Plato & Aristotle

Cave video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2afuTvUzBQ

What questions do you have about these ancient philosophers?  What criticisms?

Happiness / Gratitude

I decided to dedicate an entire post to current events and discussions about human nature focusing on happiness, starting with this sweet article about how a loving, supportive partner is good for your brain!
A happy marriage relieves stress and makes one feel as safe as an adored baby. http://nyti.ms/H2dFNm
(I am grateful for my sweet husband, my engaged students, and a beautiful spring!)

*new* UN discusses measures of happiness
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/un-discusses-gross-national-happiness-indicator-as-successor-to-gross-domestic-product/2012/04/02/gIQAJJKorS_story.html

Chpt 9 PAS

Current Events March 2012

*new*  E.O. Wilson's new book Social Conquest
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/books/edward-o-wilsons-new-book-social-conquest-of-earth.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120409

Minimize intensive care at end-of-life
Here's a relatively short TED talk about not dying in intensive care:

http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_saul_let_s_talk_about_dying.html

Death in South Africa
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17289794

Self-immolations of Tibetan Monks
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/world/asia/in-self-immolations-signs-of-new-turmoil-in-tibet.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120323

positive side of traumatic experience
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/post-traumatic-stresss-surprisingly-positive-flip-side.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120325

Search for Kony
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17498382

Soldier kills 16 in Afghanistan, 12 Mar 12
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148456123/afghan-shooting-leaves-many-unanswered-questions?ps=rs
op-ed 20 March: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/opinion/brooks-when-the-good-do-bad.html
more info on solider: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/robert_bales/index.html 

Decisions Doctors Make about Dying March 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203918304577243321242833962-lMyQjAxMTAyMDAwMTEwNDEyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email_bot

Oregon & dying
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=148466780

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/08/148236468/oregon-emphasizes-choices-at-lifes-end

Tornadoes -- death & destruction

Reflections on the storms from 2 March?  Were you impacted?  Does watching the impact on others make you reflect more seriously on death & dying?  Does watching the assistance rendered to those who lost much make you reflect on human nature?  Thoughts, comments, observations?

The right questions

We've read about many religions.  Most of us are more familiar with Christianity and its teachings about the afterlife.  Do you think your beliefs about the afterlife do inform your actions in the here and now?  Should it?  In other words, what would you do differently if you knew there was no afterlife? 

Does a definitive answer to "is there an afterlife" help you?  Or is it a question that we don't really need to ask and/or ponder?

Music / Film / Books

Post your favorite links to music, film, and books related to the course.

 I'll start with Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch "I'll Fly Away"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdRdqp4N3Jw

Suicide

Please look around for current (reputable) resources and information on suicide.  I'll start:

http://www.suicideprevention.uconn.edu/resources.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/suicide.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-america/suicide-in-america-frequently-asked-questions.shtml

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06suicide-t.html?pagewanted=all

Rutgers student's suicide
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker  

Chpt 8 Questions

Please comment on chapter 8 here, and we'll have a separate post for suicide specifically.

Chpt 10 Darwinianism

Noam Chomsky was referenced in your chapter -- in the discussion about language.  I just thought you'd be interested in this article about him.
http://www.salon.com/2012/02/11/book_event_with_noam_chomsky/singleton/