Philosophy is Dead

Philosophy is dead.

Its arguments are hopelessly antiquated, superseded by social and natural science.

Its adherents produce endless commentary on canonised celebrities, whose own polemical prose obscures comprehension.

The writers of old were artists - but today philosophy consists of unoriginal sycophants.

'Critical Theory' criticises old ghosts, not the ills of today.

And I have to stoop to write an assignment on its inane musings, singing the praises of dead ideas.

Kant said enlightenment was the freedom to reason without direction from others. I am directed to sing ghosts' praises.

Marx deplored the alienation of humanity from the creative potential of our labour, and its enslavement to capitalism.

I am alienated from my critical faculties, forced to bow to the archaic idols of this discipline.

How can those who preach such ideas betray these principles through their actions.

Sycophants, all.

_____________________________

Once I specialise in my intended profession - once I gain a grounded understanding of the psyche in psychological theory and practice - I will be free from these false idols.

Now I worship them, so that I need worship them no more.

SOTH30001 - Do not take this subject.
Prof. J. Rundell - Avoid this man who cannot teach.

Literature Review: Foucault - Selected Works

A University of Melbourne Essay Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Critical Theories"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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Semester 2, 2013

Literature Review:

Truth and Power (Foucault, 1980)

Supplemented by Foucault (1976, 1984)

Tutor's Comments:

This is an excellent review of Foucault's 'Truth and Power' argument. I would certainly recommend reading 'Nietzsche, Genealogy, History' if you haven't done so already. Well done.

Post-Bourdieu: Ontologically Distinct Forms of Class in Contemporary Society

A University of Melbourne Essay Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Contemporary Social Theory"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2013

Tutor's comments (E. Sayes):

This is an ambitious essay, that is wide ranging. You have a clear argument that you attempt to advance. I'm not convinced by it in the end, I must say. You seem to be quick to discard Bourdieu, for reasons that I'm not sure I understand. The note you finish on would seem to be the best place to start: what role does cultural capital/habitus play in those contexts. I would have liked a greater engagement at the level of theory. It's fine being very critical, but you need to clearly explain why. Overall a good essay.

Social Differentiation & Inequalities in Education

A University of Melbourne Essay Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Social Differences & Inequalities"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2013

Tutor's comments (J. Flores):

Ben, you have achieved a very high H1 on this paper. It is admirable to see such dedication and critical analytical skills in a third year paper. Such research is promising for honours work - keep up the good work! Consider whether it would have been best to focus on either race or sexuality, not both. It could have resulted in a deeper analysis? There are some irregularities in your style of referencing. Very well done!

The Semblance of Ethnic Equality: How Multiculturalism Masks its Enemies

A University of Melbourne Essay Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Social Differences & Inequalities"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2013

Tutor's comments (J. Flores):

This was a very interesting and well-researched essay. You show that you have a thorough understanding of the main issues addressed in this subject. This essay was addressing the complex question of multiculturalism and the reproduction of inequalities in a very sophisticated manner and it was well-structured up until the section 'Cognitive Roots of Discrimination' [cognitive psychology/categorisation/essentialism]. That part did not contribute to the question you had to answer, and while the rest of your essay uses social analyses, this section is unnecessary to your overall argument. It would have been better to engage more with Hage's ideas on tolerance, for example. This essay needs to be more about social factors and while psychology/cognitive makeup may be related, you should focus more on sociology for your research in relation to this subject. This was a very interesting read.

Power/Knowledge in Mental Health: Technicalisation & Resistance

A University of Melbourne Short Essay Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Contemporary Social Theory"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2013

Tutor's Comments (E. Sayes):

I'm 7 essays from done marking, and this is the best essay thus far. Your argument is really tight, creative, and demonstrates a really solid understanding of Foucault. Your criticisms are compelling and a real challenge to Foucault. This is a really great essay. I hope you stick with sociology and are considering post-grad study. [Sociology is my minor - in theory this course is reserved for majors. He later said his opinions still stand after marking the last 7.]

Peer Acceptance: The Role of Affective Dispositions in Successfully Joining Peer Activities

A University of Melbourne APA Lab Report Assignment

Under the 3rd-Year Sociology subject "Social & Emotional Development"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2013

Abstract

This study investigated the association between children’s attempts to join peer activities, their patterns of affect, and peer responses to them. It was hypothesised that (a) children with positive patterns of affect who attempted to join peers’ activities would be positively correlated with peer acceptance, not exclusion. Conversely, (b) children with negative patterns of affect who attempted to join peers’ activities would be positively correlated with peer exclusion, not acceptance. Free play was observed in 82 participants aged between 1.98 to 2.56 years-old and coded with the Peer Interaction Observational System. Results did not support either hypothesis. This was attributed to an undeveloped theory of mind in this young sample and does not necessarily falsify previous research findings.

Tutor's Comments (D. Peters):

Done a good job. You could have taken variables that had a higher frequency in the sample. Nonetheless well done.

[Despite the grades, I hated this assignment. The lecturer gave us a terrible observational measure and a pathetic data set, then told us to create an 'appropriate' research question for it.]

