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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>RE: [Philosophy] Course Review</TITLE>
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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>Hello all,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>I just wanted to send a short email to say thank you
all for your comments and ideas over recent weeks. This list / forum has
become a highlight for me to check my email.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>I also wanted to weigh in somewhat on the course review
debate. We had our first Yr 12 class complete Philosophy Units 3 & 4
last year. They did reasonably well, although, to me, I was most
encouraged by one young lady who has just commenced at Latrobe Uni doing a
double degree in Philosophy and French.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>Regarding the course review, I have been thinking, but
I am not able to articulate all my ideas just yet. As for the texts, I
would agree with Lyn that King should remain. The texts on the good life
are quite diverse and they provide a good counterpoint to one another.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>While I understand that overall 14 texts is a lot, I
would rather keep that amount than actually reduce the number. Philosophy
should be rigorous and should be seen as such. I am still incensed by the
the VCAA's view on specialist mathematics (which I also understand to be
rigorous) while there view on the rigor of reading, understanding, responding to
and interacting with 14 university level texts is nothing if not extremely
rigourous. I am not an elitist, but I strongly believe that we in the
humanities need to highlight the level of difficulty of our various humanities
subjects.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>As for Murdoch, I do find her a very odd choice and I
understand the need to have some gender balancing, I would have thought there
might have been some other options. Yet, in a perverse sort of way, I
found Murdoch stimulating and several of my students found (somehow) the Murdoch
text useful -- most found it obscure.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>In Unit 4, I would like to see Kuhn remain also because
he lays the groundwork for undermining the absolute confidence in science.
Kuhn is seminal to understanding the wider post-modernism
debate.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>These are my thoughts for the moment, but I hope to
contribute more ideas in the near future. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>Thanks again for all of your (collective)
contributions.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006>Regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=071494721-28022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3>Rodney Latham</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3>Philosophy and Economics Teacher</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3>Ph 03 9749-1522 Fax (03) 9748-6247</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3>email rlatham@heathdale.vic.edu.au</FONT></P>
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