Comments on: Join the Friends of the SEP society http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 27 May 2012 11:48:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281825 Paul Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:56:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281825 I shall probably join the SEP too . I shall probably join the SEP too .

]]> By: Patrick S. O'Donnell http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281811 Patrick S. O'Donnell Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:21:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281811 I am not a professional philosophy professor (although I do teach part-time in a philosophy dept. at a community college) but I've found the SEP to be extremely useful both for me and for my students (I advise them about entries that are--by my non-professional lights--highly technical and perhaps above their heads, nonetheless, I suggest they read through them and speak to me about any questions they might have). I wholeheartedly agree with Ingrid about whether or not this is an elitist enterprise (my goodness, reading a book might be construed as an elitist enterprise by some folks). I find the SEP especially helpful for introducing me to many domains of intellectual endeavor that I'm fairly ignorant about, especially in light of the highly specialized nature of the field these days and consequent difficulty in keeping up in the barest or minimalist sense on areas outside of one's formal training. What is more, I've found the editors and a surprising number of contributors open to my critical comments, suggestions, and the like, which is especially refreshing given my lack of formal credentials. I hectored the editors (just ask Ed Zalta) for quite a long time about including philosophical material from Islam, Chinese (especially Buddhist) and Indian (from the six philosophical darsanas) worldviews and indeed the SEP is now beginning to include entries from worldviews outside the traditional (well, at least until fairly recently) canon of what counts for "philosophy" (i.e., it is becoming less parochial and provincial and truly 'global,' philosophically speaking). I'm grateful to Ingrid for informing me (and others) about the need for contributing to this wholly worthwhile and in many respects remarkable educational endeavor and I would hope we all would come to feel an obligation in the best sense to become a member (I will as soon as I receive my next paycheck). (I often copy and paste SEP entries onto Word docs. and print them up for my personal use and will be relieved to no longer have to do this owing to their availability in pdf. format) I am not a professional philosophy professor (although I do teach part-time in a philosophy dept. at a community college) but I’ve found the SEP to be extremely useful both for me and for my students (I advise them about entries that are—by my non-professional lights—highly technical and perhaps above their heads, nonetheless, I suggest they read through them and speak to me about any questions they might have). I wholeheartedly agree with Ingrid about whether or not this is an elitist enterprise (my goodness, reading a book might be construed as an elitist enterprise by some folks). I find the SEP especially helpful for introducing me to many domains of intellectual endeavor that I’m fairly ignorant about, especially in light of the highly specialized nature of the field these days and consequent difficulty in keeping up in the barest or minimalist sense on areas outside of one’s formal training. What is more, I’ve found the editors and a surprising number of contributors open to my critical comments, suggestions, and the like, which is especially refreshing given my lack of formal credentials. I hectored the editors (just ask Ed Zalta) for quite a long time about including philosophical material from Islam, Chinese (especially Buddhist) and Indian (from the six philosophical darsanas) worldviews and indeed the SEP is now beginning to include entries from worldviews outside the traditional (well, at least until fairly recently) canon of what counts for “philosophy” (i.e., it is becoming less parochial and provincial and truly ‘global,’ philosophically speaking).

I’m grateful to Ingrid for informing me (and others) about the need for contributing to this wholly worthwhile and in many respects remarkable educational endeavor and I would hope we all would come to feel an obligation in the best sense to become a member (I will as soon as I receive my next paycheck). (I often copy and paste SEP entries onto Word docs. and print them up for my personal use and will be relieved to no longer have to do this owing to their availability in pdf. format)

]]> By: Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281802 Paul Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:08:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281802 Bbuck repartee rarely bores me especially when it has a point. Bbuck repartee rarely bores me especially when it has a point.

