Please comment on at least several if not all of these questions -- use separate posts if you like.
What have you learned in this course that surprised you?
Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?
Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of human nature and death & dying?
Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?
Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?
I have learned that my views on how and when I want to die are different now because of this class. I have been able to develop and idea of when if diagnosed with a terminal illness at what point in the illness i would want to die. Going to spring grove cemetery made me realize i would like to be cremated seeing all of the graves made me realize this. Yes i would take another course. It was something different then what i was used to in my nursing class it was a nice change. I believe i do have a understanding of the different dimensions of philosophy due to using two different books that i believe worked well together. The Barry book was focused on death and dying where the stevenson book focused on human nature which is needed to speak about death. Overall, the class was a great interest to me and i felt that using the power of discussion to understand the sometimes confusing information that was discussed in class. I would take this class again! I am also excited to take another class this spring with biomedical ethics!
ReplyDeleteEmily, my views on how and when I want to die are different now too! It's crazy to think how 1 class can change ones views and outlooks on life. The discussions in class were one of my favorites as well! I loved hearing about what is going through other classmates heads and what everyone has to say about certain topics.
DeleteI also agree. Before this class started I thought I was pretty firm in my beliefs but now I have a different perspective on some things. It is very crazy how big of an impact this class had on me.
DeleteI agree that the books we used worked really well together. I thought some of the other things that we did in class were beneficial too, and some of my favorite and most impactful classes were when Lt. Peters came to talk to us and when the clergy came and we could ask questions. I think that these helped provide some extra food for thought above and beyond just the texts that we read.
DeleteThe thing that surprised me the most from this course was how easy it became to think about death after studying it for a bit. Death is a taboo topic for the most part in everyday life, however it became very easy to think about and talk about after studying some different views. This also had the added benefit of reinforcing my personal views on death. I suppose I would take another philosophy course in the future as it is one of my majors. I would say that this class offered me a better understanding of the dimensions of the study and critique of philosophical nature and death. The two books definitely worked well in this regard. This class definitely increased my appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions. I would like to think that this appreciation was already present but this class definitely increased it. Overall I would say that this class was great to take. It offered many different thoughts on some very profound topics. It was also very nice to see a wide range of views on death as I have never really explored the topic in any serious regard prior to this class. I didn't know exactly what to expect at the beginning of the semester but I am very pleased with how this course turned out.
ReplyDeleteTyler, I definitely agree that this course really lifted the social barriers surrounding talking about death. It has allowed me to really be able to talk and think about death more, which has in turn changed the way I think about life!
DeleteNot only did Dr.Sherron lift the social barriers and make the discussion more conversational, but she led discussion in a way that exposed us all to new ways of thinking without pressing ideas into us in a persuasive manner.
DeleteHis course has taught me most of all that I don't actually have that firm of a grasp on the things I thought I did. For example, I came into the curse thinking I knew what the definition of death was. However, I quickly found out that I am conflicted within my own self of even that question. To be honest, I did not know what to expect from a philosophy course because I have never had much exposure to the discipline. I was unaware of its significance to literally everything in our lives and how it is more than just assessing how we think. I feel not only a new understanding of the principles of philosophical thinking about death and dying, but also a brand new appreciation. The text books required fit the course perfectly and I wouldn't change them. I feel that I now have skills within the subjects we covered to discuss them and to value others inputs in a way I did not before. I am looking forward to taking biomedical ethics next semester!
ReplyDeleteCody, I agree with you completely! This course was unique to me too. I have never had a philosophy class. I too learned a great deal about myself and my beliefs. I am taking the biomedical ethics next semester too!
