Suicide

So the play ends with a ton of self inflicted "stage exits". How might this "way out" effect our view of courage, i.e., can someone commit suicide courageously? or is it always the coward's way out? Be sure to keep focus and examine the three cases of Portia, Cassius and Brutus.

Also for Foucault, what is free speech?

Have a great Halloween guys,
Dr. Layne

Stoicism

So I know this is a little late, but I found this article does a really good job of explaining stoicism....its not long, either. Enjoy.

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/10/27/twenty-first-century-2.html

Brutus

Read until Act III

Primarily the question is what/who does Brutus love and how does this lead him to act as he does?

To answer this reflect upon what kind of man Brutus is? What characteristics does he have that lead him to join the Senate's fold? Analyze his relationship with Rome, Caesar, his fellow countrymen as well as his wife Portia.

Did I loan a book to someone and they didn't return it? If so, could you please give it back. I wanted to look it over today and couldn't find it.

Thanks,
Dr. Layne

Its come to my attention that there may be problems with the reading on BB. If this is the case, Voltaire comes from the Philosophical Dictionary Book 5 section 1.

Fanaticism

So finally we are here crossing the line into fanaticism....
What then are the characteristics that transform the courageous individual into a fanatic?

Dr. Brice told me room 101 but just in case I have reserved the library lounge. So let's hedge our bets and meet at 101 but if something goes stinky cheese we will shift to the lounge....

See you soon,
Dr. Layne

Breaking the Waves Room Move

For reasons beyond my control, the movie will now be in Bobet 101 @7.

Cheers,
Dr. Layne

A Curse for Every Mile of Ocean Crossed

Hey everyone!

Singer-songwriter Vienna Teng wrote a song that describes her own interpretation of the character of Medea. It's interesting! You should listen! Here's a link to some Youtube audio.

And here are the lyrics:

Inside the labyrinth walls
There lies a tiny child who sleeps alone
And as the daylight falls
The wind becomes so wild across the stone

For I have made her prison be
Her every step away from me
And this child I would destroy
If you tried to set her free

So come to me my love
I'll tap into your strength and drain it dry
Can never have enough
For you I'd burn the length and breadth of sky

For it's my thoughts that bind me here
It's this love that I most fear
And this child I would destroy
For I hold her pain most dear

No haven for this heart
No shelter for this child in mazes lost
Heaven keep us apart
A curse for every mile of ocean crossed

For I must die for what I've done
A twist of fate a desert sun
For I see what I destroy
Sweet reflection knife into me
For I see what I destroy
I can see what I've begun

Breaking the Waves and Medea

So tomorrow night BREAKING THE WAVES in Bobet 332 @ 7pm.

I promise you will love this film!

Okay as for the blog, do tell me in writing now how we justify Abraham over Medea. Why does she come out the villain versus the father or knight of faith? or do you think Medea a hero? or do you think Abraham a villain? Moreover, what different roles do both the intent/motive and the consequences (justification/redemption for both Abraham and Medea) of the actions have to do with how we judge their characters.

See ya soon guys!
Dr. Layne

Sex Differences and Evolution

Read this and thought of a few of your comments on Friday
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=student-surveys-contradict-claims

MEDEA

Okay for all of you guys who aren't as pro-active as Emma, I would like for everyone to have read the Abraham story and the first half of Euripides' Medea (until Aegeus exits) for Wednesday. No question for the blog but I do want you to come to class thinking about the similiarities and differences between Abraham and Medea. I also want you to be reflecting upon Jason's behavior toward Medea.

Looking forward to discussing infanticide and its connection to courage.....
Dr. Layne

"Medea" video

Hey guys!

Hope everybody's having a good break!

We have a cool resource available to us through the library website that I'm not sure if everybody knows about. If you go to Monroe Library's website and search the databases by subject and then go to "Drama/Theater Arts" you'll find a database called "Theater in Video." If you want you can watch a full-length 1982 production of Euripides' Medea starring Zoe Caldwell as Medea. I went and checked it out, and it really helped the whole play come together for me.

Just putting it out there!

