If you are reading this text in connection with a course you are expected to submit the assignments below to the instructor by the dates listed in the course calendar and by the means described in the course outline. Revisions are not only permitted but encouraged and assistance is also provided. Consult the course outline for more information. |
Do no research before you answer these questions.
Do your best based upon prior knowledge. A. List the five or so most important questions or
problems you think about. B. If you had virtually unlimited financial resources at
your disposal what would you begin doing with
your life? C. Why did you take this philosophy course? D. What do you expect to put into this course? E. What is Philosophy? F. How do you use the term "philosophy"? G. How do others use the term "philosophy"? Give
examples. H. What good is philosophy? I. What importance might philosophy have in your future? back to top For Essays #2 and 3 you
may want to use this system for quotations.
You may cut and paste the passages from the internet text, if you
wish, but include citations. HOW TO QUOTE PLATO In most copies of Plato’s dialogues you will see numbers and letters, e.g., 201e by the text. [These numbers and letters refer to the page number (e.g., page 201) and the section (e.g., section e) of the 1578 edition of Plato’s dialogues]. These numbers are called Stephanus numbers. They are almost universally used to quote Plato. Assuming your copy of Plato’s dialogues has Stephanus numbers, this is how to reference a quote from the dialogues. First, you mention the title of the dialogue and italicize it. Symposium Next, you cite the Stephanus number that begins the quote without italics Symposium 222a Lastly, you cite the Stephanus number that ends the quote. Symposium 222a-222b, or Symposium 222a-b. Note, if the Stephanus number that begins the quote and ends the quote is the same (e.g., the quote is contained within 202a) then just write the Stephanus number once.
Symposium 202a ================================================= SOCRATES and The Decision to Remain and Die Base your answer on class readings, class notes and your own
reflections. Socrates refuses to go into exile when offered the opportunity
to do escape and to go into exile.
He accepts verdict and the sentence posed upon him even though he
thinks that there was no reason to charge him and the jury was wrong to
convict him and to sentence him to death. · Why , according to Socrates is escaping not the right thing to do? Why did he think it would be wrong to leave with Crito? CAUTION: Socrates gives SEVERAL reasons, starting with the use of reason itself · In the Crito, how does Socrates think his life will be viewed if he escapes? How does this compare to the way he viewed his own life, as stated in the Apology and Crito? · What are his reasons for thinking that if he leaves he will be doing wrong to the state even if the charges and the verdict and the sentence are all wrong? · How is Socrates decision to remain in prison and accept the sentence an example of “Socratic Irony”? ·
How would Socrates leaving the prison make him guilty of
the two charges and prove the jury was correct when otherwise they were
not correct or just? 3.
RESEARCH PAPER- PLATO’s SYMPOSIUM Base your answer on
research, class readings, class notes and your own reflections. A. Summarize Phaedrus’s, Pausanias’, Eryximachus, Aristophanes’, and Agathon’s view on the nature of love in Plato’s Symposium. Be clear and complete as to the essentials of each view. B. In the passage 201d-212c in the Symposium, Socrates presents Diotima’s instruction on the nature of love and the ascent of the soul to a truer love and understanding of knowledge. Describe how this passage about love represents Plato’s key philosophical ideas. C.
Describe how Alcibiades’s love for Socrates is an example of
love already spoken about in the dialogue.
In your answer, describe how Alcibiades regards Socrates. 4. RESEARCH PAPER-PHILOSOPHY
OF RELIGION- This has two (2) parts. Answer both parts. Use
the textbook and any other sources you may choose. In
your essay indicate that you are at least familiar with the materials in
the texts. In your essay, be sure to use the textbook by citing
relevant passages. A.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD The
arguments for the existence of god have weaknesses. Some have more problems than others. Some seem more attractive and some stronger than others. _____
i. What
do you think the value of these arguments to be? ______ ii.
Why do humans care about these
arguments or proofs? ______ iii. Since they all have problems, are they necessary for the believer in god? ______
iv. Select any one argument
:Ontological, Cosmological,
Teleological,
Miracles, Experience 1.
_____describe it 2.
_____describe
its weakness or flaw 3.
_____point
out what its attraction would be 4.
_____what use a believer can make of it despite its problem. B. The Problem of EVIL
Many
believe that the Problem of Evil can not be solved. The resolution of the conflict between God’s
characteristics and the existence of evil can only result in the changing
of the properties of the deity or a recasting of the idea of evil so that
it really is not evil at all. What
is your position? _______
i. State
your position _______ii.
Defend your position against
the other two possible views. ______a.
explain what was wrong with the
other two positions. ______b. respond to the criticism of you position from the point of view of the other two positions 4.
RESEARCH PAPER-PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION- This has two (2) parts. Answer both parts.
Use the textbook and any other sources you may choose. In
your essay indicate that you are at least familiar with the materials in
the texts. In your essay, be sure to use the textbook by
citing relevant passages. A.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD The
arguments for the existence of god have weaknesses. Some have more problems than others. Some seem more attractive and some stronger than others. _____
i. What
do you think the value of these arguments to be? ______ ii.
Why do humans care about
these arguments or proofs? ______ iii. Since they all have problems, are they necessary for the believer in god? ______
iv. Select any one argument
:Ontological, Cosmological,
Teleological,
Miracles, Experience 1.
_____describe it 2.
_____describe
its weakness or flaw 3.