]]> By: ben http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281793 ben Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:12:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281793 It's amazing what some good old-fashioned empiricism can do, innit? from the projected table of contents: # Aristotelianism * commentators on Aristotle — see Aristotle, commentators on * in the Renaissance (Heinrich Kuhn) # Aristotle (Christopher Shields) # Aristotle, commentators on (Andrea Falcon) * Alexander of Aphrosias — see Alexander of Aphrodisias * Ammonius — see Ammonius * David — see David * Elias — see Elias * Olympiodorus — see Olympiodorus * Philoponus — see Philoponus * Simplicius — see Simplicius * Themistius — see Themistius # Aristotle, General Topics * biology (James Lennox) * categories (Paul Studtmann) * ethics (Richard Kraut) * logic (Robin Smith) * metaphysics (S. Marc Cohen) * poetics (Pierre Destrée) * political theory (Fred Miller) * psychology (Christopher Shields) * rhetoric (Christof Rapp) # Aristotle, Special Topics * causality (Andrea Falcon) * mathematics (Henry Mendell) * natural philosophy (Istvan Bodnar) * on non-contradiction (Paula Gottlieb) * textual transmission of Aristotelian corpus [...] # Seneca (Katja Vogt) It’s amazing what some good old-fashioned empiricism can do, innit? from the projected table of contents:

  1. Aristotelianism
  • commentators on Aristotle — see Aristotle, commentators on
  • in the Renaissance (Heinrich Kuhn)
  1. Aristotle (Christopher Shields)
  2. Aristotle, commentators on (Andrea Falcon)
  • Alexander of Aphrosias — see Alexander of Aphrodisias
  • Ammonius — see Ammonius
  • David — see David
  • Elias — see Elias
  • Olympiodorus — see Olympiodorus
  • Philoponus — see Philoponus
  • Simplicius — see Simplicius
  • Themistius — see Themistius
  1. Aristotle, General Topics
  • biology (James Lennox)
  • categories (Paul Studtmann)
  • ethics (Richard Kraut)
  • logic (Robin Smith)
  • metaphysics (S. Marc Cohen)
  • poetics (Pierre Destrée)
  • political theory (Fred Miller)
  • psychology (Christopher Shields)
  • rhetoric (Christof Rapp)
  1. Aristotle, Special Topics
  • causality (Andrea Falcon)
  • mathematics (Henry Mendell)
  • natural philosophy (Istvan Bodnar)
  • on non-contradiction (Paula Gottlieb)
  • textual transmission of Aristotelian corpus

[...]

  1. Seneca (Katja Vogt)
]]> By: bbuck http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281792 bbuck Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:12:06 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281792 Paul must be bored. Paul must be bored.

]]> By: Righteous Bubba http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281789 Righteous Bubba Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:47:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281789 <blockquote>However, there is what actually is and what is purported to be. </blockquote>Some philosopher should look into that one day.
However, there is what actually is and what is purported to be.
Some philosopher should look into that one day.

]]> By: William U. http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281787 William U. Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:15:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281787 No, thanks. The Soc14list Equality Party should hit up its cadres and sell newspapers like every other good sectarian organization. No, thanks. The Soc14list Equality Party should hit up its cadres and sell newspapers like every other good sectarian organization.

]]> By: Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281783 Paul Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:03:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281783 Yes I have looked at the site and I appreciate your comments about it. However, there is what actually is and what is purported to be. Why not some testemonials that cover the whole spectrum? We all know that an academic philosopher (generally) receives more respect than one say like Eric Hoffer. However I seem to recall that Aristotle and Seneca never went to an Ivy League school and they personified philosophy. Yes I have looked at the site and I appreciate your comments about it. However, there is what actually is and what is purported to be. Why not some testemonials that cover the whole spectrum? We all know that an academic philosopher (generally) receives more respect than one say like Eric Hoffer. However I seem to recall that Aristotle and Seneca never went to an Ivy League school and they personified philosophy.

