24

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16696347

* Contemporary issues related to Marx, including a growing gap between the rich & the poor in the U.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_03.html

 

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/income/income_inequality/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier

Philosophizing (Jan12)

Read the introduction to Barry and Ten Theories.  Discuss: What is philosophical thinking? Why is it valuable? Why is it difficult?

Frontline video Facing Death (1st Week Jan12)

Frontline Facing Death Nov 2010 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/facing-death/

Dying Film questions

v  How do you want to die? Where do you want to die?

v  What support is necessary for someone to die at home?

v  How do most people in America die?

v  What’s the relationship of technology to issues in medical ethics?  Discuss the role of experimental treatments and the limits of technology in end-of-life care.  What is futile care?

v  How would you determine what is “appropriate care”?  Is doing nothing ever appropriate?  When? 

v  See more at  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/facing-death/facts-and-figures/

Current Events Jan/Feb

*new* (well, it is actually an old article)
In class, Karlie has told us that her father died when she was in high school.  This article was written soon after he died.
http://www.kentucky.com/2008/06/07/1841992/bracken-county-its-better-to-stay.html

Grief as a symptom of depression?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/health/depressions-criteria-may-be-changed-to-include-grieving.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2 

Regarding Marx, capitalism, wealth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/brooks-free-market-socialism-.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212
and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16696347

Record High Army Suicide Rates in 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/us/active-duty-army-suicides-reach-record-high.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23 

You might have read about a woman who lost three young children and her parents in a house fire right around Christmas.  This short story is about her poise and wishes at the funeral.
After Losing All, a Mother Goes On - http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/her-girls-killed-in-a-fire-madonna-badger-finds-a-way-to-go-on

This Life:  Mourning in a Digital Age
By BRUCE FEILER
With religiosity in decline and families dispersed, new ways of mourning need to evolve. Here are some ideas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/fashion/mourning-in-the-age-of-facebook.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1326897723-VoDfATuKTvyHExN7iYifEw  

Burial Traditions
http://m.npr.org/story/145040523?url=/blogs/13.7/2012/01/12/145040523/cremation-burial-or-body-farm&sc=fb&cc=fp 

Introductions (1st Week)

Class:
We briefly introduced ourselves in class, but let's elaborate here.  Who are you, why are you taking this class, what kind of experiences with death have you had?

My mom died of renal cancer on 1 July 2011.  She went to the hospital on Good Friday and never came home.  My maternal grandmother died in September 2010.  This past fall 2011, I lost two cats within two months.  I hope that 2012 will be less sorrowful.