Be employable, study philosophy!


Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)
Vancouver journalist Shannon Rupp, "Be employable, study philosophy" (Salon, July 1, 2013): "I tell people the most useful classes I took were all in philosophy. Yes, the course of study that has long been denigrated as frivolous and useless in the job market has been the part of my education that I lean on again and again. For work and everything else.... 'Jobs change. But if you teach students to think clearly first, they can do whatever else they want to do'.”  Read the rest of Shannon Rupp's article. Then come to Providence University College and take some philosophy courses! (Look for philosophy courses in Humanities.)

On Jesus, Objective Truth, Etc.



Here is a fine article from the philosophers over at Tyndale University College:

Jesus and Objective Truth

And here are some articles from the philosopher over at Providence University College:

What is truth?
Pragmatic theory of truth ... is false
Nietzsche's skepticism

Happy spring-summer reading!

Tyndale Philosophy Blog


Tyndale University College (Toronto) has a new blog that might be of interest to Providence University College students taking philosophy: Every Thought Captive: Official Blog of Tyndale UC Philosophy Department.

Easter

Easter is the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. But did Jesus actually rise from the dead? Here's a 9 minute portion of a debate between two important philosophers, William Lane Craig (yes) and Alex Rosenberg (no):



For further reading: Easter and philosophy, Believing Christmas because of Easter, and Did Easter Happen?

Happy Easter!

Thinking about Wealth, Poverty, and Free Enterprise


Does free enterprise lead to an ugly consumerist culture?

Philosopher Jay W. Richards attempts to answer this question in Part 7 of "Eight Most Popular Myths about Wealth, Poverty, and Free Enterprise."  Food for thought.

Jay W. Richards is (among other things) a research fellow at the Acton Institute.

Faith Beyond Belief


This looks like a good conference: Be Ready: Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World.  Where? Calgary.  When? March 8 & 9, 2013.  Speakers include William Lane Craig, J. P. Moreland, Clay Jones, Craig Hazen, Irving Hexham.

Philosophy Foosball Dinner -- POSTPONED


PLEASE NOTE: Philosophy Foosball Club Dinner has been postponed. A Memorial Service has been planned for the late and beloved Dr. Henry Schellenberg and will occur in Winnipeg at Westminster Church, Friday, March 1, 7:30 p.m. A new date for PFC Dinner is to be determined and will be announced soon.

A Night of Quining and Dining
Winter 2013 Philosophy Foosball Dinner will occur at Dr. and Mrs. VDB's place on Friday, March 1st at 6:15 p.m.  After dinner we will enjoy presentations on the philosophy of Willard van Orman Quine (VOQ?).  After some serious philosophical discussion we will play some serious games of skill (foosball on the mini-table and heart-pounding Crokinole) plus we will listen to some serious musical talent (from the one and only Manny Coon and perhaps others who happen to bring along a musical instrument).
For those planning to attend, please RSVP by email to VDB by noon on Wednesday, February 27 at the latest. (If you've already RSVP'd via Facebook, that's sufficient.)  If you need directions, contact VDB.

Hope to see you all there!

VDB

P.S. All students interested in philosophy, whether current Providence students or not, are welcome.

P.P.S. Here is VDB practicing for Crokinole rematch with Rob Horsley.

Plantinga!

Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga has been awarded the prestigious Rescher Prize for his contributions to philosophy.  For more detail, see David Theroux's article.

Missio Dei



Gospel. Justice. Setting captives free. Good food for philosophical thoughtand action. Come to Missio Dei.

No Secrets

File:TheSecretLogo.jpg

Sometimes a secret should be exposed, not kept.  Here are some clarifications and criticisms of the new gnosticism found in Rhonda Byrne's The Secret from Mark Earley and John Stackhouse, Jr.  Good food for philosophical thought.

Philosophical Idol?

David Hume (1711-1776)

Here's an interesting piece from The Chronicle of Higher Education: "The Philosophers That Philosophers Like Best".