http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavTW-386m0 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY Written Assignments
OBSERVE THE DUE DATES!! Check on the COURSE CALENDAR for the due dates:
Click on the item for more information or for the assignment for that module.
INSTRUCTIONS for PREPARING and SUBMITTING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
MODULE 0 Orientation and Training
MODULE 1 Introduction to the Course
MODULE 3 Philosophy of Religion
MODULE 4 Metaphysics and Epistemology
MODULE : MID COURSE EVALUATIONS AND CHANGES
MODULE 5 Mind-Body Problem Freedom and Determinism Problem
MODULE 7 Social and Political Philosophy
MODULE : CULMINATING ACTIVITY: BONUS EXERCISE
This Philosophy Class is a Writing Intensive (WI) Class.
CRITERIA FOR WRITING INTENSIVE (WI) CLASSES
A. Writing
All WI Classes shall meet all of the following criteria:
1. Throughout a semester, students spend a portion of their class time writing in the service of learning course material. This writing may be informal and un-graded.
The written assignments satisfy this criteria. The last assignment is informal and low stakes.
2. A minimum of 10 pages of formal writing will be assigned and will be achieved by assigning several short papers, one short paper plus a longer one, or one longer paper assigned in stages that are each guided and responded to by the faculty member.
This minimum is more than met by the written assignments.
3. These 10 pages are responded to and returned to the student by the faculty member so that the student has the opportunity to revise before a final grade for the assignment is given.
The instructor returns the formal written assignments indicating where they may have lost points. Students will have 48 hours to revise and resubmit.
4. The faculty member regularly discusses student writing in class.
The instructor goes over the assignment and provides a sample of a submission that serves as a model.
5. Each time a writing assignment is given, the faculty member discusses and clarifies the assignment and his or her expectations for it.
The instructor goes over the assignment and provides a sample of a submission that serves as a model
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Assignments for MODULE 0 Orientation and Training means to COMPLETE ALL the TEN STEPS TO START OFF
For the fully online class PHIL101FNT CRN 13750
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Written Assignment for MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSEThis is an assignment for which there are no wrong answers. It is sometimes termed a "low stakes" writing assignment. Simply answer all the questions and submit them through the email by the DUE DATE and you will receive full credit. Do no research before you answer these questions. Do your best based upon prior knowledge. Short answers placed after each question will suffice. Be sure to answer all parts. Do NO RESEARCH! Do not use a dictionary or encyclopedia or any other reference work .
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I suggest that you create your
assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker ,
then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor
with the text inside the email
message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE 2 The Greeks and Philosophy
This is an important assignment as it sets out what the careful and critical process of thinking known as dialectical thinking is about. Just how do we do this. It is useful for reaching our beliefs with good reasons and for making judgments and decisions. It has three parts which you must do.
RUBRIC for GRADING this Assignment which has three (3) parts:
Part 1. Use of the seven (7) passages to indicate what Plato stated about Philosophy Cite your sources! (2 points)
Part 2. Find two (2) passages where Socrates is exchanging questions and answers with someone on a topic, issue or question that illustrates the dialectical method Cite your sources! (2 points) DO NOT USE the seven (7) passages provided in part 1.
Part 3 In your own words describe the dialectical process of inquiry. You may use quotations. Cite your sources! (3 points)
DO NOT RELATE ALL OF THE NICE IDEAS OF PLATO just be specific as to the idea of what Philosophy itself actually is according to Plato.
Philosophy emerges amongst the Greeks in its fullest form in the works of Plato. This assignment aims to develop an understanding of just exactly what was philosophy to Plato. It was and is a method for careful and critical thinking. Plato describes the manner of thinking as dialectical thinking and that is the method of Philosophy and for doing philosophy. So just what is the dialectical process of thought? This assignment requires that you describe that process. Plato wrote dialogues rather than essays so that he could show people how philosophy was done. He learned the methodology from Socrates and so he attempts to show us what he saw and thus we could learn as he learned. What was philosophy to Plato? Describe the process. What does the process involve? Provide two examples of the process as Plato provides Socrates evidencing dialectical thinking in an exchange with another. Provide two examples from Plato's dialogues as evidence of how dialectical thinking is done.
