Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 1301)

Those interested in Aristotle’s four causes might be interested in this article on Aristotle’s theory of causation in the SEP.

The Women’s History  Month Committee is sponsoring an essay contest on the theme of "Women & the Environment". The contest is open to all ACC students. Those who wish to participate can get a small amount of extra credit on the miscellaneous section of the portfolio by including a copy of their essay in the portfolio when they turn it in at the end of term.

Essays should be approximately 750-1000 words. Think about the impact of environmental issues on the everyday lives of women.  For example, in most households, women do most of the shopping, cleaning, child care, and home health care.  Choose an issue with an environmental impact—such as population control, resource use and recycling, global warming/C0₂ emissions, preservation—and persuade women how they can make a difference on this issue by taking action in their everyday lives. 

Your essay should include: 

• A description of the issue—who is involved or affected by the issue, what are the causes or consequences of the issue, what has been done in the past to address the issue, and how the issue impacts women.
• An argument that proposes a solution that women can implement to solve problems related to the issue.
• A description of the solution, including costs and other counterarguments.
• An explanation of how and why this solution addresses the problem.
• Evidence that this solution is workable and appropriate. 

The deadline for submission to the contest is Friday, December 12, 2008. You should submit essays, with the contest entry form, to:

Dr. Melissa Bonafont
ACC History Department
Northridge Campus

or by email to mbonafon@austincc.edu .

Don’t forget the second Ethics Resource Center Event coming up on October 23.

Identity and Politics
Thursday, October 23, 2008
EVC Room 8500, 7-9 pm
In light of the upcoming elections, this panel will focus on how political identity is formed and how identity informs politics, especially race, gender, and their overlap.

Remember that you can attend and turn in your notes from the event with the Miscellaneous Section of the portfolio in order to gain a small extra credit on class participation; and that you can also (in addition to the notes) type up your own brief discussion and evaluation of the topics and arguments involved in the event, to be turned in with the Miscellaneous Section, for a small extra credit on that part of the portfolio.