_____point
out what its attraction would be 4.
_____what use a believer can make of it despite its problem.
B. The Problem of EVIL
Many
believe that the Problem of Evil can not be solved. The resolution of the conflict between God’s
characteristics and the existence of evil can only result in the
changing of the properties of the deity or a recasting of the idea of
evil so that it really is not evil at all.
What is your position? _______
i. State
your position _______ii.
Defend your position against
the other two possible views. ______a.
explain what was wrong with
the other two positions. ______b.
respond to the criticism of you position from the point of view of the
other two positions Base your answer on research, class
readings, class notes and your own reflections. A.
Describe at least four issues that are fundamental to metaphysics, e.g.,
reality, being, space, time, god, soul, causation, values, truth... This
means you must describe what the metaphysical issues are related to the
ideas you selected. These
issues relate to the question of the reality of or the existence of those
beings or entities you select to describe.
E.g., is time real? How is time real?
Are souls real? From what traditions of thought? What are the
problems related to establishing the existence of souls? You
do NOT need to solve problems or discuss the issues in detail, you only
need to describe them. B. Which theory of reality do you hold? For you, what is real and why do you think so?
C. What do you think of the theory that there can be simultaneous
multiple realities? _______ Do you believe that what one person
believes may not agree with another person’s belief and so what may be
real to one person may not be real to the second person? _______ Do you think that each group and each person is
entitled to their own reality? ________
What is to be done when there is a conflict between two different
“realities”? Provide some coherent reasoning to support each of your answers establishing at least that your position is plausible. NOTE: This means what is real and not a person's view of what is real. This question is asking if there can be more than one total reality. It is not asking about whether or not people can have different experiences or views of the same reality. This question is asking whether there can be more than one entire reality (universe) at the same time. Granted that people have different experiences and different views what are they of? Is there a single reality that people have different views of? or, are there as many realities as there are different views? Is it possible that there is one reality and some people have correct views of it and other people have wrong or incorrect views of it? Or are there many realities and each group of people can have their own reality? What becomes of the reality of other groups? Are they no longer real? 6. RESEARCH PAPER
EPISTEMOLOGY- Base your answer on research, class
readings, class notes and your own reflections. A. Describe the epistemological theory of transcendental idealism (KANT) B. Describe three different theories of truth: correspondence, coherence and pragmatic. How do the pragmatists criticize the correspondence theory? What problems are there with the pragmatists theory of truth? Is it possible to use all three theories at once and how may they all be employed in a fourth theory (science or objectivism)? C. Richard
Rorty and other Pragmatists correct about the end of objective truth? What
do you think of the theory that there can be simultaneous multiple
truths?
Do you believe that what one person believes may not agree with
another person’s belief and so what may be true to one person may not
be true to the second person?
Do you think that each group and each person is entitled to their
own truth?
What is to be done when there is a conflict between two different
"truths"? Provide some coherent reasoning to support each of your answers establishing at least that your position is plausible. back to top7. RESEARCH PAPER- THE MIND BODY PROBLEM Base your answer on research, class readings,
class notes and your own reflections. METAPHYSICS OF MIND Adopt
a metaphysical position on the nature of the relationship between the
mind and body. Provide some coherent reasoning to support each of your answers establishing at least that your position is plausible.
Possible metaphysical positions are listed below.
Do NOT explain all of them. Adopt
ONE of them and defend it! I. Dualism A. Causal Interaction B. Parallelism i.Pre-established Harmony ii.Occassionalism II. Monism A. Idealism B.
Dual Aspect C. Materialism a. Epiphenomenalism b. Radical Behaviorism c. Logical Behaviorism d. Identity e. Eliminative Materialism f. Structuralism f.
Functionalism Base your answer on research, class readings, class notes and your own reflections. Do
Humans have free will, if so, how free is it?
In other words, are all human actions determined, if so how so,
to what degree? Adopt
a metaphysical position on the nature of freedom or determinism. In
other words, which of these three theories do you think is most
accurate in describing the human condition and why do you think so?
State
what determines human actions according to that position.
Present
a reasoned criticism of the position. Present a reasoned reply to the criticism. Why
do you prefer that theory to the other two?
Base your answer on research,
class readings, class notes and your own reflections. A. List at least three things that are wrong with or problems with each of these theories:
B. Which of the theories listed above do you think is the theory with the most acceptable disadvantages? That is to say, which is the most acceptable theory to serve as the basis for a moral order in a society in which you would want to live? Why do you think so? Give reasons which take into consideration both: 1.the criticisms of the theory you prefer 2.the
advantages of the theory you prefer 10.RESEARCH PAPER-LEGITIMACY
OF THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT Base your answer on research,
class readings, class notes and your own reflections. A. List and explain five theories that legitimize government? B. How does Hobbes theory of government and its
purpose differ from Rousseau's theory? C. With any theory of a just state there must be some
way to resolve the tension between public interests and individual
interests. For each of the
following thinkers describe how they would resolve the tension, which
interest would be more important that of the individual or that of the
group? PLATO, HOBBES, LOCKE, MILL, RAWLS, MARX, HOSPERS ================================================================ BONUS ESSAY- worth up to 10 points- submitted at the last scheduled class meeting What is your position on the justification of the state? Which theory do you prefer and why do you prefer it? State one criticism of it and why you prefer it despite the criticism. Why is the criticism not effective in causing you to change your position? |
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