In your own words describe how philosophy is done according to Plato. What does one do when doing philosophy? Be somewhat extensive in describing the exact process. Do not describe what it is good for or what you think about it. Describe exactly what philosophy is for Plato. This means that you should describe what the dialectical process of thinking is and its steps. Take the seven PASSAGES (<click here) provided and put them into your own words in a single description of the process of inquiry known as Philosophy. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
RESOURCES:
Part 1. These seven (7) PASSAGES (<click here) supplied at this webpage PASSAGES
You MUST cite where Plato speaks ABOUT Philosophy. Copy and paste the exact words from each of the seven passages using quotation marks and the source citation for the exact passages where Plato describes what Philosophy is about and how to do Philosophy. PASSAGES Click on this link PASSAGES (<click here) and you will find where I supply the seven (7) most pertinent passages that describe the Dialectical Process of Inquiry that Plato identifies with the process of Philosophical thinking. You should quote the exact lines that indicate what Plato thought Philosophy was and how to go about doing it. The basic idea is to take the excerpts from the passages that provide a description of the dialectical process of thought that for PLATO was Philosophy- a method for thinking..This Part I of this assignment requires you to describe what the process of dialectical thinking involves as it was described by Plato and evidenced in the Dialogues of Plato. Cite any passages where he is advising people on the method for thinking that he is demonstrating in the dialogues. What does the process involve? While he shows the method in all his dialogues he gets specific in a few of them, including the PHAEDO and the REPUBLIC where he speaks of arguments, argumentation and the dialectical process. These are the passages that are supplied in the collection through use of the link marked PASSAGES .Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answersPart 2. In the Dialogues of Plato there are many examples of the dialectical process, including in the dialogues: ION, MENO, EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, SYMPOSIUM
In order to demonstrate that you understand and can do so be recognizing the process when you see it find at least two passages in the dialogues that were covered in this module where Plato shows Socrates entering into the dialectical process of Philosophy. Copy and paste the passages using quotation marks and cite the source dialogue. You find 2 passages where Socrates is exchanging questions and answers with someone on a topic, issue or question. Where do you find these passages? Find them in any of these dialogues: ION EUTHYPHRO APOLOGY CRITO PHAEDO REPUBLIC SYMPOSIUM How long do they need to be? Not the entire dialogue !! Just submit a passage long enough to see the back and forth of the question and answer process by which Socrates leads his audience to some point of clarity or some position on an issue. To show how one goes about doing it you should quote the exact lines or the passages in the dialogues where Plato has Socrates interact with others using the dialectical methods of philosophy. DO NOT USE THE PASSAGES SUPPLIED in Part 2 THAT DESCRIBE DIALECTICS!!!! These PASSAGES are not demonstrations of the process but are only descriptions of it.
Part
3. In your words what is DIALECTICAL THINKING? You may use quotations (identify the sources you use). Use what is given in the Textbook Chapter Two and in the links found within it.In this course you are directed several times in written assignment and in the discussions to take a position on a topic or question and then to use dialectical thinking to defend or support your position using dialectical thinking. What is dialectical thinking? It is the form of critical thinking associated with Philosophy. But what is it?
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Here is a SAMPLE ANSWER to what is DIALECTICAL THINKING?
Here is a representation on what dialectical thinking involves. It will use the metaphor that Plato provided concerning the selection of a raft.
“For he should persevere until he has attained one of two things: either he should discover or learn the truth about them; or, if this is impossible, I would have him take the best and most irrefragable of human notions, and let this be the raft upon which he sails through life-not without risk, as I admit, if he cannot find some word of God which will more surely and safely carry him. "(Plato PHAEDO (85C)
In that statement he implies that truth is important for living a worthwhile life and that if the truth is unattainable one should be guided by the best truth available although it will involve the risk that comes from uncertainty.
So think of life as a journey and the path that you must travel has rivers to cross. These rivers are the challenges, the problems, the issues that you will face. You need to cross the rivers and continue on your journey. At the bank of the river you reach there are many rafts of different types that you can use to cross the river. These rafts are possible positions or answers or solutions that humans have devised. You want the best possible raft with which to cross safely. There are no perfect rafts. No ideal rafts. You need to select the best one for crossing the river.
Using this metaphor it could be said that Plato indicated that the purpose of Philosophy was knowing how to select the best raft or in life how to select the best option when deciding how to live a “good” life. The method is applied by Philosophers to questions or "rivers" such as :
What is knowledge?
What is truth?
What is the “good”?
What is beauty?
So, just what is the method? At the bank of the river you would look carefully to find as many rafts as you can and then examine each one to determine which is the best. You would select based upon the purpose it is to serve. You would not select based on which is the biggest or the most popular or the most expensive or even based on your favorite color. None of that is relevant to the purpose. Such criteria are not relevant. You need the best raft for crossing the river and that is not necessarily the biggest or most popular or the most expensive. You need the raft that will get you across safely. It needs to have been well assembled. It should have few or no leaks or tears in the ropes that bind the logs of the raft together.
