Hi. This page is intended for my current and former students, mainly to provide a selection of resources for philosophy classes and related pursuits. I hope it is also interesting and helpful for anyone who may have stumbled by. So, whoever you are, please enjoy this site and share your comments with me, if you have any. If you don't have any, then I guess you can keep them to yourself. But then, you'd be talking to yourself, which isn't always convenient. Wait, you wouldn't have anything to say to yourself, if you didn't have any comments... Sorry....

Philosophy Organizations and Resources

The American Philosophical Association professional organization for philosophers

The Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy professional organization for Continental Philosophy

Society for Women in Philosophy a place to start to see the growing impact of women upon the western philosophical tradition

Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory philosophical organization bringing together feminist philosophers and social theorists

Radical Philosophy Association philosophical and practical resources devoted to social transformation

The American Philosophical Society resources related to philosophical, humanistic, and scientific interests

The Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium Keep up with conferences and related events in the region.

Online Papers in Philosophy papers online by philosophy people, mainly in Analytic Philosophy

African Philosophy Resources comprehensive site by Bruce Janz of The University of Central Florida

A Taoism Site some great resources and directions for further study of Taoism

Buddhism great site to aid study of the varieties of Buddhist thought and culture

The Philosophers' Magazine extensive philosophy related resources, including great philosophy related games and challenges

Philosophy Minor at Drexel Here is the official poop.

Why Study Philosophy? some reassuring news for those considering a Major in Philosophy (and their parents)

Thoughts On Writing A Philosophy Paper some things to think about as you set out to write assigned papers for philosophy classes

More Guides and Resources for Writing Philosophy a comprehensive list maintained at erraticimpact.com

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PHIL105 Critical Reasoning

Syllabus for PHIL105 Section 004 Critical Reasoning, Spring, 2009 At this link you'll find the syllabus for the course. Please read it carefully and bring it to class on the first day so we can discuss it, clear up anything that needs further explanation and start getting to know one another.

Syllabus for PHIL105 Section 008 Critical Reasoning, Spring, 2009 At this link you'll find the syllabus for the course. Please read it carefully and bring it to class on the first day so we can discuss it, clear up anything that needs further explanation and start getting to know one another.

Syllabus for PHIL105 Section 013 Critical Reasoning, Spring, 2009 At this link you'll find the syllabus for the course. Please read it carefully and bring it to class on the first day so we can discuss it, clear up anything that needs further explanation and start getting to know one another.

Clowntime is Over (This is the Text for PHIL105 Critical Reasoning, Spring 2009) This link takes you to text for the course. Please let me know if you have any questions or find any typos. During the first week of class you will also be able to purchase a copy of this text at the Drexel Copy Shop. A copy of this text will also be placed on reserve in the Hagerty Library.

Exercise Set #1 At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the first Exercise Set: 004; 008; 013

FILM: The Persuaders: “...draws on a range of experts and observers of the advertising/marketing world, to examine how, in the words of one on-camera commentator, ‘the principle of democracy yields to the practice of demography,’ as highly customized messages are delivered to a smaller segment of the market." This film, made for the PBS series FRONTLINE, originally aired in 2004. It "explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them. You can view it online here. If you have any trouble viewing the film online, the Hagerty Library Reserve Desk also has a copy of the DVD you can borrow for four hours to watch in the library. If you cannot view the film online or in the library, please let me know so that we can make other arrangements so that you can see it. Please don’t wait until the last minute. A complete transcript of this film can be found here. The Discussion Questions for the film can be found here: 004; 008; 013. Related Videos: FRONTLINE: The Merchants of Cool; No Logo Related Audio: WHYY Radio Times: Stephen Baker talks about data-mining and the "Numerati" Related Article: America! Meet Your Puppet Master (requires extra password: AMATO105)

Exercise Set #2 At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the second Exercise Set: 004; 008; 013

Study Guide for Midterm Exam At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the Study Guide for our Midterm Exam. The Midterm for sections 004 and 013 will be held on Monday, May 5. The Midterm for section 008 will be held on Tuesday, May 5. Please let me know if you have any questions: 004; 008; 013

FILM: Fear and Favor in the Newsroom: "...journalists, including four Pulitzer Prize winners from The New York Times, NBC, PBS and other respected news organizations reveal how they have been censored, squelched or fired for aggressively reporting on the wealthy and the powerful. The one-hour program also presents senior news executives, including the former Vice Chairman of The New York Times and the President of NBC News, who defend the work of their news organizations." This film is online as streaming video at Hagerty Library here. In addition to your Drexel log-in, a password is required for access. It is “AMATO105.” You can also find this video online here. If you have any trouble viewing the film online, the Hagerty Library Reserve Desk has a VHS copy you can borrow for four hours to watch in the library. If you cannot view the film online or in the library, please let me know so that we can make other arrangements so that you can see it. Please don’t wait until the last minute. The Discussion Questions for the film can be found here: 004; 008; 013. A transcript can be found online here. Related: OutFoxed (2006); Manufacturing Consent (1992)

