“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” —Socrates

The Socratic Dialogues are really good!

My first exposure was Book 1 of Republic, generally known as Thrasymachus.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that Socrates and Plato have the final word on anything. They are using high powered tricks, and there are other ways to frame and argue the issues.

I think the very very best is when you have discussion seminars, lots of discussion hours for each of the books you are going to read. Some Great Books Schools do this. It isn't just the reading of the texts, its the learning to use the types of arguments.

In Plato, anyone who goes ad hominem., like Thrasymachus does with his talk about Socrates needing a wet nurse, is a fall guy. And remember, Plato learned from Pythagoras, so anytime he goes for a mathematical argument, he is laying down the law.

SJG

I have had some teachers, not in regular college, but in adult ed type classes. They can explain a few things and put a few words on the blackboard and let people comment. The students will mostly respond to each other and try to refute each other.

When someone says something consistent with where the teacher wants it to go, he will say something about that and write some more words on the blackboard. Then everyone follows from that.

Some people are really good at this, really learned how to do it.

A lot of stuff in conventional college is screwed up because it is about degrees instead of learning.

SJG

Some Dems are applying pressure to try and curtail the public debate, even to end the primary. I had underestimated how intense the efforts to silence Bernie could be.

What Bernie is saying could change things:

Biden Wins, Sanders Lags: Naomi Klein & Alicia Garza on Calls to Shut Down Primaries & Debates
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/3/11/d…

No matter who wins the next POTUS term, I am convinced that all the things Sanders, AOC, and Andrew Yang have talked about will be enacted in the next 20 years. And if we want to minimize sensless environmental damage, and senseless pain and suffering, the sooner they can be enacted the better.

Michael Moore: Bernie Sanders Is 'Inspiring' To People Who Don't Usually Vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kizbi-J…

Has America Become Victims Of Our Success?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultgRg3K…

Why It's Reasonable To Fear Coronavirus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jWEowLP…

Is America on Edge of Recession? (w/ Richard Wolff)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgrtNzm-…

WATCH: WHO declares that COVID-19 crisis is now a pandemic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbccF5lu…

WATCH LIVE: Ken Cuccinelli, others to testify before House Homeland Security committee (LIVE)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq_8r9Q6…

SJG

Frampton Comes Alive II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7d7oilI…

Trump: I took coronavirus test but don't have results yet
he wears the baseball cap, I think that is a copy of Rudy Giuliani during the 911 attack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T-aqQLo…

Santa Clara County CA, 91 cases, 2 deaths
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/Disease…

Are We In A Recession Right Now? | MSNBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC0bvtAK…

1 hour ago: Trump Says He Could Demote Fed Chair Powell, Risking More Market Turmoil
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/t…

1 hour ago news: On a Saturday Night in Florida, a Presidential Party Became a Coronavirus Hot Zone
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/o…


Trump is totally fixated on the stock market, he is showing his absolute ignorance.

David Cay Johnston, really good!

Will Coronavirus Outbreak Impact 2020 Elections? | AM Joy | MSNBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkjSVMcM…

SJG

Eric Clapton Layla 2008
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbceFpLY…

TJ Street
https://tuscl.net/photo.php?id=1132
https://tuscl.net/photo.php?id=2305