You select one after having “good” reasons to reject the others. You find fault with them. They have leaks. You select the one least likely to leak or come apart and most likely to get you across the river.
You must also respond to those who are selecting other sorts of rafts and using other methods of selection. They will criticize your selection. They may say you should have picked the most expensive or the biggest or the red one or the one most others have. “Don’t you want to be one of us? “ You respond to the criticisms indicating why the critics are wrong. e.g., they are using criteria not relevant to the buoyancy and dependability of the raft.
With the dialectical process you use reason and hold your passions and emotions in check and choose the best position (conclusion of an argument) based on reason and evidence. You don’t select on appeals to loyalty or popularity or prestige.
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I suggest that you create your assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker, then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor with the text inside the email message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE 3 Philosophy of Religion
This assignment has two parts A and B. Answer each part.
Part A. Arguments for the Existence of a deity , a god.
There have been several proofs or arguments for the existence of god developed over the centuries. Each one of them has been closely examined and criticized and weaknesses have been disclosed. Some have more problems than others. Some seem more attractive and some stronger than others. This written assignment requires that you demonstrate two basic understandings: 1) an understanding of the significance or importance of the arguments and of their weakness as revealed through dialectical thinking and 2) an understanding of one argument in particular and how it is constructed and what problems there are with it.
Step One (1) Select any one (1) and only one (1) of the following seven (7) arguments (Ontological, Teleological, Cosmological, Miracles, Mystical Experiences, Direct Experiences, Psychic Phenomena) What is the argument or proof that you have selected? STATE the EXACT REASONING in steps. Be exact and complete. Each argument has premises and a conclusion. What are they?
The ______ Argument for the Existence of a Deity
Premise: Reason that supports the conclusion
Premise: Reason that supports the conclusion
Premise: Reason that supports the conclusion
......
......
......
Conclusion:
Step Two (2) Why are believers attracted to this argument or proof that you have selected?
Step Three (3)What are the problems with the argument? What are the criticisms of this argument? Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations from texts or textbook to support your answers.
Step Four (4) How do the defenders of the argument that you have selected respond to the specific criticisms? -indicate that you have done some reading and thinking in your answer
Part B. The Problem of EVIL
With this assignment you are required to attempt doing dialectical thinking for the first time in this course. As with many things it becomes easier as you practice.
Preliminary: Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Describe just what is the Problem of Evil in Philosophy as it relates to the existence or nature of a deity? Be exact and complete. STATE the EXACT REASONING in steps. Be exact and complete-indicate that you have done some reading and thinking in your answer. Use quotations. Cite your sources. In all parts of this assignment you must indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Be sure that you understand what the Problem of Evil in Philosophy is as it relates to the concept of the existence or nature of a deity. Be exact and complete.
Some believe that the Problem of Evil can not be solved. They think that the resolution of the conflict between certain characteristics of a deity, such as traditionally thought of the deity of the West, and the existence of evil can only result in denying the existence of the deity altogether or the changing of the properties of the deity or a recasting of the idea of evil itself so that it really is not evil at all. So, there are four possible responses to the problem advanced over two millennia:
You are required to complete these five steps of the process and LABEL each step so it is clear what you are doing. Make it very clear for each of the five steps.
Step One (1) You will select one of the four positions on the Problem of Evil in Philosophy. State which position you have chosen. Select the one that you can reason as the strongest or the one that has the least problems or makes the most sense and has reason and evidence to support it. Be as exact as you can be. You will then need to defend it using the dialectical process in steps 2,3,4,5.
My position on the Problem of Evil is that of __________________________
Step Two (2) Provide the reasons (premises) why you think this position is better defended by reason and evidence than are the alternative positions. Take your position and defend it using reasoning in support of the judgment you have made as to what position you have chosen (conclusion of the argument).
Use the argument format:
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
......
......
......
Conclusion: Therefore I take this position on the Problem of Evil..........
CAUTION: You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Step Three (3) State the reasons why you found the other 3 positions flawed or less defensible than the one you are defending Provide a reason for each one of the three you have rejected.
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
Step Four (4) State the criticisms of your position from each of the three other positions you did not choose.
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Step Five (5) Respond to the criticisms- rebuttal- from each of the three positions that you did not choose. Defend your position in light of those criticisms
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
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I suggest that you create your assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker,then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor with the text inside the email message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE 4 Metaphysics and Epistemology
4A. Metaphysics
BEWARE: Read the note below before you do this assignment. Keep in mind that the meaning of reality in this assignment is "what is real" and the sum of all that is real and NOT a person's view of or opinion about or perspective on what is real. This question and assignment deals with Reality1= the sum total of all that is real.
