No Philosophy Club Meeting today

Hi again everybody. Regrettably we will not have a meeting today--Monday, December 15--because all teachers will be in meetings for the Benchmark Blitzkrieg on Wednesday.

We will meet again after the break. If I don't see you around this week, have a happy holiday season!

Philosophy Soccer

German philosophers vs. Greek philosophers. Enjoy:



(from Monty Python)

No Philosophy Club Meeting today

Sorry for the delayed response, everyone, but I am out sick today and thus we will not be able to have a meeting today, December 1. We will reconvene next week, December 8.

Hope everyone had a good holiday! Continue to watch the website, I will post more topics (and if you haven't yet, respond to the last topic! All in good fun!)

- Mr. Fox aka "Ryan"

"Should we kill healthy people for their organs?"

This is one of the "Four Philosophical Questions To Make Your Brain Hurt," from that BBC article I mentioned.

1. SHOULD WE KILL HEALTHY PEOPLE FOR THEIR ORGANS?

Suppose Bill is a healthy man without family or loved ones. Would it be ok painlessly to kill him if his organs would save five people, one of whom needs a heart, another a kidney, and so on? If not, why not?

Consider another case: you and six others are kidnapped, and the kidnapper somehow persuades you that if you shoot dead one of the other hostages, he will set the remaining five free, whereas if you do not, he will shoot all six. (Either way, he'll release you.)

If in this case you should kill one to save five, why not in the previous, organs case? If in this case too you have qualms, consider yet another: you're in the cab of a runaway tram and see five people tied to the track ahead. You have the option of sending the tram on to the track forking off to the left, on which only one person is tied. Surely you should send the tram left, killing one to save five.

But then why not kill Bill?

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7739493.stm

Your thoughts?

Welcome!

Hello all, I hope this post finds you well. I have received plenty of response from you guys, so it's been an easy decision to go ahead with the WHS Philosophy Club. Here's the facts you need to know:

1. We will meet on Mondays, from 2:30pm - 3:00pm in Room 30 (Mr. Fox's room).
*If you can't meet, please check this website and respond to the topic(s) posted.*

2. At the first meeting, I will make sure we all have gmail accounts so we can respond to questions on the blog (http://washhousephilosophy.blogspot.com).
*Keep in mind: the meetings are Mondays, but the blog is open 24/7/365.*

3. Our first meeting will be November 24, 2008--next Monday.

4. Topics we will discuss next Monday:

• Personal Questionnaire. (Name, Email, and then a lot of Top 5 Lists).
  
• What I'd like out of this club.
  
• What do YOU want out of this club?
  
• What is philosophy anyway, and why should we care?
  

I think that pretty much covers everything. As always, drop me a line on LoopMail if you need anything.

- Mr. Fox