Abstract for the 5th Christina Conference at the University of Helsinki

 [I'm preparing some necessities for the trip. About the activities here, I do something similar for my classes in philosophical anthropology.]

Taking on a Role: An Actor-Oriented Approach to Discussing Gender and Introducing Intersectionality

Gender studies is a fledgling course for Philippine universities. This paper argues for an actor-oriented approach to the study of gender. By “actor-oriented,” it is meant that many of the activities are inspired or taken from what actors do in order to prepare for a play. This approach is taken to bring the issues closer to the students. For instance, activities used to deepen listening expose the problematic assumptions and stereotypes regarding hypothetical situations. These hypothetical situations have to do with the interplay of gender, race and social status. One hypothetical situation is that of a woman bleeding who is refused entry to a hospital.  A further description is that the woman has a swollen abdomen. The students are asked to give reasons as to why the woman was refused entry. The added condition is that students repeat the reasons of the previous student. Apart from students defending the hospital, the repeated reasons usually feature embellishments like “she was poor”, “she’s of x-religion”, “she had an abortion.”  

Listening is just one of the many basic skills nurtured even further by actors (especially those informed by the practices of Konstantin Stanislavsky and Stella Adler) in order to be in the scene, from moment to moment. This also means that listening is also an attempt to see through our own judgments. The insights that may be gathered from doing the activities usually lead to discussions of intersectionality. It should be noticed that gender, race, religion and social status also forms some of the elements in building a character, and many of these dynamically intertwine and overlap.  This paper also argues that the actor’s approach is also a good way of introducing intersectionality, especially since this might be the first and last time our students will take up gender studies.

Manila Heat!

The temperature here is fever level hehehe... I'm supposed to be working on my presentation but I'm taking a break with this Manila heat. I have decided that my recent reads would feature my photographs of the books I have read. Just an explanation for the delayed posts. Many things in store in the months to come.

Twitter of Reading and Philosophy

Still getting used to it. Some philosophers there too, following some of them.The link to is: https://twitter.com/readingandphilo

On the Research Congress 2013

I went a bit longer than the time allotted in my presentation.It would have been nice if there was more of an audience. Still, the call for papers from this have extended and renewed some of the research I have been doing. It can be hard for a recent PhD with a 4-5 classes to teach, but there is no excuse.
I will be posting portions of my paper "The Importance of Biology to Philosophy: The Case for Philosophy of Biology" soon.

I really need to post my recent reads soon.

DLSU Research Congress 2013 in a few

   I've been handling five classes a week, for the past few weeks. Though I have still been able to do some leisurely reading. Still, not the same amount as January's. Oh I have yet to log my recent reads for January or February.
   The nice thing about having classes is you do get to work out your ideas more. I have quite a few things lined up in March aside from Research Congress. Something for Women's Month, maybe something for the Philosophical Association of the Philippine. Of course there is the 5th Christina Conference in Finland.

Conference Prep: DLSU Research Congress and 5th Christina Conference

Made some last minute changes to my paper for the DLSU Research Congress and submitted some weeks ago. I presented there before when it was still called the Science and Technology Congress. My paper before was a short discussion of philosophy of mind and how the positions of Putnam and Searle might come to similar conclusions, exposing some of the weaknesses of some forms of functionalism.
My upcoming paper will be on philosophy of biology.
The link to the 5th Christina Conference is here.
The link to the Research Conference  2013 is here.

William James on Minnie Temple

Minnie, your death makes me feel the nothingness of all our egotistical fury. The inevitable release is sure: wherefore take our turn kindly, whatever it contains. Ascend to some partnership with fate, and since tragedy is at the heart of us, go to meet it, work it to our ends, instead of dodging it all our days, and being run down by it at last. Use your death (or your life, it’s all one meaning) tat tvam asi.