I. Reading Comprehension- from the readings-online and printed texts
A. There are several different theories concerning reality and what makes something real or what exists. Describe at least four of those theories or positions on this issue of the REAL. Provide some detail in your descriptions. DO NOT simply list them. Explain each one. Do not simply list them. Describe them and explain them. This will take more than one sentence for each one. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
II. Critical Thinking-concerning the theory of reality and of multiple realities
B. For you which of the theories concerning reality makes the most sense and why? For you what makes something real? How can you determine if something actually exists or not, determine if it is real or not, according to your preferred theory of reality, your metaphysics? Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
C. What do you think of the theory that there can be simultaneous multiple realities? CAUTION! CAUTION! CAUTION! First Read the note below very carefully and then Answer each of the 8 questions below. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Please make an effort to distinguish different perceptions of a single reality from totally different realities.
NOTE: Be sure you read the chapter and in particular the Overview to understand the meaning of "reality" as in this chapter and assignment. http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%204%20Metaphysics/OVERVIEW.htm
4B Epistemology
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers in all parts of this assignment.
Part 1. There are Four(4) types of claims of knowledge indicating the four types of knowledge: SEMANTIC, SYSTEMIC, LOGICAL and EMPIRICAL. Truth is determined differently according to the claims. Describe how truth is to be determined for each of those four types of claims. How are these claims warranted or supported that determines whether or not the claim is true? What supports each type of claim? For the EMPIRICAL claims only there are the four different theories concerning the determination of the truth of empirical claims:
Describe each of these four theories for proving empirical claims to be true. Explain each one. Do not simply list them. Describe them and explain them. This will take more than one sentence for each one.
Part 2.. What do you think of the theory that there can be simultaneous multiple truths concerning claims? Concerning all types of claims? Does it apply to claims that are semantic, systemic, logical or empirical? Comment on each type. Be sure you do think about each of these four types of claims.
Can there be simultaneous multiple truths for each type of claim? For any type of claim? We understand and accept that what one person believes may not agree with another person’s belief and so what may be be believed to be true to one person may not be believed to be true to the second person. Does this mean that they are both correct? Do you think that each group and each person is entitled to their own truth? Does this apply to all claims? Explain what this might mean. Explain and defend your position on this question with reasons. If you think that there can be more than one truth about the same claim at the same time then be sure to explain how there can be more than one truth about the shape of the earth and who is president of the USA and the sum of 2 and 7 and the number of angles in a triangle AT THE SAME TIME.
Be sure you READ this material on TRUTH:
What is to be done when there is a conflict between two different "truths" concerning claims that are semantic, systemic, logical or empirical? Does the outcome of the conflict determine what the truth is?
Part 3. What does determine whether or not an empirical claim is true or not true? Respond only to what supports or warrants an empirical claim. Which of the four theories do you hold to use to resolve conflicts in truth for empirical claims? Why do you hold that theory over the other three? Remember that this part deals with only empirical claims.
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I suggest that you create your assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker,then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor with the text inside the email message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE 5 The Mind-Body Problem and Freedom and Determinism Problem
You must write and submit an assignment on EACH of the two Problems-parts A and B. Base your answer on research, class readings, class notes and your own reflections.
5 A . THE MIND BODY PROBLEM
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers in all parts of this assignment.
Part 1. What is the Mind Body Problem or what was the Mind Body Problem? Why was it a problem? What has it become now in this time that we know so much more about human brains?
Part 2... There are twelve possible metaphysical positions listed below on this problem Do NOT explain all of them. Adopt ONE of them and defend it! ONLY ONE ! Dialectical thinking--You must demonstrate the dialectical thinking process. Be sure to provide evidence of having done the reading. Indicate clearly each of these steps from a to e in your submission. Label the steps from 1 to 5.
Please keep in mind that the Mind Body Problem for many has been transformed into the problem of explaining the origins of consciousness and intentionality (choice and decision making). Both the dualists and the materialist need to account for these phenomena.
Dualism | Monism |
|
|
With this assignment you are required to attempt doing dialectical thinking for the first time in this course. As with many things it becomes easier as you practice.
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
You are required to complete these five steps of the process and LABEL each step so it is clear what you are doing. Make it very clear for each of the five steps.
