Philosophy Mixed: Recent Episodes
Nicholas Williams
From the Texas State Department of Philosophy and KTSW, welcome to Philosophy Mixed, the podcast series exploring philosophy and the nature of things.
This session analyzes the philosophy of modern technological advancement as it intertwines with popular culture.
Participants
Facilitators: Rebecca Farinas, Texas State Department of Philosophy; Nick Williams, KTSW Guests: Kyle Davidson, University of Tartu, computer science and semiotics; Aimee Roundtree, English, Texas State University; Dr. Cat, Game Designer, Gaming Industry Consultant; Matt Sheffield, Game Designer and Visual Artist
References
Peter Sloterdijk, The Aesthetic Imperative, Polity, 2017. Charles Stross, The Merchant Princes and The Hidden Family, Tor Books. Hatsune Miku, Crypton Future Media. Alfie Bown, Video games are political. Here's how they can be progressive, The Guardian, Aug. 13, 2018. Furcadia Online Game
This session covers the philosophy of analytic reasoning and collective discourse along with the role and use of public forums in the modern era.
Participants
Facilitators: Rebecca Farinas, Texas State Department of Philosophy; Nick Williams, KTSW Guests: Ann Burnette and Rebekah Fox, Department of Communication Studies; Daniel Carter, School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Ivan Marquez, Department of Philosophy All: Texas State University
References
Aristotle, Rhetoric. Kenneth Burke, A Rhetoric of Motives, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1969. John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems, Swallow Press, Ohio University Press, 1954.
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty at Project Gutenberg, derived from an edition by Walter Scott Publishing with an introduction by W. L. Courtney.
George A. Reisch, How the Cold War Transformed Philosophy of Science: To the Icy Slopes of Logic, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
This session considers the philosophy of artificial intelligence and its implications today and in the future.
Participants
Facilitators: Rebecca Farinas, Texas State Department of Philosophy; Nick Williams, KTSW Guests: Mark Graves, University of Notre Dame; Glen Miller, Texas A&M University; Dan Tamir, Texas State Department of Computer Science
References
Future of Life Institute "AI Empowerment, Value Alignment, and the Broader Conversation" FLI president Max Tegmark's TED Talk on the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence was released. In the talk, Max separates the real opportunities and threats of artificial intelligence from the myths, describing the concrete steps we should take today to ensure that AI ends up being the best -- rather than worst -- thing to ever happen to humanity.
Mark Graves, "Shared Moral and Spiritual Development Among Human Personal and Artificially Intelligent Agents," Theology and Science, 15:3, 333-351.
"History of Women in IT: 6 Female Pioneers in Computer Science," Purdue University Global, https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/information-technology/history-women-information-technology-6-female-computer-science-pioneers/.
Josiah Royce, The Problem of Christianity, Regnery Co., Chicago, 1968.
Rebecca Farinas (TXST Philosophy) and Nick Williams (KTSW) are joined by Nico Schuler and Utah Hamrick (TXST School of Music) to discuss issues surrounding music's influence on our culture today. We want to thank Kimberly Clay (KTSW) for her help with this session.
Nico Schuler talks about musicology and how expression and interpretation contribute to personal and shared meanings in making and listening to music while referencing varied sources, such as bird song, Johann Sebastian Bach and Jacob J. Sawyer. Utah Hamrick discusses jazz as a conversational and communicative medium, referencing historical jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong. In addition the concept of live music is examined, along with music as a way to approach social issues and the importance of music education.
References:
Books: David Byrne, How Music Works, (Picador: NY, NY, 2013). John Dewey, Art as Experience (Perigee Books: NY, NY, 1980). Susanne K. Langer, Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art (Harvard University: Cambridge, Ma., 1957). David Rothenberg, How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise (Picador: NY, NY, 2013) Why Birds Sing: A Journey Into the Mystery of Bird Song (Basic Books: Cambridge, Ma., 2005). Thousand Mile Song: Whale Music in a Sea of Sound (Basic Books: NY, NY, 2008).
Music: Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, “Hotter Than That” (1927) Johann Sebastian Bach, Two Part Invention No. 9 in F Minor Ludwig Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, op. 2 No.1 Jacob J. Sawyer, “I'm de Captain of the Black Cadets”
This session examines the intersection of philosophy and the visual arts. Facilitators: Rebecca Farinas, Texas State Department of Philosophy; Nick Williams, KTSW Podcast Producer Guests: Margo Handwerker, Texas State Galleries; Jeffrey Dell, Texas State School of Art and Design; Anthony Cross, Texas State Department Philosophy. Thanks to Kimberly Clay, KTSW, for her help with the session. This summer of 2018, amidst a volatile social environment here in the United States, we want to take some time to reflect and discuss the arts as endeavors that make our social struggles and challenges worthwhile. With this podcast we turn to visual arts, inquiring about the fundamental dynamics of this charmed aesthetic force.
As we do on Philosophy Mixed, we would like to introduce this podcast on art with a philosophical tone. Published in 1934, John Dewey’s “Art as Experience” remains relevant when thinking about art today. To begin our discussion, we reflect on what Dewey wrote:
"Because objects of art are expressive, they are a language. Rather they are many languages. For each art has its own medium and that medium is especially fitted for one kind of communication. Each medium says something that cannot be uttered as well or as completely in any other tongue. The needs of daily life have given superior practical importance to one mode of communication, that of speech. This fact has unfortunately given rise to a popular impression that the meanings expressed in architecture, sculpture, and music can be translated into words with little if any loss. In fact, each art speaks an idiom that conveys what cannot be said in another language and yet remains the same."
References Books
Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (Prism Key Press, 2010) originally published 1936. Arthur Danto, The Transfiguration of the Commonplace (Cambridge, Mass., London England, Harvard University Press, 1981). John Dewey, Art as Experience (Penguin Group, N.Y., N.Y., 1934). David Hickey, Invisible Dragon Essays on Beauty (Chicago and London, University of Chicago Press, 2009).
Works of Art
Judy Greene, The Last Supper Final Meals of U.S. Death Row Inmates, Ceramics, see http://greenjulie.com/last-supper/ Philip Guston, City Limits, 1969, 6'5'' x 8'71/4' (195.6 x 262.2 cm), Oil on Canvas, New York, New York: Museum of Modern Art. Corita Kent, Extra Los Angeles Times Eight Men Slain Guard Moves In, 1969, 35'' x 23'', Seriagraph, Los Angeles, California: The Corita Art Center.