Did I think we would actually make it to 100??Never!
One year ago in September I joined a philosophy class in SL. I figured even though the project was announced to be the study of the 100 philosophers who have influenced the thinking of today we would never make it to the end. I determined to stay until the end whenever it might come.
After all, how many avatars would stick around and also what would the professor do after it became too burdensome.I guess I was not the only determined one!
The professor stuck!!
He thrived on it, putting in as many as 15 hours a week in both preparation and presentation.
In our final class of the original project Herman Bergson was philosopher 101, explaining his own experience during the past year with the words, “You all were in fact my teachers and a great help during more than a year. Your participation and enthusiasm showed that it was worth investing so much time in this project.” We met 3 times a week for an hour, sometimes longer.
Some of the members were much more into philosophical discussion than others.
We came from all over the world! Sometimes we wandered away from the lesson of the day and were gently pulled back onto the correct path, well, sometimes dragged back kicking and screaming. Some of the original members disappeared, but others came to take their place. We all made some very good friends and we made it to 100!
Along the way it occurred to us that after the 100 we would have more work to do together. Each class and each discussion appeared on Professor Bergson’blog(http://www.thoughts.com/herman_bergson/blog) so any absentee could follow what was missed. Aristotlevon Doobie also began a book in which he put every class presented. He also included links to the background material for each philosopher. The updates came every few days in e-mail to those who wanted it along with some pithy saying and sometimes art attached. At the end was a year book with the members of the class in portrait.
We got no degree for our work and fortunately no exams!!! AND on Sunday we begin again!!
Our next series of lectures will be 25 women philosophers and their influence on modern philosophical thinking!
You are invited to join the class by contacting Herman Bergson. Hope to see you there.
Gemma Cleanslate