Step One (1) You will select one of the four positions on the Mind Body Problem or Origins of Consciousness. State which position you have chosen. Select the one that you can reason as the strongest or the one that has the least problems or makes the most sense and has reason and evidence to support it. Be as exact as you can be. You will then need to defend it using the dialectical process in steps 2,3,4,5.
My position on the Mind Body Problem or Origins of Consciousness is that of __________________________
Step Two (2) Provide the reasons (premises) why you think this position is better defended by reason and evidence than are the alternative positions. Take your position and defend it using reasoning in support of the judgment you have made as to what position you have chosen (conclusion of the argument).
Use the argument format:
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
......
......
......
Conclusion: Therefore I take this position on the Mind Body Problem or Origins of Consciousnessl..........
CAUTION: You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Step Three (3) State the reasons why you found the other positions flawed or less defensible than the one you are defending Provide a reason for each one of the others you have rejected.
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
Step Four (4) State the criticisms of your position from each of the other positions you did not choose.
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Step Five (5) Respond to the criticisms- rebuttal- from each of the other positions that you did not choose. Defend your position in light of those criticisms
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
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I suggest that you create your assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker,then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor with the text inside the email message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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5 B. FREEDOM and DETERMINISM PROBLEM
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers in all parts of this assignment.
Take a position on this question or issue Do Humans have free will, if so, how free is it? Are all human actions determined, if so how so? to what degree? Which of these three theories do you think is most accurate in describing the human condition and why do you think so?
a. Take a position on this question or issue: only ONE of these options:
Be sure that you understand what the Free Will Question is. Be exact and complete. .
You are required to complete these five steps of the process and LABEL each step so it is clear what you are doing. Make it very clear for each of the five steps.
Step One (1) You will select one of the four positions on the Free Will Question/Problem. State which position you have chosen. Select the one that you can reason as the strongest or the one that has the least problems or makes the most sense and has reason and evidence to support it. Be as exact as you can be. You will then need to defend it using the dialectical process in steps 2,3,4,5.
My position on the Free Will Question/Problem is that of __________________________
Step Two (2) Provide the reasons (premises) why you think this position is better defended by reason and evidence than are the alternative positions. Take your position and defend it using reasoning in support of the judgment you have made as to what position you have chosen (conclusion of the argument).
Use the argument format:
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
Premises: Your reasons in support of your position (conclusion)
......
......
......
Conclusion: Therefore I take this position on the Free Will Question/Problem.........
CAUTION: You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position. Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers.
Step Three (3) State the reasons why you found the other positions flawed or less defensible than the one you are defending Provide a reason for each one of the others you have rejected.
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
I reject position # because ........
Step Four (4) State the criticisms of your position from each of the other positions you did not choose.
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Those who take position # criticize my position for these reasons
Step Five (5) Respond to the criticisms- rebuttal- from each of the other positions that you did not choose. Defend your position in light of those criticisms
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
I reject the criticism of my position from those who take position # for these reasons
CAUTION: Read the textbook first. This is not about freedom from consequences.
CAUTION: This is NOT about FATE or DESTINY or agents of any kind that have predetermined all events.
Indicate clearly each of these steps from a to e in your submission. Label the steps from a to e.
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I suggest that you create your
assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker ,
then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor
with the text inside the email
message window. DO NOT send attachments .
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Written Assignment for MODULE 6 Ethics
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers in all parts of this assignment.
Part 1. List at least three(3) things that are wrong with or are problems with each of these theories or principles of the moral GOOD:
8. List at least three(3) things that are wrong with NORMATIVE ETHICAL RELATIVISM<<< DISPROVEN and NOT a THEORY but a critique of all Ethics as being culturally based and no universal ethics possible.
Part 2..
a. Take a position on this question or issue 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 of Ethics or Ethical Principle for the moral GOOD to serve as the basis for a moral order in a society in which you would want to live? You would be led to the selection based on your values.
NOTE: NORMATIVE ETHICAL RELATIVISM is not a theory but an anti theory claiming there can be no absolute or general or universal basis for ethics. You cannot select this theory as the basis for a moral order.
b. Provide the reasons (ethical principles and human values) why you think this theory is better defended by reason and evidence than are the alternative positions. Your position is to be defended using reasoning in support of the judgment (conclusion of the argument). You state the reasons (ethical principles and human values) why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons (ethical principles and human values) and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position.
c. State the reasons why you found the other positions flawed or less defensible than the one you are defending in terms of the human values you hold
d. State the criticisms of your position or ethical principle-or answer "Just what are the weaknesses or problems with the principle you choose?"
e. Respond to the criticisms- rebuttal- how do you defend your position in light of those criticisms.
