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XII International Transformative Learning Conference • Tacoma, Washington, 2016 • Proceedings.

XII International Transformative Learning Conference • Tacoma, Washington, 2016 • Proceedings.

This project discusses the institutional, historical, and cultural narratives surrounding the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled-originally known as the Northern Wisconsin Home for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic. It remembers the Asylum Era as the period in which there was the highest number of mental health institutions is the U.S.­ approximately 1850 to 1950-and applies Queer Phenomenology, as developed by theorist Sarah Ahmed, to voice the stories ofresidents within the home's institutional narrative. To compliment historical and archival analysis, (...) the project additionally weaves in its author's owns embodied experiences to reclaim the physicality of structures left behind by the site itself, to complicate the linearity of the happiness scripts of the institution. (shrink)

This paper investigates the journey of protagonist Oedipa Maas in Thomas Pynchon’s novella The Crying of Lot 49, specifically through the lens of her resistance to existential nihilism. Her development throughout the novel provides the structure for this essay, which follows her as she numbs herself to avoid meaninglessness, sensitizes herself to fabricate meaning, becomes conscious of this fabrication, and collapses into and subsequently overcomes existential nihilism. Remedios Varo’s triptych, Bordando el manto terrestre, acts as an extended metaphor in this (...) sense, highlighting Oedipa’s attempt to escape her symbolic tower and illuminate the void around her. The views of prominent existential philosophers and writers such as Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Kierkegaard also bring the book’s themes into focus. As Oedipa uses her newfound sensitivity to weave a world of countless connections and fantastic conspiracies, her arc follows her absurd quest to construct order in her world and thus avoid the anguishing existential nihilist crisis of facing meaninglessness or nonexistence. (shrink)

The purpose of this study was to explore Plato?s basic educational system as advocated in The Republic and The Laws and to examine some of the similarities of the Platonic system of education and twentieth century concepts of public education in the United States. After determining the specific problem and its value to the writer and readers, the author studied the Platonic system of education through extensive library research. The Platonic system of education summarized and identified and then the author (...) through extensive descriptive research tried to identify those similarities which were found in the United States educational system relative to the Platonic. Plato?s influence upon Western thought has been very great. It has been exerted in two main directions: 1. he stressed analysis and objective thought as he originated and developed the institution now called the Academy, and 2. He simultaneously held concern for the less objective as he philosophized about faith, visions, and mysticism to the extent of having influenced early growth of Christianity. Modern education is indebted to Plato. His ideas are pragmatic and selectively used in our educational system. (shrink)

Throughout history the issue of remembering certain events or people has been changing with every new generation. Some events and disasters are remembered throughout all of time because of the multitude of sources. Still others are remembered for the uniqueness of their sources rather than their size. Many unique types of sources for remembering a particular event come from ordinary accounts or pieces of literature that fictionally capture the events aura. With the case of the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894 (...) there is just a sufficient amount of information. This information comes in many forms, all of which have valid means of conveying a very interesting topic. However, this disaster is not as well known as it perhaps could be. Is it because of the lack of sources, or just a lack of public awareness? Perhaps the sources themselves are truly not accurate enough to captivate a wide audience. In the end, the real issue is the memory of this event and how it is best carried on for future generations. The notoriety gained from this disaster is not as sufficient as some other major disasters that occurred during this era. In the end, this event, and most importantly the people involved, should be captured in many Minnesotans' memories for what they withstood on that fateful day. (shrink)

A disturbing trend that has surfaced recently in slang language is to use the word rape in a joking or hyperbolic manner. An example of this is, "I raped that exam!" In this paper, I argue that such use of the term rape is immoral. I begin by modeling my case after British philosopher Rae Langton's argument that pornography "silences" the speech of women in a particular way. I then discuss Alexander Bird's objection to Langton's notion of "silencing." In the (...) end, I develop a hybrid theory that respects the cogency of Bird's objection while retaining the spirit of Langton's view. By analyzing communication in a novel way, I argue that the slang use of the word rape immorally silences rape victims/survivors, although not in the way Langton's argument would suggest. * This article may be triggering to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. (shrink)

This study reviews major contributors to existential philosophy and those who have analyzed its relationship to American education. This paper also descries the elements and characteristics of an existential education in theory and how certain aspects of existential theory were implemented in three schools. The study concludes with an explanation of the positive implications for incorporating existential ideas into American education.

This working paper uses the works of philosophers like Hegel, Marx, and Rawls to explore political philosophy and estrangement.