“Personal Identity: Who Am I?”

Philosopher’s Cafe

Friday, January 27

3:00-4:00 p.m.
SU108

 

Please join members of the NKU community in a rousing discussion of personal identity, addressing such questions as:

• Suppose your brain was transplanted into another body. Would that be you with a new body, or would it be the other person with a new brain? Would you rather be a brain donor or a recipient?
• Suppose you walk into a teletransportation machine. A map is made of all the atoms that make up your body and brain. The information that is mapped is sent to another place where different local atoms are rearranged to make an exact duplicate of your body and brain. The original body is destroyed. The new body has all your memories, beliefs, plans and attitudes. Is that you?

Remember, if you’re in one of my classes you can earn extra credit toward your final grade by attending and participating in the Cafe!

And don’t forget these other upcoming Philosophy events:

February 10, 3:00-6:00 in Budig Theater, UC
Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

February 24, 3:00-4:00 in SU 108
Philosophy Cafe. Topic: Cosmopolitanism – Are We All Citizens of the World?

March 16, 3:00-6:00 in the Digitorium, GH
Film: Blade Runner

March 30, 3:00-4:00 in SU 108
Philosophy Cafe. Topic: Life After Death (tentative)

April 13, 3:00-6:00 in the Digitorium, GH
Film: The Prestige

Hope to see you all there!

To my Spring 2012 Students

It’s been fun meeting you the last couple of days and I look forward to spending a semester with you!  You should be able to access the password protected sections using the password I gave you in class (if I haven’t already done so, please remind me in class!).

Remember, my email address is hancockn@nku.edu

“LSAT Prep” page updated

The “LSAT Prep” page has been updated to include information about my two upcoming courses, private tutoring, and my qualifications.

Yep, I’m starting law school at 47…

That’s right.  I’m 47 years old and will be starting law school in the fall of 2011.  Because I’m going into a part-time evening program, I won’t graduate until I’m 51.  I’ve been teaching philosophy at the university level since 1991, but the study of law has always been something that appeals to me.  I even initially chose my undergraduate major in philosophy because it would be a good pre-law major!  But since I am a tenured associate professor, why would I want to take on the challenge of law school while continuing to teach full-time and still researching and writing in philosophy?  Good question.

Do I just want yet another degree? I really don’t think that’s a factor.  Yes, I already have one B.A. (in philosophy, 1986), two M.A.s (one in philosophy, 1988; one in higher education administration, 2004), and one Ph.D. (in philosophy, 1993).  And to some people that may seem like a lot.  Do I really need more letters after my name?  No.  But each degree represents a deep and abiding interest that I felt compelled to pursue in depth, and I feel those degrees confirm that I was serious and able to accomplish what I set my mind to.

Don’t I like my job?  Did I not choose the right career path? That’s not really it, either.  Although the past 20 years have seen some pretty radical changes in higher education - both in curriculum and in students - and I haven’t been entirely happy with many of those changes, I really and truly do enjoy teaching philosophy.  I’m constantly learning new things both from what I read and from my students.  I love that!  And it’s always a wonderful thing getting to know new people who have different ways of thinking about things and can challenge the way I think.  True, I’m not always happy with my students or my colleagues – they can make my life very stressful!  But, I’m sure I contribute to their stress levels more than I’d like to admit, and that kind of stress is probably to be found no matter what career I go into.

Is it the money? Hardly.  First, I’m very well aware that the vast majority of practicing lawyers make about as much or less than I’m now making in my position as an associate professor.  Second, at this time I don’t really intend to trade my university career for a career in law.

So why am I going to law school? Well, for one thing I just finished a sabbatical in which my philosophical research (in Internet ethics) drew me into reading law journals and books written by lawyers.  You may think it’s weird, but I really really found them engrossing and directly relevant to my philosophical interests.  For another thing, I do a lot of work with volunteer organizations and having a law degree would give me something more to offer them in my retirement.  To me, offering pro bono services to nonprofit groups that really need it would add another layer of meaningfulness to my life and make me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.  (That search for meaningfulness is what lead me into philosophy in the first place!)

I’d like to hear from all you other nontrad law students – Why are you going to law school?  (Click the post-it note next to the title to see/post Comments)