professorial quirks and philosophy

[mp]

i'm taking an introduction to philosophy course this semester, and after my first class, i've noticed something strange about the professor. aside from coming off as a bit esoteric, he has a habit of staring off into the back of the room while he's lecturing. i find it more engaging if teachers dole out eye contact during the class period, but he just keeps finding something more interesting than his students at the top of the back wall of the classroom. i feel like he's ignoring the fact that we're in the room. :(

the subject matter seems like it's going to be interesting enough--i've had a little bit of exposure to philosophy through an ex-girlfriend, my two best friends, and a course in women in western philosophy--and i'm interested enough that i think i'll do well.

any advice those who've taken philosophy on how to better internalize reading assignments? reading tips in general would be great, as i kind of glided through high school and reading when it wasn't really of interest. some of the stuff i've leafed through seems really, really dry, and i worry that i won't be able to make it exciting enough to avoid falling asleep with my face in a copy of man a machine and man a plant.

[Dale North]

you like the eye contact? I'm all unconfortable. It feels like they know that I'm the one that needs to be taught

[Almasy Marquis]

Well, you ARE in their class to be taught . . . =D

Not a lot I can tell you, Matt, my philosophy teacher was just the opposite. Taught so well personally that I hardly had to look at the book. One thing you might try that works pretty well across the board is reading out loud, even if it's very quietly.

[mp]

well, i like it when the person at the front of the room makes eye contact with everyone, not just me.

i don't know. i'm thinking about going into education, so when i consider how i think things should be done, i know that i don't want to seem totally detached from the room of people in front of me. you can be taught, and the professor can be teaching--there's just something between that, which is what i find ideal. it's as simple as interaction instead of being lectured at, you know?

i'll try the reading out loud thing, too. that might keep me awake, too!

[Dale North]

I guess so. But I could only look the cute girls in the eye.

Which is why I am NOT an educator.




I'd pry wink...and then try to play it off as chalk dust if they look disgusted.

[mp]

hahaha. man, have you ever watched the anime great teacher onizuka, as an aside? i think you'd love it. it's really, really fucking good.

[Dale North]

I think....I don't know. I may have. How sad is that when you don't remember.

They all start to run into each other.

I'm watching Azumanga Daioh though, and the guy teacher in that OH MAN, THAT IS SOME FUNNY SHIT. Its the typical anime pervert-teacher, but his mouth is always agape. He's so blunt that it kills me.

Funny funny shit. Thats the type of teacher i'd want to be.

[mp]

gto is like the typical pervert teacher, except he has this amazing way of teaching life lessons all the time. he also has an incredibly off-the-beaten-path methodology. check out an episode or two if you don't remember and you can get your hands on it!

[FaithisHot]

TEACHER BANZAI!!!!!!

And yeah, Mr. Kimura (from Azumanga Daioh) is awesome. I just watched the episode where he is telling the students about a school where the girls wear their gym outfits to homeroom, and sometimes even their swimsuits... and then he starts crying just thinking about it...

[Ybrik Metaknight]

Anyone interested in philosophy should check out the Pop Culture and Philosophy series of books, edited by William Irvin (and with others, in some volumes). I have The Simpsons and Philosophy and have read most of it, and I also have The Matrix and Philosophy, and have read a chapter or two. I know they also have a Seinfeld and Philosophy and a Lord of the Rings and Philosophy, and maybe a few others. Anyway, if you're interested in philosophy and one of those pop culture properties interests you as well, I suggest you check out those books. Quite a good intro into philosophy.

[Nancie in a Can]

I don't know what to tell you, as my intro to philosophy professor was a complete tool. The subject matter covered was interesting enough, but when it came time to discuss it in class, he was pitiful. Every philosophy was turned into an analogy of his coffee mug:

"Descartes views about conscious were kind of like....this coffee cup!"

To make it worse, the guy's first name was Richard, so his coffee mug was embossed with the word "Dick" over and over.


I've found over the years that the best way to gain an appreciation and understanding of most philosophy is to get in a reading group with either fellow classmates or with a few friends who share an interest. An open discussion of ideas is the best way to hash out philosophy, IMO. It also helped me a lot to mark notes and questions in the columns of my philosophy books as I was reading them.

[Gendo Ikari]

My philosophy instructor was pitiful...

...I would ask, "So, (blank) is the way that the ancients felt about (blank)?"

"Uhh, yes, you could say that, yes!"

I couldn't possibly actually have been right as many times as my instrcutor said I was...

...and the ancients couldn't have been as stupid as the instructor seemed to convey they were, either.

[SaveSuperJoe]

I like the eye contact. It shows, to me, that the professor is interested in what is going on with the students in the class.

[Symmetry]

Anyone interested in philosophy should check out the Pop Culture and Philosophy series of books, edited by William Irvin (and with others, in some volumes). I have The Simpsons and Philosophy and have read most of it, and I also have The Matrix and Philosophy, and have read a chapter or two. I know they also have a Seinfeld and Philosophy and a Lord of the Rings and Philosophy, and maybe a few others. Anyway, if you're interested in philosophy and one of those pop culture properties interests you as well, I suggest you check out those books. Quite a good intro into philosophy.

The Simpsons & Philosophy book is quality.

I recommend taking a course in Logic as soon as possible. You'll be spending a lot of time dissecting arguments in Philosophy and even if you don't go on to take more Phil classes, learning how to think properly will be an asset throughout the rest of your life.

Honestly. I think you'll be amazed what a course or two in logic will do for you.

[Ybrik Metaknight]

Yes! Finally, someone who knows what I'm talking about with that book!

[Gendo Ikari]

So, we have quite a few philosophers on the board.
Why don't you guys like Baro's philosophical discussions, then?

[Ybrik Metaknight]

So, we have quite a few philosophers on the board.
Why don't you guys like Baro's philosophical discussions, then?

At least partially because on the last few, they've been: a) nonsensical; b) needlessly overcomplicated (Order of Chaos vs. Chaos of Order); or c) he ended up posting something that made it look like the entire thread was just his social experiment to see if he could manipulate someone into saying what he wanted. That last one really pissed some people off, and with good reason, in my opinion.

[KWarp]

I'm probably better off at making one then. :roll: I intend to take a philiosophy class my first year in collage.

[hillarygayle]

Lucky punks. I might like a philosophy class. They didn't offer philosophy at Harding. Unless you count "Christian Philosophy", which is basically what I've been practicing my entire life since I was 14, so, YEAH. e_e

Speaking of professorial quirks, Bryan has a teacher who is a conspiracy theorist. He thinks we're all being poisoned by the flouride added to tap water (to strengthen children's teeth, for those of you who didn't know), and he won't drink it. He also keeps ALL his money in gold and cash. o_O Given what he thinks of banks & financial institutions, it HAS to be in his house!

[Iskandar]

ninjas enroute

[Ailsean]

aside from coming off as a bit esoteric, he has a habit of staring off into the back of the room while he's lecturing. i find it more engaging if teachers dole out eye contact during the class period, but he just keeps finding something more interesting than his students at the top of the back wall of the classroom.

teleprompter

[Symmetry]

So, we have quite a few philosophers on the board.
Why don't you guys like Baro's philosophical discussions, then?

Pretty much what Ybrik said. It was full of "deep thoughts" that simply weren't that deep. Nor were the topics really that philosophical. (As far as I can remember.) They sounded more like a person who was trying to appear much more intelligent than he/she really was.

When you do philosophy, you approach each another on equal footing, more or less. If you attitude is "let me teach everyone else the truth", you've already failed in the very purpose of the subject. And Baro definately came across to me like that.

Not that I have anything seriously against the guy.