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- RE-Examining "Wokeness" – In-Person
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Item Number: F24SOC300A
Dates: 10/23/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 21
Building: Campbell Center
Room: Room A
Instructor: Urban Kohler
In a previous class we examined the meaning and usage of “wokeness” in today’s political climate. Our starting point this term is the Lindsay/Pluckrose book “Cynical Theories” which makes the case that under post-modernism, truth is arrived at by agreement and consensus rather than scientific method. The class will proceed using the roll call as an opportunity for each class member to check in, give his/her own take, uninterrupted, leading to spirited class discussion about our culture, values, and the relationships among corporations and trading partners around the world. Students can expect to have their assumptions about political, social, and humanitarian values challenged by Lindsay/Pluckrose analysis, by the facilitator, and by other students. All views are welcome. Appropriate video and audio material will also be used to stimulate class discussion. It is not required that students read the book, but those who have read it will be an important source of discussion topics.
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- The Deficit Myth – Online (Hybrid)
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Item Number: F24SOC317
Dates: 11/12/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 2
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: Online
Room: (Zoom)
Instructor: Tom Woosnam
Our Congress regularly gives as reasons to avoid passing important legislation: “How are we going to pay for it?” “Our deficit is out of control, and our kids and grandkids will be paying the price.” “We can't possibly have this social program because there's no money to pay for it.” “We have to balance the budget.” If the Federal budget worked like our own personal budgets those statements would indeed be appropriate. But it doesn’t because the government issues the currency. This course will examine how money works in the light of what is known as Modern Monetary Theory. OLLI members may have heard of MMT in different contexts, the most common being a deliberate misinterpretation: “MMT says deficits don’t matter and you can print as much money as you want with no negative consequences.” We will use the ideas in ‘The Deficit Myth” by Stephanie Kelton to guide our discussion. No prior knowledge is required and it is not necessary to read the book.
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- The Deficit Myth – In-Person (Hybrid)
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Item Number: F24SOC317A
Dates: 11/12/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 2
Maximum Enrollment: 78
Building: Campbell Center
Room: Room E
Instructor: Tom Woosnam
Our Congress regularly gives as reasons to avoid passing important legislation: “How are we going to pay for it?” “Our deficit is out of control, and our kids and grandkids will be paying the price.” “We can't possibly have this social program because there's no money to pay for it.” “We have to balance the budget.” If the Federal budget worked like our own personal budgets those statements would indeed be appropriate. But it doesn’t because the government issues the currency. This course will examine how money works in the light of what is known as Modern Monetary Theory. OLLI members may have heard of MMT in different contexts, the most common being a deliberate misinterpretation: “MMT says deficits don’t matter and you can print as much money as you want with no negative consequences.” We will use the ideas in ‘The Deficit Myth” by Stephanie Kelton to guide our discussion. No prior knowledge is required and it is not necessary to read the book.
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- Better Together: The Work of the City of Ashland – Online
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Item Number: F24SOC312
Dates: 9/19/2024 - 11/21/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 9
Maximum Enrollment: 63
Building: Online
Room: (Zoom)
Instructor: Sabrina Cotta
Registration for this course is closed. This course is intended to provide understanding of how the municipal government delivers essential and valued services such as water, wastewater treatment, streets, public safety, building safety and regulation of development, forestry and smoke management, infrastructure, parks, managing the local economy and community identity, as well as how these services are financed. The role of city staff will be explored. Each session will consist of a 20 to 30-minute presentation on a particular topic by relevant city staff, followed by time for questions and answers, and discussion moderated by the Interim City Manager/Deputy City Manager, Sabrina Cotta. This course is about how the city functions operationally. It is not a course on policy issues or political statements.
NOTE: There is no class session on Thursday, October 3.