DeleteI'll be joining both of you in Biomedical Ethics! I'm glad that a good number of people from this class will be moving on to that one. I think a lot of us have developed a better understanding for one another and for ourselves. Understanding yourself is essential to being able to dispute or argue what another person believes. I have not come to an understanding of myself on every issue that we've discussed throughout the course, but I resolved many issues in my mind and heart. It feels good to be at peace with your own beliefs :)
DeleteWhen I decided to enroll in this particular course, I was nervous. I usually do not openly talk about death or anything that comes along with death. But it turns out this class was my favorite class of the semester. Who knew I would enjoy this long class? In classes this long I usually doze off and end up not paying attention but I loved every minute of the class. I have even been recommending the class to my friends. Talking openly about death has been really interesting. I enjoyed learning about the theorists and their crazy opinions on death even though some were interesting, others were not. What I enjoyed the most were the open discussions and both Alex's making class interesting. Hearing other classmates views helped me learn more about my views on death. I have gained a new understanding on death and instead of rather being scared of death to embrace it. I also usually do not enjoy writing papers, but the reflections and questions we wrote about were interesting and it made me think in new ways and to dig deeper into concepts learned about. I am definitely going to take more philosophy classes whether they relate to my major or not because I love the endless possibilities of questions with no real answer.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I really liked everything you said and I totally agree with you. At first I was quite nervous as I am not one to really open up to others without really getting to know them. I mean we talk about some serious stuff in class and that was hard for me in the beginning. But as the semester went on, everyone started opening up and the class went from interesting to fantastic! We learned so much about so much and all the while we had a blast! I definitely plan on recommending this class to anyone and everyone!
DeleteEmily, I too would have to agree about enjoying such a long class. I think the format of the class really allowed for everyone to stay involved and actively participating in the class. I would also agree this class would not have been the same without either of the Alexs. They guided through class down paths right or wrong without fail week after week.
DeleteRegarding the question asking if I would take another course my answer would have to be yes. The reason I would enjoy taking another course is because of its overall impact on our daily life. Meaning I can learn all the in and outs of medicine or any other empirical subject, however, to be able to construct an understanding of our meaning in life and then compare it to others is a crucial task that many fail to achieve. The ability to come together with the similarities that we share opens up a line of dialogue that before may have never existed.
ReplyDeleteI believe that my ability to write but more importantly communicate my views have benefited from the course. We all have our own beliefs but I believe what is more important is the ability to listen. Throughout the course I found myself believe it or not listening rather than talking in my opinion because I heard many things that made me question what I thought and that allowed me to communicate that to the entire class.
ReplyDeleteI learned in this course more about myself and my own beliefs that I never really took time to think about before. I thought I knew my own beliefs and values very well until I was questioned and forced to think about things I never really thought about before. I also learned how important it is to take the time to plan with your parents and figure out the arrangements you want if you were to become terminally ill or to pass unexpectedly.
ReplyDeleteIf money and time were not an issue I would definitely enroll in another philosophy class. I like that this class made me think about things I never would have taken the time to think about otherwise. I also like how the group discussions helped me to form my own opinions and it was nice to be able to get different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteIn this course I have learned how I view death. I have a stronger hold on my beliefs. I know what I stand for and why. I am able to agree to disagree with those who oppose me, but do it in a respectable manner.
ReplyDeleteMy answer to the second question is yes. I am enrolled in Dr. Kate's Medical ethics course next semester and I look forward to that class. I really enjoyed this course this semester.
I think through out this course I am better able to defend myself or explain why I believe a certain way. I accomplished this through the writing assignments. In those assignments I had to state my opinion and why I believed it. Sometimes it easier said then done, in defending one's opinion.
Lauren, I think its really cool how this class was able to give you confidence that you can stand up for your beliefs. Throughout the semester, it was evident you had a solid set of beliefs surrounding the topic, but you were always able to keep it respectful.
DeleteWhat have you learned in this course that has surprised you?
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing I have taken away from this course is a different way of looking at and examining thoughts, ideas, and concepts. So often are these things seen in only in black and white, as they are only seen a certain way. Through this course, I have learned how to change up my perspective and see things in a new light. With that I have also come to better examine by own beliefs and morals as well as their origins.
Would I take another philosophy course?
