In a feat of improbable organization surpassed only by my still having notes from the classes I took from László Babai (Discrete Math, Algorithms & Combinatorics—I may have learned more in these two classes than in any other I took as an undergrad—now I can't tell if a mere three years after I took the former it's gotten significantly harder or I've forgotten not just how to do some classes of problems, and the meanings of some terms, but also that I ever knew them—a mixture of both, probably), I still have the syllabus from a class I didn't take, as well as some handouts from the first meeting: The Philosophy of Wilfrid Sellars, taught by Jim Conant and Michael Kremer. It is one thorough syllabus, and one of the handouts is also a doozy.
Now, of course, I consider this an incredible missed opportunity, but at the time I wasn't able to summon up much excitement. Hélas.
On the other hand, you haven't wasted the name-dropping opportunity, so.
Posted by: bitchphd | May 08, 2008 at 05:44 PM
It's hardly name-dropping to mention that one did, or didn't, take a class with someone known to teach at the university one attended.
Posted by: ben wolfson | May 09, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Sure it is.
Posted by: bitchphd | May 09, 2008 at 09:10 PM
What year(s) did you take Discrete Math and Algorithms from Babai? I did DM Fall of 01 and Algo Winter of 02, IIRC. I've also remarked in the past that I learned more from those classes than any others at U of C.
(Checking out other blogs today with Unfogged being down and all, hence going back to old posts.)
Posted by: Otto von Bisquick | June 03, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I think I was in those same classes, actually.
Posted by: ben wolfson | June 03, 2008 at 01:12 PM