Hegel and Marx on Webphil!

To start, I would like to say that I really like the updates on WebPhil!  I feel like it is a much more friendly/welcoming format than it has been in the past.


WebPhil Critique from Hegel:



 

 

Principle: Change comes about because everything has a thesis and an antithesis and because of the conflict between the two, moves to a new synthesis of the two.  This cycle repeats itself. 

When applied to WebPhil...

Thesis: Draw people in to read our critiques and become interested in what we are trying to do.

Antithesis: Push people away by an awkward placement of the "Thinkers" section. The placement right now feels awkward.  They seem like a side thought instead of a main point on the front page.

New Synthesis: Place the "Thinkers" section above or below the "Critiques" section so that the flow feels a little more natural.  

 WebPhil Critique from Marx:

Principle: A worker should never be alienated from their work.  They should understand the bigger vision and purpose of their work so that the work can become apart of them and their values and person should be enhanced in it. 

When applied to WebPhil...

I honestly feel that in light of Marx's idea of alienation, WebPhil is doing a really good job.  What I mean is that with our front page we really portray the bigger vision of what we are doing which will make sure users don't become alienated as they go through the site.  With the bigger vision in mind, they will interact and dive into the site and be able to really fully participate and appreciate it.  Hopefully this will allow them to become connected with the site, instead of alienated.  Users aren't necessarily creating something as they use the site, but their "work" when moving through the site will be to connect our writing and videos to their websites.  This "work" will largely reflect their own values about social websites.  So then, by the time they leave the site the applications they take away will be a mixture of the bigger vision (what we provide) and their already held values.