User:Bsilby

BRENT SILBY

I received my Masters Degree in Philosophy at the University of Canterbury and currently teach the subject at Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery in Christchurch City, New Zealand. I have published Philosophy papers in various journals, popular magazines, and on my own websites. My main research interests include: Stoic Philosophy and Philosophical Counseling (practical philosophy), Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Science, Philosophy of Religion. My goal is to open Philosophy to a wide audience, hence much of my work can be described as “Cafe Philosophy” –- interesting, highly accessible articles pitched at intelligent people with no specific background in Philosophy. I am on the executive committee of NZAPT (New Zealand Association for Philosophy Teachers), and am working with colleagues to raise the status of Philosophy teaching in Secondary Schools.

I am also interested in promoting rational skepticism. I teach courses on skepticism and critical thinking and have recently embarked on a project which involves checking wikipedia articles for hints of bias. Examples of of where bias might occur are articles on wi-fi, fluoridation, or vaccination, where conspiracy theorists insert sections on the dangers of the technology based on unscientific sources.

Outside of Philosophy I am a DJ. I perform at various night clubs in Christchurch city under my alias "DJ Maestro B".

Category:New Zealand sceptics Category:New Zealand philosophers Category:New Zealand DJs Category:Living people Category:1970 births