Greenwashing

Perhaps you know about the term “greenwashing” but it is new for me. In honor of our recent Earth Day, I want to share this environmental slanted corporate marketing concept. It’s a great language issue similar to our study of euphemisms. So, what is greenwashing? What kind of critical thinking do we need to defend ourselves against greenwashing?
Check out this three minute video from “The Media Show” (you need sound and the first 30 seconds has only audio)

Also check out this “Greenwash of the Week.” It doesn’t strike me as great journalism, but what do you expect from a two-minute YouTube video? Anyways, it does make the concept of “greenwashing” much clearer “-)

The Study of History

Man is the Measure by Reuben Abel is a seminal work about knowledge issues related to the shaping of history. This is required reading for every Theory of Knowledge class and serious academics will undoubtedly appreciate the ideas Abel considers. In this succinct summary of the main ideas, Abel helps us to see history from a variety of perspectives and interpretations.

Click on this link The Study of History Abel

Please read and write a comment/question.

Lies My Teacher Told Me

View excerpts from James Lowen’s Lies My Teacher Told Me and provide a comment for your classmates to view and discuss.

Lies my Teacher told me excerpts

The problem of history books containing errors and outright lies is a real problem. Check this link to read about the problem Virginia students are dealing with in their history book.

After reading both articles, explain the lies teachers tell and what you can do to improve the reliability of your knowledge of history.

Women Don’t Have Constitutional Protection Against Discrimination

WASHINGTON — The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not protect against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation, according to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/03/scalia-women-discrimination-constitution_n_803813.html 

Are Justice Scalia’s arguments valid and logical? What are the implications of Justice Scalia’s argument? What other knowledge issues are present?