]]> By: Ingrid Robeyns http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281780 Ingrid Robeyns Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:53:38 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281780 Paul: have you ever taken a look at the SEP? If yes, please tell me what is elitist about it. If not, you'd better take a look before you voice all these 'critical' questions. The reason why I support it is precisely the opposite from it being elitist - it is an open access source, whereby people who are priviliged in a certain way (they have had the chance to specialise on a topic) share their knowledge in an accessible manner with anybody who is interested can read it -- where-ever they are situated, whatever degrees they have or have not, whether they are poor or not, whether they live in an affluent society or have affluent parents or not. They only three constraints are (1) you need to be able to read English, (2) you need access to the internet, (3) you need a minimal level of general education, since it is not written for ten year olds or people who are very poorly educated. Well, perhaps you think the latter qualifies to call something elitist, but then I'd say that you have an implausible expansive definition of 'elitism'. Paul: have you ever taken a look at the SEP? If yes, please tell me what is elitist about it. If not, you’d better take a look before you voice all these ‘critical’ questions. The reason why I support it is precisely the opposite from it being elitist – it is an open access source, whereby people who are priviliged in a certain way (they have had the chance to specialise on a topic) share their knowledge in an accessible manner with anybody who is interested can read it— where-ever they are situated, whatever degrees they have or have not, whether they are poor or not, whether they live in an affluent society or have affluent parents or not. They only three constraints are (1) you need to be able to read English, (2) you need access to the internet, (3) you need a minimal level of general education, since it is not written for ten year olds or people who are very poorly educated. Well, perhaps you think the latter qualifies to call something elitist, but then I’d say that you have an implausible expansive definition of ‘elitism’.

]]> By: Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281777 Paul Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:55:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281777 I am all for encyclopedias and people should be given the opportunity to support SEP. However, is it an elitist endeavor oriented towards academic philosophers or is it not ?? I am all for encyclopedias and people should be given the opportunity to support SEP. However, is it an elitist endeavor oriented towards academic philosophers or is it not ??

]]> By: Martha Bridegam http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281742 Martha Bridegam Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:08:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281742 But isn't this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_Else%27s_Problem" rel="nofollow">Somebody Else's Problem</a>? But isn’t this Somebody Else’s Problem?

]]> By: Kenny Easwaran http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281741 Kenny Easwaran Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:05:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281741 The SEP gets some grants, but unfortunately not enough to keep it running. They did a drive about a year or so ago to get funding from university libraries, and I believe they got some money from Stanford, but they are hoping to get enough money to set up an endowment that can keep it permanently funded with no reliance on money from elsewhere. This will also mean that they can devote all their staff time to maintaining the encyclopedia itself, rather than writing further grant applications. The SEP gets some grants, but unfortunately not enough to keep it running. They did a drive about a year or so ago to get funding from university libraries, and I believe they got some money from Stanford, but they are hoping to get enough money to set up an endowment that can keep it permanently funded with no reliance on money from elsewhere. This will also mean that they can devote all their staff time to maintaining the encyclopedia itself, rather than writing further grant applications.

]]> By: Raven http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281740 Raven Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:52:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281740 Paul, they're trying to stay a public service by building an endowment. It strikes me they have a reasonable case for it. For more information look <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/support/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Paul, they’re trying to stay a public service by building an endowment. It strikes me they have a reasonable case for it. For more information look here.

]]> By: Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281734 Paul Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:22:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281734 Don't they receive grants ? Don’t they receive grants ?

]]> By: Robert Colin Enlish http://crookedtimber.org/2009/07/12/join-the-friends-of-the-sep-society/comment-page-1/#comment-281733 Robert Colin Enlish Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:59:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=12011#comment-281733 I heartily second Ingrid's comments! As a graduate student the SEP has proved to be an invaluable reference guide, and the entries are almost always rigorous and thoughtful. And, Paul, are philosophers obliged to scorn healthy endowments? Or do we just _tend_ to because they so rarely reach our perpetually shallow pockets... I heartily second Ingrid’s comments! As a graduate student the SEP has proved to be an invaluable reference guide, and the entries are almost always rigorous and thoughtful. And, Paul, are philosophers obliged to scorn healthy endowments? Or do we just tend to because they so rarely reach our perpetually shallow pockets…

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