Honestly, I would be very interested in taking another philosophy course because of how much I have taken away from the current course. Sadly, my schedule doesn't allow for too many extra courses, I will definitely continue to consume philosophical content when I get the chance.
Do you have an understanding of the philosophical...?
After taking this course, I can say that I have a better understanding of the philosophy of death and the human critique of death and dying. That is not to say that it is a complete understanding by any means. I believe that I still have a lot to learn and even more to figure out and decipher. With that being said, I am very excited to see what the future holds.
Have your skills improved during this course?
Since I can remember I have had the hardest times trying to put my thoughts into words. In a math class, this is never an issue. In a chemistry, never an issue. In a philosophy class, it was definitely not easy. Over the course of the semester I have gotten better about translating my thoughts into the specific words that I want to say. Because of this, I can honestly say that my skills have definitely improved during this course.
What have you learned in this course that surprised you?
ReplyDeleteI have learned so much in this course. Most importantly, I have learned that death is not something that should be feared but rather something that we must accept and not be afraid to talk about because it is an inevitable part of life and accepting it helps us learn more about ourselves.
Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?
I would probably take another course in philosophy because it has been very interesting and has made me think about so many things I had never considered prior to this course. It has made me realize a lot of things about myself and how other people think. I definitely want to take a course in ethics, because a lot of the issues we got in heated debates about are ethics-based, so learning more about that would be interesting.
Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?
I have definitely developed a better appreciation for philosophical questions in my life. They have helped me find out more about myself and my own beliefs. I have also learned how relevant ethical questions are in my life and in my future career as a physician.
Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?
I think that the thought papers as well as the class discussion have definitely helped me improve these skills. Having people with opposing views challenge my own have helped me analyze my own beliefs and determine why and if I really believe them. In addition, I have thought more about the opposing views to my own in order to be able to better defend my own beliefs.
One thing I learned in this class that surprised me was how complex the issue of death really is. At the beginning of this class I really didn't know what to expect.But after looking at the ways different cultures deal with death, I've come to a greater appreciation about the complexity of the topic. After taking this class I would definitely take another philosophy class similar to this is my schedule would allow it.
ReplyDeleteI would say I've definitely I've learned how to better communicate from this class. The integration of the blogs has really allowed some conversations from class to really develop more with everyone having the possibility to get some input in.
This whole course surprised me. I wasn't expecting to go into all of the many different theorists and their beliefs. It has totally changed my outlook on death. It was also surprising how much we may not think about death. We always just think that when someone dies that that is it. I especially never really thought about all the many ways people can die like PAS and how people view death. I do have a better appreciation for philosophical questions because they make you think and I think that the paper we wrote throughout the entire semester really helped with having to dig deep and think about the beliefs that you have and how to stand up for those beliefs.
ReplyDeleteWhat have you learned in this course that surprised you?
ReplyDelete~ The biggest surprise for me in the course has been the dynamic of conversations held between such a diverse and large group of people. In my freshman year seminar, my class debated weekly on different topics. However, I have never been a part of a class that was able to discuss such sensitive topics and get through the entire conversation without it causing any major problems for those involved. The turns that some of the conversations took really shocked me. Our class is made up of many different people, all with different ideas and styles of communicating those ideas.
Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?
~ I am registered for Biomedical Ethics in the Spring of 2015, and I'm very excited! I've learned a lot from this class and wanted to continue learning.
Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of human nature and death & dying?
~ I have a much better understanding of the dimensions of the study than I did coming into the class. However, I know there is A LOT more to learn.
Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?
~ I have definitely developed an appreciation for these types of questions. They can become frustrating when an answer cannot be found, but they are very important to a life of seeking knowledge and understanding.
Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?
~ I believe that my analytical and critique skills, as well as written and oral communications skills have all been positively affected through taking this course. I feel like I dig deeper into the meaning of life, death, and everyday situations now, as a result of the way this class has made me think.
What have you learned in this course that surprised you?
