Thought Provoking
The study programme for 2009-10 has yet to be set
The Community Affairs group arranges a programme of speakers on topics of local interest. Subjects for 2009-10 include The Woodland Trust, Victorian Perth, Perth Safer City Initiative, Cittaslow, The University of the Highlands and Islands, and the Archaelogical excavations at Black Spout Wood. Meetings are held upstairs at Letham St Marks Church at 14.30-16.00 on Thursdays (except on 8 October when the venue is the Tryst, North Church, Perth) Meetings are open to all Perth U3A members.Philosophy is thinking about the sorts of things we normally take for
granted. No area of human activity is, nor should, be free from un
reflected acceptance. This can be challenging and uncomfortable but is
hugely rewarding. Philosophy is characterised by three aspects, the type
of questions we ask, the way we address those questions and the huge
canon of material on the thoughts and conclusions of those who have gone
before. The principle objective of studying philosophy in Perth U3A is
address the recurring questions of topical interest in a thoughtful but
relaxed manner so the process is both sociable, stimulating and
enjoyable.
Two streams will be available again in 2010/2011 An Introduction to
Philosophy and Continuing Philosophy. If there are sufficient numbers
two Continuing Philosophy groups will be available again this year.
We will work through Simon Blackburn’s book, Think, A compelling introduction to philosophy. Published by Oxford Press in 1999. There are eight chapters in this book covering the big questions of life, the universe and everything. The style is aimed at those entirely new to the subject though there will be plenty of grist in the mill for those who have thought about these big questions previously. We will work through these chapters a session at a time, so we do cover a lot of ground fairly quickly, but not so quick so as leave you with out some unsettling thoughts I hope. The first session will cover the first chapter on Knowledge. We are sentient beings in world which we experience through our senses, which are necessary limited, yet we are convinced that the world is exactly as we perceive it to be. But it is easy to demonstrate just how unreliable our senses are. Just ask any illusionist. So what can we reliably say we know about the world?
2011 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of the worlds most renowned philosophers. The Scot David Hume. See his statue outside the High Court on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. So in celebration of his birth we will be reading An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. Hume is famous for his sceptical approach to what we think we know and how we come to know it. Hume challenges views about the limited powers of human understanding. Hume’s philosophy was highly controversial in the eighteenth century and it remains so today. There are twelve chapters in this book. The first session will cover the first three Chapters which hopefully will leave more time in future sessions on the more difficult ideas.
The group meets monthly and the
presentations are aimed at shedding light on science stories that have
been in the news or have caught our attention in other ways. Last year
the topics have included ‘Enriched uranium: its production and uses’,
‘Stem cells: their origin, nature and potential’, ‘The chemistry of fuel
cells’, ‘The wondrous effects of nitric oxide in the human body’, ‘The
technique of radiocarbon dating’ and 'The search for exoplanets'.
Presentations used so far last session:
Intersex States - Oct 09.pdf
Water on Moon - Oct 09.pdf
Illegal Drugs - Nov 09.pdf
Mitochondrial Diseases - Nov 09.pdf
Breast Milk and Sleep - Dec 09.pdf
Climate
change denied.pdf
Climate
Sceptics.pdf
Diabetes.pdf
Earthquakes.pdf
Epigenetics.pdf
Genetics of
Cancer.pdf
Toads,
Knotweed etc.pdf
3-d effects.pdf
The Group will be using units from The OU OpenLearn Scotland which has over 30 units relevant to Scotland. Members will be expected to download the course units from the OU site. (I can supply a word version if required). Our study takes the form of discussion on pre-agreed elements of the course in member’s houses.
This year our course is “Nationalism, self-determination and secession”. What makes a ‘nation’ and what makes peoples strive for nationhood? This unit will provide you with an introduction to studying political ideas by looking at how people who see themselves as nations challenge the existing order to assert their right to a state of their own.
To
find out more about the course go to
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2675
The house group will explore
behaviour and relationships in a light-hearted atmosphere.
This subject matter is similar to Social Science but has more emphasis
on the individual, why people behave as members of society, as members of
groups and what influences their actions.
We will use material from Open University study units and books as a basis for discussions. Subject matter will include topics such as:
Families, emotion, self, prejudice, conflict etc;
Recommended book to start.:
Social Psychology Matters (2007) Wendy Hollway, Helen Lucy & Ann
Phoenix
Open University Press