Lightbringers: A Philosophy Journal

Presentation to The Melbourne Philosophy Forum, June 28, 2009 (I think)

Summary of Philosophy of Economics

A philosophy of economics approaches the subject at a meta-level, integrating the discipline with being in general (ontology), the way that we know things (epistemology), and rational procedures (logic).

Normative Economics

Political Economy; who owns what and why? what do they get from this ownership?

Presentation to the Melbourne Philosophy Forum, May 24, 2009

Part II on The Philosophy of Economics (Positive Economics)

1.0 Positive economics is the study of economics as a science, independent of normative concerns. "Positive" in this sense means quantifiable, not good!

1.1 The split between positive and normative in philosophy is evident in David Hume in "Treatise Concerning Human Understanding", the "is"/"ought" fork, to G.E. Moore's notion of the "naturalistic fallacy"; a naturalistic fallacy when a moral claim is placed on a natural property.

An address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, May 17, 2009

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

Service (opening words, reading, closing words) conducted on May 10, 2009 to an address by Michael Shaik, Public Advocate for Australians for Palestine.

Opening Words

The end of apartheid stands as one of the crowning accomplishments of the last century, but we would not have succeeded without the help of international pressure. There is no greater testament to the basic dignity of ordinary people everywhere than the divestment movement of the 1980s.

Presentation to the Melbourne Philosophy Forum, April, 2009 (I think)

Background

A philosophy of economics approaches the subject at a meta-level, integrating the discipline with being in general (ontology), the way that we know things (epistemology), and rational procedures (logic).

Normative economics is the study of economics in a way that includes value judgments. It includes:

Notes from the BBC Presentation for the Melbourne Philosophy Forum, Feb 1, 2009

Required Viewing: BBC Horizon, "Most of Our Universe Is Missing"

Programme Summary available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/missing.shtml

1.0 Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Philosophy

Address to the Melbourne Unitarian Church, January 18, 2009

What Is This Economic Crisis?

Service (opening words, reading, closing words). Address was given by Lyn Allison, former Senator and leader of the Australian Democrats. October 5, 2008, Melbourne Unitarian Church

Opening Words

There are many instances of religious persecution and national oppression, some of which lasted for centuries, some of which are on-going today.

Religious Freedom and Persecution

The International Workers Day and Rev. Stephen Fritchman