maybe with a prefix like [PF Essay]. — hypericin

I'm good with adding a PF Essay tag in addition to the title of the paper so that it's easily discernable without clicking on the sub-forum — Moliere

There is no need. — Amity

Given a response to one of the essays, I've changed my mind. I didn't appreciate how they would be read and responded to by others. { I'm not sure I even like individual essays being strung out like that}

See : https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/991451

But, hey, I'm tired and a bit overwhelmed at 13 PF posters taking time and energy to respond so brilliantly to the Challenge! I did not expect that when all this started.
Thanks to everyone concerned. :fire: :love:

If I remember correctly, there is a way for us to turn off these essays so that we don’t see them on our front page. Can you remind me how that works please.

I am a bit overwhelmed by the essays but I am impressed by the overall quality. Your idea of the activity has certainly sparked some creative responses.

We are going to need a fair and of time to read, process and give feedback. Initially, I thought that having them on the the front page was good, but it is possible that some may get lost by being jumbled amongst a fast turnover of ongoing threads. Also, from the one which has received a reply, it is questionable whether it will be clear that they are part of an essay activity rather than new outposts by @Moliere.

Of course, people can find them by looking in the category of philosophy essays. It is hard to know whether having them in the main page will hinder or help gain readership. But I don't plan to go on about this too much, especially as it is an experimental activity. Also, based on the entry above mine, I am hoping that many regular users do not see the outposts as a mere intrusive nuisance! As it is, I just wish to focus on the essays and appreciate them for what they are.

If I remember correctly, there is a way for us to turn off these essays so that we don’t see them on our front page. Can you remind me how that works please. — T Clark

@Moliere

Do you have a response for me on this? It’s not that I don’t think the essay submittals have value, it’s just that they really overwhelm everything else on the front page. If it’s not something that can be dealt with just say so please.

Go to the category, "Phil. writing challenge - June 2025", scroll to the bottom, click on the eye. I urge you not to do it though, because I think those essays will produce some of the best discussions we've had for a long time, and you'll miss them all.

It’s not that I don’t want to read them. I’ve already read a few. It’s just that it makes it hard to keep track of what’s on the front page.

There will be discussions in those threads, and you won't be able to see them.

They cover a wide range of philosophical areas so you could just pretend lots of high quality OPs suddenly appeared at the same time. The idea that they might overwhelm the front page only applies if they're on the same topic (or if they're not philosophy, like the fiction competitions).

OK, you’ve talked me into it.

Wow.

I'm good with adding a PF Essay tag in addition to the title of the paper so that it's easily discernable without clicking on the sub-forum — Moliere

Thanks, Moliere, for adding the PF Essay tag to all the essays. It helps.

As it is, I just wish to focus on the essays and appreciate them for what they are. — Jack Cummins

:smile: That is the spirit and a great attitude to bring to this new event. Experience in the Literary Activity has shown just how distracting other issues can become. Some, of course, need to be swiftly addressed as valid concerns. We can then progress and enjoy the juicy bits: reading, reflecting and responding. With respect, a sense of fun and perspective.

I think those essays will produce some of the best discussions we've had for a long time, — Jamal

:up: Encouraging words. I agree and look forward to getting stuck in. Probably not as full on as in the Literary Event. We will see...

They cover a wide range of philosophical areas so you could just pretend lots of high quality OPs suddenly appeared at the same time. The idea that they might overwhelm the front page only applies if they're on the same topic (or if they're not philosophy, like the fiction competitions). — Jamal

Yes. I like that way of looking at the essay 'dump'. It is a bit of an overwhelm. Not really what I was expecting, I appreciate that it might prove problematic to some.
Any essay is open to the challenge for not being 'philosophy'. In that case, readers can post their feedback in the individual essay thread. The author can reply later.

An opportunity to remind readers of the OP:

A separate discussion thread will be posted 'Meet the Authors'. A list of authors will be provided for the 'guessing game'.

After the authors are revealed on June 16th the authors can:
1. Respond to the comments and feedback.
2. Join in the general discussion, compare and contrast other essays. Note: authors, as readers, can comment on specific essays before this

From the Guidance:
10) Members please carefully read the essays before offering thoughtful feedback. A more open-ended conversation will take place in the 'Meet the Authors' thread that will be created on June 15th.
— Moliere

Now to settle down and read some. Later...

