Category: Academics

Maths & Science: popular until tasted

October 28, 2013 at 2:26 pm

Relating to the frustratingly constant and reliable doubts that some students feel toward their majors, is an article from the Wall Street Journal discussing the choice of field. Their claim is that mathematics and science majors are relatively popular – until of course, students realize ‘what they are in for’. Here is an excerpt: The researchers […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Great Questions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Does Math actually exist?

October 15, 2013 at 3:53 pm

Related to Prof. Roochnik’s CC101 lecture on Plato and maths, is a post from Gizmodo titled ‘Wait a Minute: Does Math actually exist?’. Here is a sample: PBS Idea Channel tackles the subject of whether math really exists or not. It’s a legitimate question because math, unlike physics or chemistry or biology, can’t be seen or smelled […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Core Lecturers, Great Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Does just thinking about science trigger moral behavior?

October 11, 2013 at 1:56 pm

A recent post from Scientific American discusses the sticky subject of science and its role in morality. The scientific method has spewed some seemingly immoral conclusions. How do deal with that? Here are some thoughts: Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara hypothesized that there is a deep-seated perception of science as a moral pursuit […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Great Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Have you ever lied about reading a book?

October 8, 2013 at 11:44 am

Even the most erudite and cultured Core students and faculty have at some point in their lives been placed in a sticky situation where lying about having read a book is the easiest way out. A useful post from The Guardian gives us a study of the top ten books that people have pretended to […]

By mdimov | Also posted in alumni, Curriculum, Friday Fun, Great Questions | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Montaigne: The First Blogger

October 4, 2013 at 1:52 pm

Relating to CC201’s recent study of Montaigne, Shaun Kenney discusses the idea of the 16th century French essayist as being a proto-blogger. Even though his writings came centuries before blogging and the internet, let alone the idea of a computer, it’s easy to see Montaigne’s essays being published through a popular blog on WordPress or […]

By vpriest | Also posted in Friday Fun | Tagged , | Comments (0)

The Major #1: English?

October 1, 2013 at 6:37 pm

Looming above many college students is the uncertainty of choosing a major. The Core does not have specific instructions on how to make this important decision… However, here we highlight some of the common opinions on the matter. Today’s topic is the English Major: In a thoughtful though rather biased article from The Chronicle Review we […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Curriculum, Future of the Book, Great Ideas, Great Questions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Core Science Twitter!

August 30, 2013 at 6:06 pm

Prof. Stevens, who teaches natural sciences in the Core, has created a Core Science Twitter account, @BUCoreScience. Visit it to find the latest fascinating scientific news, CC105/CC106 class announcements, and more!

By mdimov | Also posted in Announcements, Core Lecturers, Curriculum | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Salvador Dali Show on View at Hillel

May 7, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Relating to the Core’s study of the Old and New Testaments, is a fascinating series of lithographs from later in Salvador Dali’s career, titled Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel, depicting the history of the Jewish people’s return to Israel. Here is an extract from BU Today’s article on the topic: While 250 copies of the Aliyahlithographs were […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Art, Community, Curriculum, Great Ideas, Great Personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

The Core Journal Staff: Crunching Time

May 3, 2013 at 4:56 pm

In the final days before the Core Journal’s release, organized chaos took over the Core Curriculum’s office. Here are photos capturing our intellectual panic:                      

By mdimov | Also posted in Activities, Community, Core Journal | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Explaining Nietzsche and Existentialism to 5-Year-Olds

May 3, 2013 at 4:25 pm

Relating to CC202’s study of Friedrich Nietzsche is an excellent and amusing attempt to explain his existentialism to a group of 5-year-olds. Here is the video: For more information, visit bit.ly/108bPAL.

By mdimov | Also posted in Activities, Community, Core Authors, Great Ideas, Great Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)