VERY IMPORTANT!! If no one theory of ethics or ethical principle seems to be what you would want to use then argue for more than one or for a consideration of all of them in support of what values you seek to realize and support when you make moral judgments.
Indicate clearly each of these steps from a to e in your submission. Label the steps from a to e.
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I suggest that you create your
assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker ,
then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor
with the text inside the email
message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
***************************************************
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Written Assignment for MODULE 7 Social and Political Philosophy
Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers in all parts of this assignment.
Part 1. How would each of the thinkers below resolve the tension between public interest and individual interest? Which side would be given greater weight or consideration by each of these thinkers? Why?
THINKER | Greater Weight given to (check one for each thinker) |
Reasoning given by the thinker or the theory of this thinker that supports giving preference to either the individual or the group interests | |
Individual | Group | ||
PLATO | |||
HOBBES | |||
LOCKE | |||
MILL | |||
RAWLS | |||
MARX | |||
HOSPERS |
Part 2..In
the world and in the USA there is a great disparity in wealth and income among
the people. Many see this as a problem as it is not sustainable and so it
should be altered. Such a process would involve ideas about distributive
justice. There are several ideas about what constitutes
distributive justice,
1. STATEMENT
State your own position on the issue of the disparity in wealth and income in the USA and do so quite clearly stating which principle of Distributive Justice you favor to support your position and why. Be as exact as you can be. Be precise in your use of language. Which of these principles would you want to use in your position on the matter of resolving the inequality in wealth and income in the USA? You need to offer a dialectical argument for your position with these four (4) steps for presenting an argument or a defense of a position using dialectical reasoning. Be sure to complete all four(4) steps: Statement, Defense, Criticisms, Rebuttal of the Criticisms.
I take the position that the best approach to address the disparity in the USA in wealth and income is to take actions based on the a plan that is constructed using the .........principle
2.DEFENSE
You need to defend your position using reasoning in support of the your judgment (your judgment as the best position is the conclusion of the argument). You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position. Use your notion of Distributive Justice (from those supplied in the reading) and your notion of the justification for and proper form of government (from those supplied in the reading) in support of your position.
The reasons why I think that this is the best appoach are that......
3.CRITICISMS and ALTERNATIVES to your position
There are those who do not share my position. They think that................. Their reasons include.......................... They criticize my approach by making these claims and charges............
4.REBUTTAL of those CRITICISMS and ALTERNATIVES
Consideration of alternative positions to and criticisms of your own position and the reasons for the rejection of those alternatives in favor of the judgment made for the reasons given in support of your position which employ reasoning and evidence.
I respond to those who do not share my position with these claims and reasons.................
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I suggest that you create your assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker, then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor with the text inside the email message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE 8 What is Philosophy?
THis is a low satkes assignemtn adn whatevr you answere will be acceptable but you are required to answer all parts. Answer each of the questions below and submit
1.Which of the philosophical issues covered this semester has been the most important and why so?
2. Which of the philosophical issues covered this semester has meant anything to you personally and why so?
3.Why do you think that the philosophical issues this course has covered have been issues and have remained issues for so long?
4. Why do you think these issues have been associated with Philosophy and not some other discipline?
5. Why is it that most of these issues have not been so evident as issues in our contemporary culture? Why are not more people aware of these troublesome questions, issues or problems?
6. Why were not you more aware of these philosophical issues than you were at the start of this course?
7. Now that you have been educated as to these issues in Philosophy in what way will they have any consequence in your life?
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I suggest that you create your
assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker ,
then copy and paste the text into an email message window and SEND email to the instructor
with the text inside the email
message window. DO NOT send attachments ..
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Written Assignment for MODULE : CULMINATING ACTIVITY: BONUS EXERCISE
This is a BONUS ASSIGNMENT and it is OPTIONAL. If you choose to do it please se sure to do each part of THREE (3) Parts
PART I. ABOUT THE COURSE: FINAL EXERCISE
Item 1: What did you like best about this course?
Item 2: What specific things do you think could be improved in the structure or design of the course and learning activities?
Item 3: How would you improve the quality and participation in course discussions/interactions?
Item 4: What changes would you suggest be made to the pacing or sequence of the content and activities for this course? (e.g., were the due dates doable for you? Were the course materials sequenced well?)
Item 5: What changes would you suggest be made to the quantity of work required for this course?
Item 6: How could the course be improved in terms of my interaction, participation, and management of the course?
Item 7: What other suggestions, comments, or recommendations would you have for the instructor?
