Nietzsche Lecture

The Trinity philosophy department is honored to be hosting Prof. Bruce Ellis Benson, the chairman of the Wheaton College philosophy department, for a public lecture on Monday, 16 April at 3:30 in CL 203.

His lecture title is: "Pious Nietzsche: From Christianity to Dionysian Pietism." You won't want to miss his fascinating talk. Dr. Benson is a Nietzsche scholar, whose forthcoming book seeks to engage Nietzsche critically and constructively from a Christian philosophical standpoint.

From his web page at Wheaton College:

Dr. Benson's research interests include the following areas. The first is the "theological turn" in phenomenology and work at the intersection of continental philosophy and theology. Not only does he write in this area, but also he is co-founder and co-secretary of the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology (1997) and a member of the steering committee of the Theology and Continental Philosophy Group of the American Academy of Religion. Graven Ideologies and The Phenomenology of Prayer are examples of work in this area. The second is the topic of hermeneutics and interpretation theory, with Hermeneutics at the Crossroads being an example of that work. A third area is aesthetics in general and philosophy of music in particular. The Improvisation of Musical Dialogue is an example of that interest. Finally, Dr. Benson's work has also turned in an increasingly political direction. The forthcoming Evangelicals and Empire--an analysis of American evangelicalism from the perspective of the empire theory of Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri-is part of that project.

Again, the lecture will be held at 3:30 in CL 203. For more information, please see or contact Prof. Stephen Lake.

NEW in Fall 2007! Symbo Limbo (PHIL 299)

You may have noticed a change in the schedule from PHIL 206 Logic to PHIL 299 Symbolic Logic—or Symbo Limbo, as I and other logic aficionados affectionately call it.

Here are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about this change:

Question: Uh, why did you do it?

Answer: Because some students wanted it. And, really, it is about time it be taught again. Symbo limbo is an important type of logic and our current PHIL 206 does not cover much of it. In fact, it ends with a brief dabble in symbo but it’s hardly enough to count as a full-fledged symbo limbo.

Question: What exactly is the difference between the 206 Logic and Symbo Limbo?

Answer: 206 is more of a 'critical thinking' course, covering informal logic, fallacies and traditional Aristotlean logic (e.g., Venn diagrams, square of opposition, categorical propositions and inferences). We conclude with a teensy weensy bit of the more contemporary symbolic logic. Thus, the 299 course will, in effect, pick up where 206 topically left off. Symbo limbo is strictly formal logic with a more mathematical feel. They’re both VERY, VERY FUN!

Question: Is 206 a pre-requisite for Symbo Limbo?

Answer: No.

Question: Is Symbo Limbo harder than 206?

Answer: No. Or at least, not necessarily. If you find formal, analytical reasoning difficult, you may be more challenged by 299 than 206. If you have a ‘mathematical mind,’ you’ll positively LOVE Symbo Limbo. But don’t worry, even someone with NO BACKGROUND in LOGIC can take Symbo Limbo and get a lot out of it. We start out simple and work up from there!

Question: Will 299 count towards the Logic requirement of the philosophy major?

Answer: You bet.

Question: Are there plans to offer Symbo Limbo again?

Answer: Yes. In fact, I expect that we will add it permanently to the course catalog next year (as PHIL 207). It will then be offered every third year—i.e., at least once every 4 years.

Question: Will you offer 206 in 2008-9?

Answer: Yep. It'll be back, don't worry.

Question: Will I be a better person for having taken Symbo Limbo?

Answer: Undoubtedly so. I anticipate you will grow as a person, and not just intellectually in this course. I anticipate beginning class with a brief round of calisthenics—after all, you have to limber up first if you are going to do the limbo—plus a symbo limbo devotional. ; )

Question: What's next? The Logic Lambada?

Answer: Again, if there is a student demand for it, we shall respond. I would caution you against it, though: the lambada is, after all, the forbidden dance.