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I believe surprised me the most would have to be hearing everyone's opinions being so free and arguing their beliefs. Also the fact that there was some direction with the class but that mainly the students were in the lead when it came to talking about certain subjects and expanding more. Another fact that surprised me would be the fact that the patients sometimes are forgotten as people and just something that is taking time and money. Some families are not well strung together so when someone gets sick it becomes a huge ordeal.
Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?
Yes I would to hear others opinions, but probably not about death again because like we have said in class before, it is a depressing subject that is normally avoided. Philosophy made me question a lot of things, some I liked and others not so much but I am glad for the opportunity that I have had within this class.
Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of human nature and death & dying?
Yes, I feel as if I do have a better hold but I know that I am no where close to understanding it all. If I did I wouldn't need it and I would be full of complete wisdom.
Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?
Yes, I have developed an appreciation for the relevance of the different questions. Trying to talk to a 2 or 3 year old without them getting a question in somewhere in the conversation is very difficult. I have learned that most of the questions they ask are just wanting an explanation of WHY, like many of us still do to this day.
Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?
I feel I have improved a little bit in my skills because it seems as if there are less corrections that need to be made on other papers of mine except for the little things. But majority of the time the content is on point. Oral communication of mine I feel is still slim, but it has been getting better since I have taken this course because of all the debating and back and forth between others.
So, when I came to class for the first time, I can safely say that I walked out of the first class worse than when I walked in. The class seemed extremely depressing and deep, and emotional, and I was ready to drop the class. I decided to give it another shot, and honest to God, this class has been one of the most interesting classes I have ever experienced. I'm really not just saying that to make up for my lack of blogging through-out the semester, but honestly I really enjoyed this class. It made me think deeper than anything else I've ever taken. I understand metaphysics now, which I had never really even heard of before the class. In all honesty, I have held numerous dinner conversations when I go up and see my family based on topics we have discussed in class. The day that Dr. Christensen came in and we discussed the subject of suicide was a conversation that lasted an hour at my dinner table. I know that I haven't been the best at blogging, again I own up to that, but this class took such a serious subject and topic and Dr.Sherron found a way to open up class discussion around it. Not only did I feel comfortable in the class, but I loved joining in in the conversation as you all probably noticed. It's just a shame I couldn't have done it more on here. I was honestly surprised at how much I learned about myself and my own values and religious roots. I grew stronger in my beliefs throughout the course, and that was actually because of my exposure and open-minded experience with other people's beliefs and thoughts. My favorite topic through the semester was our discussions on human nature, and digging deeper than why people do what they do. We dug beneath that and discussed why we care about knowing why people do what they do.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have learned from this class that surprised me is how important it is to have a plan for when I die. I never took the time to think about all the complications that can be avoided if I simply have a talk with my family to discuss where I would like to be buried, how I want to be buried, or what I want them to do if I am on my death bed if I can no longer make decisions.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure if I would like to have another philosophy class unless Dr. Cate taught it. My other philosophy class was in no comparison to this class. It was so straightforward and I rarely got to announce my opinions on the discussions. I enjoy the topics we discuss every class, and the passion that Dr. Cate has for her work makes the class and the discussions more enjoyable.
I still struggle to understand all of the philosophers that discuss human nature and death, but I can confidently say this class helped me begin to understand how to look at situations from more than one point of view.
Yes, I believe I have improved my skills of analysis and critique. I like the fact that this class is based more on my opinion of the topics rather than factual information. Allowing me to give my opinion on the topics gave me the ability to appreciate what I was discussing, and not completing an assignment for just a good grade. I liked to take time and make sure my thoughts were easy to understand, and that I understood them myself.
In this course I learned different theories that different Philosophers believed in. The thing that I found surprising about this course was that are class seemed to be very interested and engaged not only in the idea of death but, also in the different views of religion. If I had the time I would definitely take another philosophy course because I think they are very interesting and also because they actually make you think critically. In fact, I am taking another philosophy course next semester with Father Twadell (Realm of Values). Overall, after being in this class I feel like I have a better understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of human nature and death & dying, as well as developing an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical things in our daily lives.
ReplyDelete