Item 8: What advice do you offer to students who would be just entering the class at the very start of the semester?
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PART II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course has six objectives on a scale of 0 to 5 with 5 as the highest level , how well do you think that you have achieved these objectives?
DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
a. Identify
some of the basic content in the field of Philosophy (vocabulary, concepts,
theories)
b. Identify traditional and current Issues in Philosophy;
c. Communicate awareness of and understanding of philosophical issues.
d. Demonstrate familiarity with the main areas of philosophic discourse and be
able to state what major schools of thought there are that have contributed to
the ongoing discussion of these issues
e. Develop skills of critical analysis and dialectical thinking.
f. Analyze and respond to the comments of other students regarding philosophical
issues.
Score 0 to 5 a.____ b. ______ c._______ d.________ e.______ f.________
CUNY PATHWAYS Objectives
As of Fall 2013 according to CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and Vice Chancellor Alexandra Logue the learning outcomes must be as indicated below
II.D Individual and Society |
Expected Student Outcomes and Objectives |
a. Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of view. |
Students will understand philosophical texts effectively through readings in the textbook and ancillary documents and articles on a diversity of philosophical perspectives |
b. Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically. |
Students will critically evaluate philosophical theories |
c. Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions. |
Students will construct written essays, responses, and/or papers demonstrating the use of evidence-based information in drawing conclusions about issues in philosophy. |
d. Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a discipline or interdisciplinary field exploring the relationship between the individual and society |
Students will identify the fundamental concepts and methods of philosophy and how these can be used to better understand the relationship between the individual and society. |
e. Articulate and assess
ethical views and their underlying premises.
|
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate use of philosophical methods in analyzing different ethical perspectives. |
f. Identify and engage with local, national, or global trends or ideologies,and analyze their impact on individual or collective decision-making. |
Students will draw conclusions about societal institutions and individual beliefs based on the methods of philosophical analysis. |
g. Communicate effectively through reading, writing, listening and speaking |
a. Students demonstrate
understanding of b. Students read relevant
philosophical c. Students will indicate
how philosophical methods are applied to various problems and issues. |
h. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions |
a. Students discuss
theories, concepts, and debates in philosophy b. Students analyze and
critique philosophical arguments and positions c. Students identify
relevance of philosophy to everyday life and career interests d. Students will analyze examples from other disciplines to illustrate how concepts from philosophy apply. |
i. Differentiate and make informed
decisions about issues based on multiple value systems |
a. Students discuss
applications of philosophical theory to other fields of inquiry. b. Students identify
relevance of philosophy to everyday life and career interests c. Students will analyze
examples from other disciplines to illustrate how concepts from
philosophy apply. d. Students will select topics in philosophy to use as themes in other courses. |
Score 0 to 5 a.____ b. ______ c._______ d.________ e.______ f.________g_______h_________i__________
PART III. DIALECTICAL REASONING
Select which of your submitted work represents your estimate of your best effort at dialectical reasoning and submit it again to me. Just copy and paste any of the written assignments that you have already done that you think is your BEST WORK that follows all the steps for dialectical thinking and presenting a position on an issue or question and defending it.
Steps for presenting an argument or a defense of a position using dialectical reasoning
1. STATEMENT
State your Position on the issues or question and do so quite clearly. Be as exact as you can be. Be precise in your use of language.
2.DEFENSE
Position defended using reasoning in support of the judgment (conclusion of the argument). You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes. Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position.
3.REBUTTAL of CRITICISMS and ALTERNATIVES
Consideration of alternative positions to and criticisms of your own position and the reasons for the rejection of those alternatives in favor of the judgment made for the reasons given in support of your position which employ reasoning and evidence.
I suggest that you create your
assignments using your word-processing program and spell checker ,
then SEND FILE to the instructor or by email with the text inside the email
message window. DO NOT send attachments .
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Research in Philosophy on the Internet.
Free tutorial on doing research in Philosophy on the Internet.
http://www.humbul.ac.uk/vts/philosophy/index.htm
As for the search engine, you would enter:
problem of evil + Augustine
existence of god + teleological argument
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You may want to print this part of this document out.
INSTRUCTIONS for PREPARING and SUBMITTING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
DIALECTICAL THINKING
In this course you are directed to take a position on a topic or question and then to use dialectical thinking to defend or support your position using dialectical thinking. What is dialectical thinking? It is the form of critical thinking associated with Philosophy. But what is it?
Here is a representation on what dialectical thinking involves. It will use the metaphor that Plato provided concerning the selection of a raft.