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- Early Buddhist Thought in India – Online
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Item Number: F24SOC313
Dates: 9/19/2024 - 11/21/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 74
Building: Online
Room: (Zoom)
Instructor: Ean Roby
Registration for this course is closed. While most Americans probably regard Buddhism as a religion, the Buddhist tradition could also be described as a philosophy, a psychology, or an ethical way of life. In this lecture and discussion class on Zoom, the class will examine the historical development of Buddhist philosophical thought from its beginnings in India to the later period when Buddhism, for all practical purposes, left India to flourish elsewhere—a span of well over a millennium. This means we will look at the growth of Buddhist schools and their ideas in relation to competing philosophical visions from other schools of thought in ancient India, especially Hinduism. Students need no background in this subject. Comprehensive notes will be given out weekly.
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- Ethics in an Age of Existential Crisis – Online
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Item Number: F24SOC314
Dates: 9/18/2024 - 11/20/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 22
Building: Online
Room: (Zoom)
Instructor: William Kastenberg
Registration for this course is closed. This course will focus on the complex ethical questions posed by the immediate and long-term existential threats to individuals and society. Among these threats are the effect of mass media on elections, the use of AI, global climate change, pandemics, exclusion movements and nativism, structural racism, and criminal injustice. The course will be taught seminar style—students will be working in dyads or triads and will be responsible for researching a topic of their choice, writing a one-page paper, and making one 10-minute presentation in class. Class discussion will focus on the nature of these threats, their ethical ramifications, and the individual and societal values that are being challenged by them. We will discuss the influence of philosophy, religion, and science on these issues and will explore whether or not they are responsive to these threats, or whether a “new” set of values, ethics, and morals is required.
NOTE: Students should be willing to work in a collaborative way with one or two other students outside of class, and be open to differing points of view.
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- Everyone Can Be a Pundit: 2024 Presidential Race – In-Person
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Item Number: F24SOC112A
Dates: 9/19/2024 - 11/21/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 34
Building: Campbell Center
Room: Room A
Instructor: David Runkel
Registration for this course is closed. How is the 2024 presidential campaign developing? This will be the subject of this course. While at the time of this writing, President Biden and former President Trump have secured the number of convention delegates to be their party’s nominee for President, it is possible that one or both may be replaced before the election. The class will keep track of the candidates, regardless of who they are. We will cover related topics, including possible vice-presidential candidates, third party candidates and their potential impact, campaign strategies, issues, and fundraising. This will be a discussion class and all viewpoints will be welcome. Both those who follow politics intensely and those who are tuning in for the first time will have an opportunity to express their views. Knowledge of prior campaigns will not be necessary, only an interest in this year’s election.
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- Everyone Can Be a Pundit: 2024 Presidential Race – In-Person
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Registration for this course is closed. How is the 2024 presidential campaign developing? This will be the subject of this course. While at the time of this writing, President Biden and former President Trump have secured the number of convention delegates to be their party’s nominee for President, it is possible that one or both may be replaced before the election. The class will keep track of the candidates, regardless of who they are. We will cover related topics, including possible vice-presidential candidates, third party candidates and their potential impact, campaign strategies, issues, and fundraising. This will be a discussion class and all viewpoints will be welcome. Both those who follow politics intensely and those who are tuning in for the first time will have an opportunity to express their views. Knowledge of prior campaigns will not be necessary, only an interest in this year’s election.
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- Hot News & Cool Views – Online (Hybrid)
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Item Number: F24SOC139
Dates: 9/17/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: Online
Room: (Zoom)
Instructor: Rick Vann
Registration for this course is closed. Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news from Oregon to “around the globe” each week. All differing views and opinions are not only welcome but essential to create the lively discussion in the group. We cover a wide range of topics from politics to climate change to technology, medicine, and more. An agenda with articles will be sent to students a couple days prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda and our discussion. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun, and sometimes controversial class! Better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!
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- Hot News & Cool Views – In-Person (Hybrid)
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Item Number: F24SOC139A
Dates: 9/17/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 34
Building: Campbell Center
Room: Room D
Instructor: Rick Vann
Registration for this course is closed. Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news from Oregon to “around the globe” each week. All differing views and opinions are not only welcome but essential to create the lively discussion in the group. We cover a wide range of topics from politics to climate change to technology, medicine, and more. An agenda with articles will be sent to students a couple days prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda and our discussion. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun, and sometimes controversial class! Better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!
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