:cool: :clap:

To read offline, I've downloaded the essays to Word. Thought I'd share, in no particular order:

List of 13 essays with approx. word count (excl. references and biography)

Technoethics: Freedom, Precarity, and Enzymatic Knowledge Machines (3,400)

The Frame Before the Question (850)

What Does It Mean to Be Human? (1,240)

Wittgenstein's Hinges and Gödel's Unprovable Statements (2,365)

Bubbles and Styx In: Pondering the Past (2,055)

The Insides and Outsides of 'Reality': Exploring Possibilities (715)

Dante and the Deflation of Reason (5,220)

Cognitive Experiences are a Part of Material Reality (1,640)

The Authoritarian Liberty Paradox (5045)

Part 1 & Part 2 (5,810)

The importance of the Philosophical Essay within philosophy (2,490)

An Exploration Between the Balance Between State and Individual Interests (2,595)

My Soul is like the Dead Sea (730)

(Note to authors: If I've got any terribly wrong, Ooops! please PM @Moliere)

I wasn't sure, so thanks @Jamal.

My plan is to create the general discussion and "Whose who?" thread on the 15th of June, and since I've orchestrated the thing and know whose who I'm reserving my comments for after June, but will still follow through with my promise to give every submission a proper response.

I'm reserving my comments for after June, but will still follow through with my promise to give every submission a proper response. — Moliere

Everyone will know who is who and what they wrote after the guessing game on the 15th and the reveal on the 16th June, no?

So, you can start commenting then. Puzzled :chin:

Oh, to give me time, and just because it feels right.

to give me time, and just because it feels right. — Moliere

Blethering bleuter :roll:

With pride ;)

But, really, if you think about it I don't even know if I'll finish in the month -- I'm committed to responding to all 13 with the same amount of care, on their own terms, and I have the reading group that I intend on keeping up with -- so, in terms of time I think I can commit it's also just an honest appraisal of how long it'll take to write 13 in-depth responses to everyone on their own terms.

I don't even know if I'll finish in the month — Moliere

That's OK. The essays aren't going anywhere, are they? Take as much time as you need to fulfil your stated commitment to provide in-depth responses to authors. Most admirable.

I am simply pointing out that you don't have to 'reserve comments until after June' when the party will be all but over. People moving on...
After the 16th June, your comments can be a light 'starter' before the main meal. Get the juices flowing.
I'm sure everyone will appreciate you sitting down at the table. Relaxing in good cheer :party:
And, quite frankly, I don't know how you will be able to resist! :love: :kiss:

But enough about you. There are stories to read...and they're damned good! As you know...

@Moliere Could you make the essays public? I have an IRL philosophy group that I attend on Friday evenings, and the topic this week is actually the topic of my entry. I'd like to share it with them. Thanks!

Done

Ahhh, all explained. Thanks @Jamal!

Sorry but I don't understand what just happened. The whole event vanished as I was posting a reply.

How have the essays been made public?
Why was it necessary?
Why couldn't hypericin simply take his essay along to his group?
Why no warning or explanation given?

The whole event vanished as I was posting a reply. — Amity

Can you see the essays now?

Yes. But I want to know why they went AWOL.

As requested by @hypericin, I made the essays viewable to guests and search engines, just like most other posts and discussions. If any participants want to keep their essays off the internet, I can once again restrict them to members-only, which is the default for the Symposium.

Yes. But I want to know why they went AWOL. — Amity

When I made them public I made them viewable by guests but forgot I had to explicitly make them viewable by members too.

If any participants want to keep their essays off the internet, I can once again restrict them to members-only, which is the default for the Symposium. — Jamal

I am amazed that you did this. I thought that it was your idea to make it members-only so that you had to sign in to read them. Thus, keeping them 'private' so that you could still publish them elsewhere.

So, if you have changed your mind about that, then why not make them available as all the other posts and discussions?

It would have been good to have been given due warning and explanation before you took the action.

A question you missed:

Why couldn't hypericin simply take his essay along to his group? — Amity

Or share them via email, whatever?
All of this for one poster on one occasion?