Essay on Question: How do we know what we know?

How do we know?

We accept certain events from history as "true." True events are supported by evidence, archeological, ephemeral and as told by human beings. Events told by human beings are weighed and considered for reliability. Primary, secondary and tertiary sources where a primary source is considered the most reliable. Some human who witnessed the events.

Thus history emphasizes empirical evidence, that humans can see, feel, taste and record in some fashion. Senses, touch, taste, sight and hearing are the foundation of evidence as are human artifacts which recreate the memory of those experiences.

Into this arena ruled by human senses we introduce the photograph. On the basic level the photograph reproduces the sense of sight. It relies on the physics of light and the optical properties of the lens and they eye. Photographers can capture sight and transport an experiential moment across space and time.

Thus we trust that the flag was raised on Iwo Jima. We have a picture, which is also a LIE of omission because the famous flag raising does not acknowledge that it was a recreation. An image of an image as Plato would assert. Yet it is not the actual image that confirms and reconfirms the truth of this knowledge it is memory. Memory of human beings, the soldiers who fought on Iwo Jima from America and Japan, the memories of movie goers who watched the flag being raised in dark theaters, mothers, brothers, friends who worried about the chance and reality of death.

While physical evidence exists to PROVE events, such as photos of a foundation of a roman villa in a contemporary Spanish field, which can only be seen from the air. What we KNOW is ultimately an exercise in a shared human community who tell the story Iwo Jima.

Consequently we know what we know only as a human community. I know about WWII because my father was a soldier who kept Bill Mauldin's memoire on his book shelf. Bill Mauldin's cartoons, which are included in the slide show are also part of my knowledge of WWII.

Blog Assignments for April 28, 2009

FINAL PROJECT

1. Be prepared to discuss your idea for the final project in class

2. Post image held in the common knowledge from the visual world that will be the basis for your final project

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

Present your philosophy of one of the following (What is good, ...true, .... the right thing to do OR How do we know what we know.)

This should be a well reasoned essay that uses your slide show for evidence supporting your philosophy and comparing OR contrasting your position to Plato, Aristotle or a Philosopher of your choice.

As a citizen and adult member of the republic, you have a philosophy... I am looking forward to reading about it.

Blog Assignments April 21 2009

1. Comment on critical friend's Slide Show. ALL Slide shows should be working.

Slide shows should be without "clues" intending to communicate one of the essential questions of philosophy.

What is good?
What is true?
How do we know what we know?
What is the right thing to do.

Make a case, cite evidence and describe how you reach this conclusion.

This is graded exercise.

2. Leave 1 comment regarding 3 out of 6 videos on http://www.docmox.blogspot.com/, In your opinion how do these videos distinguish between a PIMP, HACK, MOD OR MASH-UP. Make a case, cite evidence and describe how you reach this conclusion.

This is a graded exercise.

Pimp, Hack, Mod... or Mash-up leave comment... support argument 50-100 words.

Comment on three... Distiguishing between Pimp, Hack, Mod or Mash-up

Honda meets Rube Goldberg


Michael Gondry Commercial



HP Vera Wang Commercial



Aquarium computer... mineral oil cooled.



Beer Launching Fridge



Burton Snowboard HP


Gwen Stefani HP

Pimp Hack Mod... Mash-up

Define the words.... I've provided links to Google News Articles which use the word in a sentence. Even though Hack, Mod and Mash-up are used in a computer context... they can be applied to anything.

Pimp Your Tower By Supra Boats

Dealzmodo Hack: Don't give up on your symbian phone

LCD Mod

Making a map mash-up with the G1 phone and flickr

Exemplary Product: The Stand Mixer... with a big motor