VCON Field Trip Rides

I just realized that if I post rider information on Moodle, you can only see one class.  I will hand out sign-up sheets in class and post them by my office door.  I will walk you all through it in class Friday.
Dr. Berg

VCON 301 Study Guide

Do not take this guide to be 100% comprehensive, do not stick to it like a life preserver and ignore good study habits, like re-reading your notes, your text, and asking good questions.

• Know a bit about the history of the Genesis text.
• Know the construction of the Genesis text (multiple narratives, myth, religious setting, etc).
• Make sure you know what the Genesis text actually says.
• Know a bit about the history of the Darwin text.
• Be familiar with how my lecture illuminates the Darwin text.
• Know what the text actually says (and the Preface)
• Do not mix the cultural associations with the Darwin text, let it stand on its own.
• Do not wander into Social-Darwinism.
• Understand the background to the Scopes Trial.
• Understand the context of the Scopes Trial.
• Do not mix the Scopes Trial and Inherit the Wind.
• Be able to make connections between the Scopes Trial and Genesis and Darwin.
• Be clear on the names of the Attorneys in the trial, I may refer to them in framing questions.
• Understand the Aristotle lecture on nature.  Know his approach to the question.  
• Have a working knowledge of Hardin's argument.
• Be able to work with examples of the Tragedy of the Commons.
• Have a working knowledge of Singer's argument
• Know at least 2 of the classic objections to his argument and his response.

Have a great Fall Break!

VCON we are on to Peter Singer Monday

Mgmnt 340 we are on to Power and Self-interest on Monday.

MGMNT 340 Phil 226 students - exam info

I posted an example of the case studies you will see on the exam and how to work them in Moodle.

MGMNT 340

Schedule

9/24 - Film
9/29 Exam I
10/1 No Class-Fall Break
10/6 Power and Self-interest Ciulla 1-30
10/8 Power and Self-interest
10/13 Lincoln Study on Leadership


The above is the same as the syllabus, just a reminder of what we are doing.

Other big days:
11/17 Exam II
11/19 Field Trip Springfield
12/3 Final paper due

VCON 301 Wednesday 9/23 and 9/25

9/23 paper conferences all day

9/25 I am at a conference in Springfield, no class.

MGMNT 340 Moodle

We have a Moodle classroom set up! 

VCON 301

Inherit the Wind study questions are to be uploaded to Moodle, not emailed to me.  Email from private accounts are being routed to my "Clutter" (junk) box and I may not see them.

VCON 301 Inherit the Wind

Remember, your answers to the discussion questions from the movie are to be uploaded to Moodle.

VCON 301

Just to be clear, the assignment for Inherit the Wind is due at 11:59pm, The 22nd of September.

VCON 301 Scopes Assignment

Remember the assignment for Inherit the Wind, is to be uploaded to Moodle. 

MGMNT 340

Library tomorrow, September, 17th!

VCON 301 Paper Consultation sign-up sheets are up!

Right (North) side of my office door!  Pick one 15m timeslot and don't' forget!

Our closest relative

The question was raised in the 1pm VCON 301 class: who is our closest genetic relative?  I claimed Orangutans, but I may be wrong.  The study is controversial:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/06/090623-humans-chimps-related.html

VCON Readings

Available in the Library, ask for VCON 301, Dr. Berg's section.

VCON 301 Canceled August 28th

It is with my deep regret that I must cancel class tomorrow.  I have a family emergency that I must attend to.

Dr. Berg

No VCON 301 on Labor Day

I made a mistake putting the class calendar together!  No changes to the reading list. Have a great long weekend.
Dr. Berg

MGMNT 340/Phil 226 Room Change

We will now meet in Ed Complex 201.  See you Thursday.
Dr. Berg

Classes Start Tromorrow!

Have a great semester!

Books!

Dr. Berg has been cleaning out his book shelves and there are some good books for free!  Second floor Mac Hall on the South East side of the hall, by the Rat Cage!

Summer Update

Greetings everyone!
I am busy writing the new VCON syllabus and getting that class ready to go for the first time.  I am also hard at work making the Leadership Ethics course the best it can be.  I am happy to announce that our own Provost Dr. James Maxwell will be a guest speaker and help us work through a difficult case-study, and I hope to have another guest speaker announcement.

VCON textbooks.  No textbooks from the bookstore, all the readings will either be in the library or available on-line, or on Moodle.

I am also hard at work getting myself ready for a panel discussion held in London this fall on Daoud's new book that tells the story of the murdered Arab in Camus' The Stranger.  Updates will follow.

