Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum, cogito.
That's what the resident faculty of Blogistan Polytechnic Institute chanted as they made their way from the wine cellar library where they'd spent the weekend drinking thinking on our motto of Magis vinum, magis verum ("More wine, more truth") to the hot tub faculty lounge for their weekly game where the underwear goes flying planning conference. Either they've joined some odd cult, or they want to add Latin to the BPI curriculum (if so the staff will become even more revolting), or it was a clue to their plans for the week. We hope it was that last one.
More below the fold....
First our customary thanks to last week's guest lecturers. Last Tuesday, Professor of Neuroholdemology Caractacus offered an outstanding summary of critical theory. Last Wednesday, Professor of Hamptolocopolism LI Mike introduced us to Neighbors in Support of Immigrants and discussed his efforts with that community group in helping to change the dialogue on immigration. Both were excellent discussions and are worth reading if you missed them.
Tomorrow, Professor Caractacus' Things We Learned This Week series continues with another classified briefing on OPERATION TO BE DETERMINED. You will need the secret password ("If he specified a topic") and the response ("I missed it"), but not a Double-Extra-Secret BPI Decoder Ring, as those are still on back order at the BPI Gift Shop. This Wednesday, rb137 will make her debut at the BPI lectern with a discussion of Galileo and the history of science. As always, Chef will present coffee and bagels in the lobby, and the Professor of Astrology Janitor will represent himself in a work of performance art titled "Spill on the Floor."
Note: We have guest lecturers for the next two Wednesdays, but we have openings on Wednesdays beginning June 2nd. If you would like to guest host Morning Feature, please volunteer in the Tuna Can, below.
Also: Please use the Things We Did This Week thread, below, to share your stories of offline political activism.
Which brings us back to the resident faculty chanting Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum, cogito:
"I think I think, therefore I think I am, I think."
As we don't think they're likely to join another cult( besides The Secret Order Of The BPI Resident Faculty), and they know the staff would revolt if they add Latin to the BPI curriculum (LOLCat is plenty for the Language Department, thankyouverymuch), we're pretty sure this was a clue they enjoyed Professor Caractacus' summary of critical theory last week (link above).
If the staff have guessed right, the resident faculty plan to discuss how frames and narratives both enable and constrain our thinking, such that the sentence "I think" is not quite true. That concept is not new - it has ancient roots - but its modern expression in cognitive science has some profound and uncomfortable political and moral implications. It touches on core issues like individual responsibility, the independence of a "self," and our connectedness and implicit submission to culture.
Or so they think. Or at least think they think.
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Happy Monday!