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Archive for the ‘Philosophy’ Category

Privilege and the role of schools

Posted in Education policy, Philosophy, Politics on January 8, 2008 | Comments Off

In response to my prior post about Privilege and Social Capital, Jose posted the following: “I will tell you that the answers are not simple and will not arrive quickly. Change starts with the children. However, it also has to do with changing elements in society that have existed since the beginning.” This is a [...]

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Privilege and Social Capital

Posted in Being a scholar, Memes, Philosophy on January 3, 2008 | Comments Off

My husband and I spent some time last night talking politics.  (As much time as he can in one sitting; he studied political science as an undergrad and now find the entire subject annoying and pointless.)  We were talking about the  presidential race.  I mentioned that I would probably end up voting for a Democrat [...]

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My problem with postmodernism

Posted in Being a scholar, Philosophy on December 28, 2007 | Comments Off

My department has an ample supply of postmodernists.  I have had a problem with their ideas since the start, but I think I can finally explain what that problem is.  In reading and talking to postmodernists I am seeing two distinct arguments: Epistemological: There is no such thing as objective truth; the very concept of [...]

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Marginalia: Pet Peeves

Posted in Being a scholar, Philosophy on November 13, 2007 | Comments Off

I HATE the word ‘problematize’ – It isn’t in the OED or any of the mainstream dictionaries, yet it gets tossed around by academics as thought it were ‘cat’.  It’s not a real word.  It implies the outcome before the discussion starts. It’s jargon, meant to exclude people rather than clearly communicate.  At best it [...]

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The concept of the public academic or activist scholar

Posted in Being a scholar, Philosophy on November 2, 2007 | Comments Off

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