Away from the Academy, I have already attended three Twins' games. One in Chicago, one in St. Louis, and one at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Have a great summer!

Dr. Berg

Blog entry from a friend

A Philosophical Drive-by: “Posted: No Trespassing” by Daniel Hieber

It may not seem so at first, but there is a philosophical lesson about truth embedded in this sign. If you are at least mildly intelligent, you are probably somewhat amused by the wording of that sign. (If you are not at least mildly intelligent, then you are probably amused by Adam Sandler movies.) The source of the amusement in the sign, of course, is that a simple “NO TRESPASSING” would have sufficed to convey the intended message; for once you post the sign, it is obvious that it has been posted. One need not make the pronouncement that one has posted a sign that one has posted. That is to say, one adds nothing to a posted “NO TRESPASSING” sign by adding the word “POSTED” to it. To say that a posted sign has been posted is utterly redundant.

We are now in position to discuss the redundancy theory of truth. According to this theory—generally attributed to mathematician and philosopher Frank Ramsey—it is redundant to assert the truth of something that is being asserted. For example, if one says, “It is true that Caesar was murdered,” that means nothing more than “Caesar was murdered.” In that example, the predicate “is true” doesn’t carry any additional weight, and it doesn’t add anything to what was being said. Put in its most simple terms, when I say, “It is true that Caesar was murdered,” I am using pleonastic and circumlocutory verbiage; for I could just as well—and more concisely—have said, “Caesar was murdered.” Thus, just as we saw in the case of the “POSTED NO TRESPASSING” sign, redundancy raises its ugly head . . . again.

Phil 220

Your project material is due Monday, it can me emailed to me or handed in directly.
Dr. Berg

Final Exams IOCC and Phil 220

IOCC 201-Thursday April 30th 12-2 Ed Complex 104/5

Phil 220 Monday May 4th 9am-our "new" classroom, across the hall from the old one.

IOCC 201 Map-Final Exam

Map Exam: 
Rome, Athens, Jerusalem, Damascus, Tarsus, Hippo, Alexandria, Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) Paris, Ancient Troy, Ireland, Ancient Greece, Italy, Spain, Gaul, Norway, Denmark, Africa, The British Islands, Judea, Germania, Ancient Egypt, The Atlantic Ocean, the Dead Sea, the Aegean Sea, The Nile River, The Mediterranean. 

Final Exam Advice:
Use all three study guides and this map guide to study.  Do your reading.

IOCC 201

Greetings!
After 10 solid years the IOCC sequence will come to an end Monday.  I have taught IOCC 201 for 10 years at Mac and have enjoyed every class.  To recognize the end of an era and the beginning of a new Gen Ed era, I am going to have some snacks and non-alcoholic sparking grape juice served at the end of the 2-2:50 class on Monday the 27th.  I want to invite all the classes this semester, so if you are in the 11am or the 1pm section, feel free to attend the 2pm review session if you like, and stay for a few treats, or just wander in to Mac 318 about 2:35 on Monday.
Dr. Berg

Phil 220 4-23-15

Remember, we are in the classroom tomorrow (April 23)!

IOCC Exam III study guide

IOCC Exam III Study Guide

IOCC 201 Exam III

the history of the Roman Empire

 how and why it changed

 the history of early Christianity

Myth of Rome (reading)

Edict of Milan (reading)

 the relationship between the  Roman Empire and Christianity

The relationship between the Eastern (Greek) and Western (Latin) wing of the Empire

Basic early Church architecture

Time in Augustine and in Rome

Plato and Augustine

Augustine material about his life

Final relationship between Islam and Rome

Final relationship between Islam and Christianity 

Do your reading!!!

Ethics Phil 220

The reading and assignment for the Vaccine Debate has been posted on Moodle.

IOCC 201 Monday, April 20th

The assignment has been posted on Moodle.  It is due no later than 11pm on the 20th of April.