Exercise Set #3 At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the third Exercise Set: 004; 008; 013

Exercise Set #4 At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the fourth and final Exercise Set: 004; 008; 013

FILM: Toxic Sludge is Good for You: The Public Relations Industry Unspun: "...tracks the development of the public relations industry from early efforts to win popular American support for World War I to the role of crisis management in controlling the damage to corporate image. The video analyzes the tools public relations professionals use to shift our perceptions including a look at the coordinated PR campaign to slip genetically engineered produce past public scrutiny." This film can be found online as streaming video at Hagerty Library Course Reserves here. In addition to your Drexel log-in, a password is required for access. It is “AMATO105.” Please Note: You may need to download the latest version of RealPlayer if your computer does not already have it. You can download the latest one at: http://www.real.com/) In addition to these online versions, there is a Flash version of the film online here. (If you don't have the Flash Player, you can download it at: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/) Finally, if none of those work, the film is also at Google Video here. And, if all else fails, the Hagerty Library Reserve Desk has a copy of the DVD you can borrow for four hours to watch in the library. If you cannot view the film online or in the library, please let me know so that we can make other arrangements so that you can see it. Please don’t wait until the last minute. The Discussion Questions for the film can be found here: 004; 008; 013. A transcript can be found here. Related Videos: Buying the War (2007); FRONTLINE: News War (2007); Weapons of Mass Deception (2006); John Stauber Interview concerning his book “The Best War Ever”; War Made Easy (2007) Related Articles: Behind the Pentagon’s Propaganda Plan; Message Machine--Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand; America! Meet Your Puppet Master (requires extra password: AMATO105)

Study Guide for Final Exam At the links for each section at the end of this paragraph you will find a copy of the Study Guide for our Final Exam. Please let me know if you have any questions: 004; 008; 013

Hagerty Library Course Reserves: Books and Articles:

• Critical Reasoning Text, Amato (4 Hour Loan) required text

• Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies, And The Public Relations Industry, Stauber (4 Hour Loan)

• Trust Us, We're Experts!: How Industry Manipulates Science And Gambles With Your Future, Rampton (2 Hr Loan)

• You Just Don't Understand: Women And Men In Conversation, Tannen (2 Hour Loan)

• The Consumer Trap: Big Business Marketing In American Life, Dawson (2 Hour Loan)

• Culture Jam, Kalle Lasn (2 Hour Loan)

• Nineteen Eighty Four, George Orwell (Overnight Loan)

• War Made Easy: How Presidents And Pundits Keep Spinning Us To Death, Norman Solomon (4 Hour Loan)

• America! Meet Your Puppet Master, by Fabian Marquez (Electronic Reserve, requires extra password: AMATO105)

Hagerty Library Course Reserves: Video:

• The Persuaders (DVD Overnight Loan; available as streaming video here)

• Fear & Favor In The Newsroom (VHS 4 Hour Loan; available as streaming video with password AMATO105 here)

• Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: The Public Relations Industry Unspun (DVD 4 Hr Loan; streaming video with password AMATO105 here)

• Thank You for Smoking (DVD Overnight Loan)

Additional articles and other resources:

Mission: Critical, Critical Thinking-Informal Logic Site and On-line Laboratory This site is a great place to sharpen your logical skills, with readings, exercises, logic games and activities. Click on the Home Page button to get started.

FactCheck.org The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. FactCheck is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, consumer advocate for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics, monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Their goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding. The APPC accepts no funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbying organizations or individuals. It is funded primarily by an endowment from the Annenberg Foundation.

PolitiFact “PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly to help you find the truth in the presidential campaign. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times and CQ will analyze the candidates' speeches, TV ads and interviews and determine whether the claims are accurate. PolitiFact is bolder than previous journalistic fact-checking efforts because we’ll make a call, declaring whether a claim is True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True or False. We even have a special category for the most ridiculous claims that we call “Pants on Fire.” The St. Petersburg Times is Florida’s largest newspaper and the winner of six Pulitzer Prizes. Washington-based Congressional Quarterly is the authoritative news source for coverage of Congress and politics. Congressional Quarterly and the Times are affiliates of the Times Publishing Company, which is owned by the Poynter Institute, a center for journalism education in St. Petersburg.”

FactCheck and PolitiFact on Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane At this link you can listen to this WHYY radio program from September 19, 2008 in which two researchers from these services are interviewed primarily concerning the presidential election. "We examine recent political attacks in the presidential campaign with Michael Delli Carpini, Dean of University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and Bill Adair, Editor of PolitiFact and Washington Bureau Chief for The St. Petersburg Times."

