Introduction: (Sept. 26, 2006)

Philosophy not only is a practice but a reflective one as well.  Time spent reflecting on what happened during a discussion or presentation will help you become better practitioners of philosophy.

I’m asking that at the end of each day we meet, you spend time reflecting on what occurred in our discussions –  time reflecting and writing.

Content: Consider what’s been on your mind following a discussion.  What stuck with you or somehow stood out in some way: as new, right, wrong, clichéd, frustrating, upsetting, exciting… (Yes, listen to your heart and gut as well as your brain.  Who says minds only engage or are engaged by the brain?)

Recap the discussion.  Who said what?  What was your role in it?  What got to you about it?  How would you draw someone else onto “the point”?

Note your further thoughts, realizations, and develop what you’ve remembered.

Audience: The model for this is a naturalist’s field journal.  Someone who wasn’t there should be able to “go there,” with the text in hand and the context you’ve provided in your account.

Format:  Please keep this in a format that can easily be shared in hard copy; computer file or pages in a three-ring binder would do fine.  Begin each entry with the date, the text under discussion, who was present and anything else that establishes the context.