IOCC April 20th

We will have a Moodle assignment on Monday April 20th.  Please log onto Moodle and go to your IOCC course on the 20th.  When there, you will see a discussion forum related to the course and a set of instructions.  If you are having problems with Moodle see IT or perhaps the CLE can help.
Dr. Berg

Augustine-IOCC 201

Read Books: I,II,VII,VIII,XI
From the Confessions

IOCC 201 and Phl 220 extra Credit

Greetings.
As you know, the college is hiring a new President, and you have been invited to evaluate each candidate. 
Each candidate will be meeting with you, as students, from 12-12:50pm in the Gamble Student Center, across from Pipers, April 12-16.  Please make the time to see them and ask them questions. It is a big decision who we hire!  For each candidate you observe I will offer 2 points of extra credit for a 100 or more word evaluation of the candidate.  Send your evaluation to me via email
Dr. Berg

IOCC Classes

We meet in the Chapel Wednesday the 8th of April. 
Dr. Berg

Islam DVD IOCC 201

Greetings!
If you need to make up the assignment on Islam using the DVD, it will be ready to go next week in the library.  My apologies for the delay.
Dr. Berg

Extra Credit IOCC 201 and Phil 220

Go to the second floor of Mac Hall, on the north-east side.  You will see the Psychology Department.  On the wall in the hallway there is an announcement for a psychology experiment.  Follow the directions posted there and when you have participated in the experiment you will receive a slip of paper with Professor Wiediger's signature on it.  Return that slip of paper to me for 3 points!

Don't hand in the slip that has your time on it, hand me the slip of paper you get after you participate.

Dr. Be3rg

IOCC 201

Just a reminder; we have an exam tomorrow (the 1st of April).

IOCC Tweet Contest!

Honorable Mention:

How you choose to perceive what you go through is the life that you make for yourself. Remember misery loves company. #Romans #Chapter 8:18-30

Marquita and Britonia

Romans keep up the good work! Continue spreading the faith to both Greeks and Jew. #FaithNotlaws

Alexandra and Morgan

Attention Bros and Sis stray from those causing division and obstacles for they are jackasses deceiving your mind and the work of Christ
#StayChristianMyFriends

Tiffany and Robert

You my bros know what's up. Know these points so you don't mess up. your peeps need to be taught good for God. Cruising the world where Jesus didn't go. #WWJD

Ellyn
Ally
Sara

And for the win!

It just takes one rotten apple in the bunch to ruin it for everyone.  Thanks a lot Adam. #selfish #notateamplayer

Ryan and Adam

IOCC 201 Exam II

IOCC 201 Exam II

Second Exam

For all documents that we read know: the aprox. date written, author, location and source language. (There are some documents we read that we do not know these things about, others that we know all of the above, a few that we know some of the above, consult your notes)

Make sure you have read all assigned text, do not turst your knowledge of the Bible for the exam, study it!

The synoptic Gospels, the Gospels.

Quadriga method

The basic message of Judaism.

The basic message of Paul’s Christianity.

Which Gospel was written first.

Source languages of the Bible

When the Biblical text were written in relation to Homer, Plato and Aristotle.

Basics of the life of Jesus of Nazareth

Basics of the life of Paul.

Basics of the Bible.

Basic narrative the Genesis 1-23

Basic narrative of Joshua.

Structure of Isaiah

 

How  Isaiah relates to both the Hebrew and Christian tradition.

 

Difference between a Gospel and an Epistle.

The complexities of the ending of Mark

Basic arguments of Romans

Romans 13 and society

How to work with a Biblical text as a Jewish and a Christian Text

Basic of the Koran

5 pillars of faith

Basics of the life of Muhammad

ISIL and the ancient world

Basics of the Islamic tradition, history, and current practice

Phil 220 Class flipped Week of April 21-24

We will meet on Moodle Tuesday the 21st of April and in the classroom Thursday the 23rd.
Dr. Berg

Readings from the Koran IOCC 201

Surahs; 1,4,9,14,19,21,23,28,30,35,45,47,56,63,65,75,76,77,82,102,104,107,109

And please read more if you like!

Phil 220 March 3 and March 5

March 3

The College does not open until 10am today-thus we will not have class March 3rd.  

However, I need to file Mid-term grades this Friday.  Therefore we need to take our exam Thursday the 5th of march.

Our Exam is Thursday, March 5th, 9:30am in our classroom.

Be safe today.

Dr. Berg

IOCC 201 Extra Credit

Due March 30th!

Topic: Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us?

http://www.think-off.org/

Wondering about what the Think-Off is?

Submit your essay, and be crowned America’s Greatest Thinker for 2015
The Great American Think-Off is an annual philosophy competition open to all at no cost. To participate, submit an essay on-line by clicking on the headline above, by email to info@think-off.org, or by mail to Think-Off, c/o Cultural Center, P.O. Box 246, New York Mills, MN 56567.
Deadline for submission of your essay (maximum of 750 words) is April 1. Four finalists will be selected from those submitting essays by the deadline and invited to debate their opponents on the second Saturday of June.
The Think-Off was begun by John Davis and has been held annually since 1992. Finalists each receive $500 and all travel and lodging expenses to New York Mills for the June debate.



