Philosophical Films

Hi everyone, I propose we watch some of the following films which I mostly derived from this amazing website from the University of Tennessee: http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/2/filmlist.htm. Does anyone else have any other ideas? Jack

Totalitarianism/Collectivism:

The Great Dictator, 1940- Charlie Chaplin's brilliant satire of Nazi Germany.

I Am David, 2004- a 12 year old boy escapes a communist concentration camp and consequently distrusts everyone

Good, 2005- depicts the moral disintegration of a German literature professor into becoming a concentration camp commander.

Moral education:

The Emperor's Club, 1989- a prep school classics teacher tries to teach virtue.

The death of god?

Crimes and Misdemeanours, 1989- explores the grounds of morality in a Godless (?) world

Media Ethics:

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, 2004. A documentary about Fox “News”

Business Ethics:

Enron: The Smartes Guys in the Room, 2005- documentary which explores the background and consequences of Enron's business practices.

The Future of Food, 2004- a documentary about the impact of genetically engineered plants on the food supply.

McLibel, 2005- a documentary which explores the law suit brought McDonald's against British activists.

Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices, 2005- a documentary about the social impact of Walmart's business practices)

Ethics of Poverty:

Born Into Brothels, 2004- a documentary on children of prostitutes in India.

City of Joy, 1992- a disillusioned doctor goes to India and faces the brutal reality of the caste system

Children Underground, 2001- a documentary on homeless children in Romania.

Racism:

American History X, 1998- a neo-Nazi rejects racism following his imprisonment

Promises, 2001- a documentary about the racial attitudes of Israeli and Palestinian children.

Rabbit-Proof Fence, 2002- a true story of aboriginal Australian girls who escape racist relocation policy

Genocide:

The Grey Zone, 2002- the true story of Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz forced by the Nazis to help exterminate fellow Jews.

Hotel Rwanda, 2005- depicts the genocide in Rwanda in the early 1990s.

State violence:

Team America: World Police, 2004- a satire on American involvement in war.

http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/2/filmlist.htm

Facebook Group

Hi everyone, until we have fully formulated our programme outline I would ask please that you use our facebook group to find out the latest information (although this website will be updated weekly in depth in the future) If the following link does not work- http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_205898336092611- please search "Philosophy Society @ UWS". Please feel free to contact me- jackisherwood AT hotmail.com- if you have any questions in the meantime. Best, Jack

Welcome

 "The purpose of the society is to discuss various philosophical issues in an informative yet entertaining fashion. Ideally we shall meet every fortnight and hopefully we shall be engaged in a wide variety of activities; this might consist of student and staff presentations, movie nights and debating competitions. I am hoping to develop a full programme in the next few weeks which will then be offered to all of the society's members for their feedback- this means that our first actual meeting will not occur until the 2nd semester. However, as an indication, I hope to include the following topics/themes: - Plato's Apology - Aristotle on the good life - The Stoics and self-control - The Epicureans and the nature of pleasure - The history of Christian ethics - The history of Islamic ethics - Immanuel Kant and Cosmopolitanism - The existentialists- Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre, and Camus - Arendt on human plurality - Victor Frankl on courage- Amongst many more! I shall keep you posted as soon as possible! Best, Jack "