FYSEM2 - Ways of Knowing

In this section, you can find notes from each of our classes. Some of these notes will be quite complete and full, others will be a bit more scrappy. This is not a course manual, but it is instead a place to share information, ideas, stray thoughts, summaries, and suggestions in a way that is easily accessible.

As these are only notes — a work in progress — please don’t see these pages as something you should be citing in your essays!

Class 12 - Thinking about Science

Today’s class Today we’re going to be moving on to talk about science. We may have read all these old books about knowledge, and be thinking, “Wait! But hasn’t science solved all our problems around knowledge? Isn’t science real knowledge?” Well… maybe! Let’s see. Checking in How’s it going? How is the essay going? Do you have any problems or difficulties? Do you need class time to help you work on the essay? What is Science?

2025-03-24

2 min read

Class 11 - Briefings and quizzes

Today’s class Today, we’ve got an assignment briefing and a quiz. All the info is on Canvas. Take a look!

2025-03-11

1 min read

Class 10 - Rambling about with Zhuangi

Today’s Reading Today we’re moving on to the second reading from the Zhuangzi. There’s so much in this reading, which is the whole second chapter of the book. So we’re not going to be doing anything systematic. Instead, we’re going to be doing what Zhuangzi suggests: we’re going to ramble about (逍遥游) through the text, to see what we discover. We’re going to do this by doing some creative writing! So

2025-03-06

6 min read

Class 9 - Zhuangzi on the limits of Knowledge and the art of butchery

Today’s Reading Today we’re moving on to the Zhuangzi to explore a different set of approaches to knowledge. Today’s reading is in four parts. The opening paragraph about the pursuit of knowledge. The story of Cook Ding cutting up the ox. The story of Gongwen Xuan and the Commander of the Right The story of Lao Dan’s death, and Qin Shi’s visit to mourn him. Discussion To start with, we’re going to have a chance to talk about the text.

2025-03-04

3 min read