What you do for 10 points.
Write a 750 word essay for the above contest.
Email your essay to me after you submit it to the contest.
Any questions, just ask

Phil 220 Extra Credit

Due March 30th!

Topic: Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us?

http://www.think-off.org/

Wondering about what the Think-Off is?

Submit your essay, and be crowned America’s Greatest Thinker for 2015
The Great American Think-Off is an annual philosophy competition open to all at no cost. To participate, submit an essay on-line by clicking on the headline above, by email to info@think-off.org, or by mail to Think-Off, c/o Cultural Center, P.O. Box 246, New York Mills, MN 56567.
Deadline for submission of your essay (maximum of 750 words) is April 1. Four finalists will be selected from those submitting essays by the deadline and invited to debate their opponents on the second Saturday of June.
The Think-Off was begun by John Davis and has been held annually since 1992. Finalists each receive $500 and all travel and lodging expenses to New York Mills for the June debate.



What you do for 10 points.
Write a 750 word essay for the above contest.
Email your essay to me after you submit it to the contest.
Any questions, just ask!

IOCc 201 Isaiah

Chapters 2,4,5,7,9,15,24,34,42,52,61

IOCC 201 Extra Credit

Attend:

Please join us on Thursday, February 19^th

6-8pm

in the Applebee Gallery in the Putnam Center for the Arts

for the reception for

“Christine Holtz: Over and Over”

There will be a brief artist talk at 6:15 pm and refreshments will be served!

Comment on Moodle with something your learned by Tuesday February 24th 11pm

5 points max.

IOCC 201 Monday Feb 16th 2015

Greetings everyone.

I am not clear to return to work until Tuesday the 17th.  We will not have class Monday the 16th and our first exam will be Wednesday the 18th.

Dr. Berg

IOCC 201 Friday the 13th 2015

I am sick and have lost my voice.  We will have the exam on Monday as planned, I will steer clear of any questions from Aristotle's Politics (what we were covering today).
Dr. Berg

IOCC 201 Sp 15 Exam I study Guide

Remember, I am not bound by this guide in any way. Think of it as a good basic guide but not a controlling document.


IOCC 210 study guide

Do not take this as a complete representation of what could be on the exam, it is a “rough guide” at best.

Know the “ages” of the Greek world and what gave rise to Homer’s age.

The basic of Homeric authorship, style, works, structure, muse/poet, etc.

Know the main characters from the sections of The Odyssey we read.

When did Greek philosophy develop? Know some basics of Greek Philosophical thought.

Difference between Plato and Socrates.

Fundamentals of Platonic thought.

The story of Ion, magnetic rings, and what it teaches, and Plato’s argument.

Details of the trial of Socrates, outcome, charges, etc

Know the Socratic defense.

The Allegory of the cave from Republic (Book 7)

Rough details of Aristotle’s life.

What counts as poetry

Know how to identify the poetic

Three forms of poetry. Which one is best and why

How to identify the tragic.

The four causes.

 Essential, accidental  properties.

Aristotle on happiness

The 6 conditions for happiness and their order

The 4 lives, which one is best any why.

The ideal Polis (state) for Plato and Aristotle

 

 

 

The Virtues

Basic forms of knowledge and the justification for truth from all three.

 Basic form of Platonic and Aristotelian writing as we have it today.

Basic Greek form of Democracy and their legal system.

IOCC 201

Friday Feb 6 - Intro to Aristotle
Monday Feb 9 -Aristotle's Ethics Books I and II
Wednesday Feb 11 Aristotle's Poetics (all) Meet in Applebee Gallery - Note this is a change of date.
Friday Feb 13 Aristotle's Politics Books I and II
Monday Feb 16 - Exam I

IOCC reading list

F: Plato's Ion
M: Plato Republic 7
W: Plato Apology

Study Aborad

Greetings!
It is with regret that I must post that The Philosophy and Religion program at Mac will not be leading a Study Tour this May.  If you are interested in study abroad please see Dr. Berg for other opportunities.
Dr. Berg

Phil 220

Greetings!
Just a reminder for the Phil 220 students this is a hybrid course, meaning it meets in mac Hall on Tuesdays and meets on Moodle Thursdays.  Please check in on the Moodle page.  By checking in I mean navigate to it and look around.
Dr. Berg

IOCC 201 Spring 2015

Welcome back to Mac or for new students, welcome to Mac!
You have found the Blog, congratulations.

Here is the first assignment.  You should read Book I and II from Homer's Odyssey for Wednesday January 21st.

Dr. Berg.