The Moral Foundations Theory & Intuitive Judgment Link in Forming Moral Judgments

A University of Melbourne APA Lab Report Assignment

Under the 2nd-Year Psychology subject "Personality & Social Psychology"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 2, 2012

Abstract

            Recent research suggests that emotions influence moral judgments (the emotion-judgment link), and violating certain moral foundations induces specific corresponding emotions (the foundation-emotion link). This study tested the emotion-judgment link by comparing trait anger (TA) and disgust propensity (DP) measures with utilitarian judgments in a footbridge-type personal moral dilemma. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between utilitarian responses and DP, but not TA. This suggests that only disgust is relevant when forming moral judgments in such dilemmas. This study also examined the construct validity of Haidt and Graham’s (2007) moral foundations theory (MFT). If the MFT construct is valid, it should be consistent with previous research that associated anger and disgust with what the MFT would consider as violations of its Harm and Purity foundations. Results showed that Harm and Purity measures on the moral foundations questionnaire, the operationalised measure of the MFT, were respectively associated with TA and DP. This suggests that the MFT construct is valid and consistent with previous research. The present study further suggests that the foundation-emotion link and emotion-judgment link can be integrated into a more holistic, 3-stage ‘foundation-emotion-judgment’ model of moral psychology.

Tutor's Comments (B. Green):

This is good & very comprehensive but you need to include details of participants & state that the variables were measured with self-report questionnaires.

No Victory Without Valour: The Illiad Bk. 3 Lines 1-57

A University of Melbourne Short Essay Assignment

Under the 1st-Year Arts subject "From Homer to Hollywood"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2011

Tutor's Comments (S. Young):

Ben, this is an excellent essay that demonstrates a good deal of consideration & planning. You show an engagement with Homer’s poem & have presented a detailed & unique analysis. You have identified the epic simile quite effectively & do so to support the representation of glory & the glory & honour which is foreshadowed. You cite the text effectively & make sound judgments throughout. Well done.

Hit & False Alarm Rates across Sequential, Simultaneous, and Novel Sequential-Presentation-Only Line-Ups

A University of Melbourne APA Lab Report Assignment

Under the 2nd-Year Sociology subject "Cognitive Psychology"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 2, 2012

Abstract

Erroneous identifications in simultaneous line-ups have resulted in wrongful convictions. Compared to simultaneous line-ups, researchers generally concur that sequential line-ups are superior because they reduce false identifications more than they reduce hits. This study investigated if a novel sequential-presentation-only (SPO) line-up could combine the advantages of both line-ups and hypothesised that (a) a sequential line-up will produce fewer hits and false alarms than a simultaneous line-up and, (b) a sequential-presentation-only line-up will produce fewer false alarms than a simultaneous line-up without significantly reducing hits. 620 participants watched a video of a suspicious man and attempted to identify him in one of the three line-ups. Results did not support either hypothesis. After examining potential moderating factors, this study suggests that certain procedural manipulations can make simultaneous line-ups superior to sequential ones and that the SPO line-up is not a superior alternative to either.

Feature Integration Theory: Master Map Inefficacy and Conjunction Search

A University of Melbourne APA Short Lab Report Assignment

Under the 2nd-Year Psychology subject "Cognitive Psychology"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2012

Abstract

In Feature Integration Theory, a ‘master map’ facilitates visual search by highlighting objects that contain the target’s features and directs subsequent conjunction search towards these few candidates. This suggests that the master map would be ineffective when targets and distractors share identical features. Under these conditions, this study hypothesised that the master map would be ineffective and conjunction search accuracy would decrease as set size increased. 35 participants performed self-terminating visual search tasks for conjunction targets amidst varying numbers of distractors. Results showed that search accuracy decreased with greater set size. This suggests that the master map is ineffective when target and distractors share identical features.

Tutor's comments (J. Chan)[not Jackie Chan]:

Overall, excellent work Ben - this is a well formulated lab report! Well done on integrating recent research seamlessly! [Note: For this assignment, we had to focus on Feature Integration Theory rather than more recent accounts]

Sibling Varieties and Executive Functions in Theory of Mind Facilitation

A University of Melbourne APA Lab Report Assignment

Under the 2nd-Year Psychology subject "Developmental Psychology"

Passed with High Distinction (H1)

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By Benjamin L.C.Y., written during Semester 1, 2011

Abstract

Previous research suggests that children’s age is significantly associated with theory of mind (TOM) acquisition, possibly due to the development of executive functions from 3- to 5-years old. Pretend play with child-aged siblings between 1- to 12-years old may also facilitate TOM acquisition, but while the theory of proximal development predicts that this ‘sibling effect’ only applies to children with elder siblings, the “natural laboratory” view holds that younger siblings or twins also produce the ‘sibling effect’. We hypothesised that age is significantly associated with TOM acquisition, and that 4-year olds with elder sibling(s) are more likely to be pass a false belief test compared to those with none. This study first tested for an association between age and TOM, followed by an association between TOM and the presence of elder siblings. The effect of age on TOM was assessed with an unexpected contents false belief test, involving 279 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years.  The effect of elder siblings on TOM was examined using the same test and involved 4-year olds drawn from the same sample.  Results showed that significantly fewer 3-year olds failed the test while significantly more 5-year olds passed. However, results did not reveal significant differences in test performance between children with elder siblings compared to those with younger siblings or twins.  These findings support the 3- to 5-year old age range where EF development may lead to TOM acquisition. It also supports the “natural laboratory” view, where interaction with any child-aged siblings facilitates TOM acquisition.

Tutor's Comments (B. Green):

Excellent Report Ben - very thoughtful rationale for the study and integration of theoretical perspectives. Be mindful to present a balance of theoretical and empirical background where possible (although there is not much empirical lit. on this topic yet).

Quantitative & Qualitative Social Science Research

A University of Short Essay Assignment

Under the Freshman Sociology subject "Critical Analytical Skills"

Passed with Distinction (H2A)

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By Benjamin L., written during Semester 1, 2012

'[You are] required to find one piece of quantitative social science research and one piece of qualitative social science research (quantitative and qualitative broadly defined) and discuss the qualities of this research in relation to the content from the first 2 weeks of the course'