Sdorrance is the username for real-person Sam Dorrance. To see what I have been up to lately on Wikipedia, check my contributions


Bio edit

 

  • Optimism should have a separate page that focuses on the philosophical idea of optimism and distinguishes the philosophical view from "positive thinking" and other everyday uses of the word.
  • Philosophy of social science, has some okay points but requires elaboration on Wittgenstein and Winch, perhaps other linguistic critiques, whether logical positivist or postmodernist.
  • Exchange value needs to be redone, it shouldn't be under 'Marxist theory'- although it's an important component of Marxist theory it's also vital for all economics. That said the article's weight on Marx is also absurd.
  • German Idealism and the articles related to it may need to be rewritten or expanded to avoid undue weight on Arthur Schopenhauer.
  • Protected values first section confuses right action and values and needs a copy edit, moving and wikifying
  • Quality (philosophy) needs a more clear explanation.
  • Socratic dialogues could do with some tidying and clarification. See the talk page for one suggested change.
  • Problem of universals: The introductory definition is (perhaps) fixed. But, the article is poor. Check out the German version.
  • Teleology: the article is shallow and inconsistent.
  • Existentialism: the quality of this article varies wildly and is in desperate need of expert attention.
  • Analytic philosophy This is a very major topic, but still has several sections which are stubs, and several topics which are not covered.
  • Lifeworld A philosophical concept that seems to have fallen exclusively into the hands of the sociologists. Could use some attention; it's a major and complex issue in phenomenology.
  • Perception Needs the attention of philosophically minded Wikipedians. This is only the start of an overhaul of perception and related articles.

I am a 22 year old college graduate who lives and works in the Northeast. Although I have a busy schedule, I am consistently more and more interested in Wikipedia and other Wiki-projects and so I am trying to get myself more familiar and more involved as a somewhat-active member of the community. I don't really like cell-phones, or phones of any kind. Peace and quiet and solitude suit me fine now that college is over.

Interests edit

Although I was educated at the College of Wooster, at which the philosophy department is largely dedicated to the Analytic tradition, I maintain a broad interest that transcends the analytic/continental boundary - limited only by my distaste for Plato and Ayn Rand. My Junior Thesis was a Kantian critique of development aid, and my Senior Thesis was the critical development of a Heideggerian philosophical theology. Thus, most of my contributions to Wikipedia are to be found in places where philosophy or a specific theory is at issue. In addition, I am a dedicated editor and so clear, well written articles are my end goal, regardless of the time it takes, or whether it is my writing that is poor instead of another's.

What I'm working on currently edit

Creations or significant contributions edit

Articles edit

Templates edit

Categories edit

User-subpages edit

Recognition edit

  The Barnstar of High Culture
Thank you for your great contributions to Kyoto school. I placed it on the WikiProject Philosophy Things-to-do list, and less than a month later I see that you have significantly improved and expanded the article. Thank you for all your contributions, and keep up the good work! Nishkid64 17:45, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

Crap to relieve my scattered brain: edit



  "An error in language almost always indicates a corresponding error in thought."

- Simone Weil