See everybody Wednesday :)

-Emma

Courage and Chastity

What kind of courage can women exhibit? Is it unique to the sexes? Or does it ask the same of each of us? How was this virtue denied to woman in the past?

Cheers,
Dr. Layne

Moral Action and Trolleys

Okay I read this article and thought of you guys....

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2010/10/ethics-trolley-problem/

Philosophy Lecture

I can't go to this but I would love to hear what is said.....so someone go!

This week we have one event which happens to be happening today!

"Lucifer and Jesus: Rival Sons of the Father"

A paper presentation by Patrick Madigan from Heythrop College

Monday, Oct. 11th

3:30-4:45pmMonroe 156

The abstract of the paper is listed below. Hope to see you tonight!

----------------

Abstract: Lucifer and Jesus may be used as historical 'archetypes' responding to a Father who makes excessive demands on his sons. The one rebels, the other obeys. I discuss the evolution of these archetypes through Plato's 'Forms', Plotinus' account of the mistaken and regrettable 'Fall' of soul into matter, Milton's Paradise Lost (he expands Lucifer's rebellion from not accepting Jesus as the highest creature to disavowing the Father and usurping his place), and finally Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamasov, where all the sons but Aliosha rebel against their overbearing father. Lucifer thus becomes an archetype to the modern imagination encapsulating one response to the inadequate father, or the father perceived as making excessive, and perhaps unacceptable, demands. Christ functions as a contrasting archetype, carrying forward an earlier, alternative response to a father filing an extraordinary request.

--
Maria E. Rossi
President, Philosophy Club and Phi Sigma Tau

Concentrate on your papers but.....

also think about the interest of Jesus' cry "Oh God why have you forsaken me?"

Come by if you need help with you papers tomorrow!!

Cheers,
Dr. Layne

Christ vs Superman

Since we are going to attempt to do both the Gospel of Luke Passion Narrative and the prologue to Thus Spoke Zarathustra I think it best to pick sides. Tell me of the two who you find more attractive i.e. who do you wish to follow; Jesus or the man who claimed that God was dead? Be sure to tell me why?

Hopefully we will be able to go over both texts tomorrow, but if not be sure to at least focus on developing an interpretation of the Gospel passage. For those who saw Jesus Christ Super Star be thinking about the role of Judas and whether or not we can truly classify him as a villian.

See ya soon,
Dr. Layne

JESUS CHRIST IS A GO

I am on my way to the TULANE library to pick up the DVD. YEAH!

In any case I am going to the "Shame" lecture tonight at 7:30 and will then shake my fanny over to your dorm. I suspect I will show up around 8:45. Unlike last time though we will start the movie ASAP so that I can go home and get some rest before seeing you guys in the morn.

Cheers and see ya soon,
Dr. D

WHO DAT?!!!! On the Saints

Okay so today we got a glimpse into the Christian transformation of the hero into the saint via discussing the life of Ignatius of Loyola. Over the next couple of days I want you to tell me what sainthood is. Feel free to think outside the Catholic box by applying it to the everyday conception of the saint e.g. "my mama is a saint." In this tell me why the saint may differ from the hero or how risk/courage may or may not be involved in this conception.

Cheers,
Dr. Layne

Until further notice, let's agree to watch Jesus Christ Super Star at 8:30 tomorrow....also has anyone found a copy or should I run to best buy? If no one finds it by noon tomorrow, I will run that errand ASAP (Simon loves the film so its no beef off my dinner plate).
Also there is a philosophy lecture tomorrow night, so please feel free to attend that as well.

How do you will one thing....

Okay we started this in the first class but didn't get to it in the second class....so tell me what makes you an individual or what do you will in the recesses of your conscious, in the purity of your heart, and how does that will manifest itself in your concrete life. Finally, tell me how you compromise that identity, how you pervert or stain that purity of heart. Give me concrete examples. Be specific, take a risk and say something intimate, or even confessional....

Cheers,
Dr. Layne

PS Due to my amazingly flighty nature over the last week, I somehow misplaced the sign up sheet for the WAC Lab. Consequently when you go to you appointment there may be some problems. If this happens please let me know and try to make another appointment.