The Committee of Concerned Journalists "The Committee of Concerned Journalists is a consortium of journalists, publishers, owners and academics worried about the future of the profession. To secure journalism's future, the group believes that journalists from all media, geography, rank and generation must be clear about what sets our profession apart from other endeavors. To accomplish this, the group is creating a national conversation among journalists about principles."

Center for Media and Democracy The Center for Media & Democracy is a nonprofit, public interest organization funded by individuals and nonprofit foundations and dedicated to investigative reporting about the public relations industry.

On The Media Lively discussion, informative news, and insightful analysis of issues and controversies regarding the media produced by WNYC, New York public radio. Airs Sundays at 11:00 am on WHYY FM 91 in Philly.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting Offers well-documented criticisms of the effects of corporate control on reporting and defends journalists and the First Amendment when they are under attack.

The Center for Public Integrity The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization that conducts investigative research and reporting on public policy issues in the United States and around the world. The Center was founded in 1989 by Charles Lewis following a successful 11-year career in network television news. Through thorough, thoughtful and objective analyses, the Center hopes to serve as an honest broker of information – and to inspire a better-informed citizenry to demand a higher level of accountability from its government and elected leaders.

MediaTank This is an organization devoted to democratizing the media, with excellent programs designed to counter the negative effects of corporate and political power on democratic public discourse.

Independent Media Center- Philadelphia It's Independent; It's Media; It's Philly. Read, participate, contribute.

What Ever Happened to Investigative Journalism? At this link you can listen to the radio program "Shining a Light" done by On The Media August 15, 2008 which looks at the history and present state of investigative journalism. There is also a transcript of the program.

Still Not The News For an update on video news releases, see this recent report from the Center for Media and Democracy.

The Final Word is Hooray some of the most notable media comments from the early days of the Iraq War, gathered by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

At the Frontiers of Spin recent article on new attitudes toward public relations and politics in the Obama Era

The Center for Science in the Public Interest Confused about the multitude of competing claims made in the name of science? Check CSPIN out. They've been working on these issues for years and they'll help you put it in a reasonable perspective.

POGO Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption in order to achieve a more accountable federal government. The Project On Government Oversight is committed to exposing waste, fraud and corruption in the following areas: defense, energy & environment, contract oversight and open government.

Media Education Foundation organization producing and making available video resources offering intelligent, informed perspectives on events from the interpersonal to the international

Project Implicit Think you are already aware of all your assumptions and prejudices? Check this out!

How Doctors Think an intriguing discussion of the recent book by Dr. Jerome Groopman, in which excellent examples of phenomena associated with critical reasoning and its failures-- including confirmation bias and other confounding effects, are illustrated

What Makes Us Think? This is a thought-provoking review by Howard Gardner of the book in which a humanistic philosopher and neuroscientist consider the nature and scope of mind and brain and the relationships between science, philosophy, and the humanities in understanding experience.

Drug Rep Radio Times conversation and article by Dr. Dan Carlat, an expert formerly employed by the pharmaceutical industry to promote sales, discusses these kinds of promotional practices.

The Fix Is In, This American Life Program #168: (RealAudio) Aired 9/15/2000 and 02/13/2004 “There are all sorts of situations in which we suspect the fix is in, but we almost never find out for certain. On today's show, for once, we find out. The whole program is devoted to one story, in which we go inside the back rooms of one multinational corporation and hear the intricate workings—recorded on tape—of how they put the fix in. We hear from Kurt Eichenwald, whose book The Informant is about the price fixing conspiracy at the food company ADM, Archer Daniels Midland, and the executive who cooperated with the FBI in recording over 250 hours of secret video and audio tapes, probably the most remarkable videotapes ever made of an American company in the middle of a criminal act. Screenwriter Scott Burns heard this episode of the program and—with director Steven Soderbergh—made it into a film [The Informant, 2009, starring Matt Damon].”

Thank You for Smoking This link takes you to the listing at Hagerty Library course reserves, at which you can find a DVD of this film to watch in the library or borrow overnight. The film offers a candid but humorous satire of public relations, its misleading effects on consumers and its distorting effects on the lives (and arguments) of practitioners.

Killing Us Softly Feminist author Jean Kilbourne's site dealing with the impact of media and advertising on our lives in various ways

Buying the War This is a 90-minute documentary that explores the role of the press in the lead-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. It "includes interviews with Dan Rather, formerly of CBS; Tim Russert of Meet the Press; Bob Simon of 60 Minutes; Walter Isaacson, former president of CNN; and John Walcott, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel of Knight Ridder newspapers, which was acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006...The program analyzes the stream of unchecked information from administration sources and Iraqi defectors to the mainstream print and broadcast press, which was then seized upon and amplified by an army of pundits. While almost all the claims would eventually prove to be false, the drumbeat of misinformation about WMDs went virtually unchallenged by the media." For complete information, resources, and a complete transcript, go to: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/btw/watch.html. Watch online at these links: Buying the War; Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5.

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PHIL241 Social & Political Philosophy

Syllabus for PHIL241 Section 001 Social & Political Philosophy, Winter 2009 At this link you'll find the syllabus for the course. Please read it carefully and bring it to class on the first day so we can discuss it, clear up anything that needs further explanation and start getting to know one another.

First Essay Assignment Please look this over and let me know if you have any questions about the assignment. Please note: The First Essay was originally to be due Thursday, February 12, but I have extended the deadline to Tuesday, February 17.

Study Guide for Midterm Exam Please look this over and let me know if you have any questions. The Midterm Exam will be held Tuesday, February 10.

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PHIL330 Criminal Justice Ethics

Syllabus for PHIL330 Section 001 Criminal Justice Ethics, Spring 2009 At this link you'll find the syllabus for the course. Please read it carefully and bring it to class on the first day so we can discuss it, clear up anything that needs further explanation and start getting to know one another.

Before Teaching Ethics, Stop Kidding Yourself This article by the philosopher Gordon Marino is our first reading.

What is Ethics? Our second reading this term. Please bring this and all readings to class when we're talking about them if you can.

First Midterm Study Guide (REVISED) Please look this over and let me know if you have any questions.

Outline of Class Notes, (3/31 to 4/16) Here is a sketch of our classnotes up to the First Midterm.

Second Midterm Study Guide Please look this over and let me know if you have any questions. Our Second Midterm Exam will be held Tuesday, May 12.

The American Prison Nightmare, by Jason DeParle

Are Prisons Driving Prisoners Mad?, by Jeffery Kluger

Industrialized Social Control This piece by Paul Leighton is an informative critique of some foundational aspects of criminal justice policy in the United States. It is also available at his Criminal Justice Website, (http://paulsjusticepage.com/).

Wrong Door by Radley Balko and Joel Berger - "The Supreme Court ruled this June that evidence seized in an illegally performed "no-knock" police raid can still be used against a defendant. Though disturbing in its own right, Hudson v. Michigan touched on only a small part of a larger problem -- the trend toward paramilitary tactics in domestic policing..."

Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics Resource Links "The Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics, the only nonprofit, university-based center of its kind in the United States, was established to foster greater concern for ethical issues among practitioners and scholars in the criminal justice field."

Penal Reform International "Penal Reform International is an international non-governmental organisation working on penal and criminal justice reform worldwide."

Reducing the Costs of Incarceration "Most incarcerated people are eventually released into the community. Programs that offer inmates and youthful offenders assistance with rehabilitation and transition back into the community can reduce crime and recidivism. Thus, in an effort to increase public safety and reduce the high rates of incarceration in Baltimore, the Criminal Justice Program plans to concentrate its resources on two program priorities: the successful transition of ex-offenders into the community; and alternatives to incarceration for juveniles..."

Restorative Justice Online "Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behaviour. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders..."

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Other Sites of Interest

Drexel University official university information and resources

Drexel University Television a resource with eye-opening, thought-provoking programming

WKDU Drexel Radio "Because we are a free format radio station, the content of our shows is not pre-programmed. Nobody is told what to play. The music played is at the discretion of the on air DJ. We encourage our DJs to play at least 1/3 new music, but beyond that, it is up to them. If it is not being heard on another radio station in the area, then there is a chance we will play it." Cool.

WPEB, 88.1 FM, "Radio Volta, the audio working group of the Philadelphia IMC, is an outgrowth of the webcast team that broadcasted over the Internet waves during the 2000 Republican National Convention...."

Drexel Community Social Awareness & Political Action Page resources, announcements, and activism information

Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Race "Most variation is within, not between, “races.” Of the small amount of total human variation, 85% exists within any local population. About 94% can be found within any continent. That means, for example, that two random Koreans may be as genetically different as a Korean and an Italian....."

Dark Legacy "While researching the Italian-American experience, filmmaker Heather Hartley stumbled onto one of the uglier episodes in American history: the lynching of 11 Italians in New Orleans in March of 1891...."

Essential Information extremely informative resources geared toward activism promoting informed and intelligent social choices

Commondreams.org At this highly recommended site you will find wide-ranging resources to help you keep up with world events.

Democracy Now! a national, listener-sponsored public radio and TV show

Working for Change great information and resources website associated with Working Assets

The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign Philadelphia's Kensington Welfare Rights Union

Co-op America socially-responsible opportunities for investors

Wooden Shoe Books the intellectual and activist traditions of anarchism, alive and well and living in Philly

Adbusters challenges to consumerism

John Perkins Interview author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, from WNYC Radio, New York, November 8, 2004, (scroll down for link).