“For he should persevere until he has attained one of two things: either he should discover or learn the truth about them; or, if this is impossible, I would have him take the best and most irrefragable of human notions, and let this be the raft upon which he sails through life-not without risk, as I admit, if he cannot find some word of God which will more surely and safely carry him. "(Plato PHAEDO (85C)
In that statement he implies that truth is important for living a worthwhile life and that if the truth is unattainable one should be guided by the best truth available although it will involve the risk that comes from uncertainty.
So think of life as a journey and the path that you must travel has rivers to cross. These rivers are the challenges, the problems, the issues that you will face. You need to cross the rivers and continue on your journey. At the bank of the river you reach there are many rafts of different types that you can use to cross the river. These rafts are possible positions or answers or solutions that humans have devised. You want the best possible raft with which to cross safely. There are no perfect rafts. No ideal rafts. You need to select the best one for crossing the river.
Using this metaphor it could be said that Plato indicated that the purpose of Philosophy was knowing how to select the best raft or in life how to select the best option when deciding how to live a “good” life. The method is applied by Philosophers to questions or "rivers" such as :
What is knowledge?
What is truth?
What is the “good”?
What is beauty?
So, just what is the method? At the bank of the river you would look carefully to find as many rafts as you can and then examine each one to determine which is the best. You would select based upon the purpose it is to serve. You would not select based on which is the biggest or the most popular or the most expensive or even based on your favorite color. None of that is relevant to the purpose. Such criteria are not relevant. You need the best raft for crossing the river and that is not necessarily the biggest or most popular or the most expensive. You need the raft that will get you across safely. It needs to have been well assembled. It should have few or no leaks or tears in the ropes that bind the logs of the raft together.
You select one after having “good” reasons to reject the others. You find fault with them. They have leaks. You select the one least likely to leak or come apart and most likely to get you across the river.
You must also respond to those who are selecting other sorts of rafts and using other methods of selection. They will criticize your selection. They may say you should have picked the most expensive or the biggest or the red one or the one most others have. “Don’t you want to be one of us? “ You respond to the criticisms indicating why the critics are wrong. e.g., they are using criteria not relevant to the buoyancy and dependability of the raft.
With the dialectical process you use reason and hold your passions and emotions in check and choose the best based on reason and evidence. You don’t select on appeals to loyalty or popularity or prestige.
Steps for presenting an argument or a defense of a position using dialectical reasoning
1. STATEMENT
Select your raft- the position you think best defended by reason and evidence of the options available.
State your Position on the issues or question and do so quite clearly. Be as exact as you can be. Be precise in your use of language.
2.DEFENSE
Now defend your selection of the raft you think better than any other raft.
Defend the position you have chosen using reasoning in support of the judgment (conclusion of the argument) you have made. You state the reasons why the position you take makes sense and has evidence and reasons to support it other than your feelings or personal preference or your opinion or what you were brought up to believe or what just about everyone you know thinks or believes.
Philosophers have offered such reasons and evidence for the positions they have taken and you should consider them and if you agree you can and should so state them in support of your own position.
3.REBUTTAL of CRITICISMS and ALTERNATIVES
Defend your selection of your raft against the criticisms coming from those who have selected other rafts and think there is something wrong with your selection.
Consideration of alternative positions to and criticisms of your own position and the reasons for the rejection of those alternatives in favor of the judgment made for the reasons given in support of your position which employ reasoning and evidence.
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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Each student is requested to submit the following assignments according
to the schedule for the semester. Check on the
COURSE CALENDAR
for the due dates. Remember to
Assignments are intended to provide for an assessment of the learner's achievement and progress. Assignments and parts of assignments are intended to assess the learner's motivation, reading comprehension, critical thinking skills and appreciation of philosophy. Assignments may be revised. Assignments for modules 1 to 6 may be revised and resubmitted any number of times up to one month before the end of the semester. Assignments for modules 6 to 8 may be revised and resubmitted up to the date of the last scheduled class.
Composing your assignment
Normally, you should compose your response using your word processor or on paper. This will give you the opportunity to revise, proofread, and spell check. When you have completed your assignment document be sure to spell check it .
Make sure to read the directions for each assignment carefully for details, due dates, and any thing else that may be specific to the assignment.
Format For Submitting Written Assignments to Professor Pecorino
Whether you are in an ONLINE CLASS or a traditional class or a hybrid class you must submit the assignments by EMAIL ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu Do not send attachments!!! Copy and paste your text from the word processor directly into the message window of the email. In the subject line put:
first name , last name, class number ##, section, assignment#
Evaluations
The evaluation for your assignment will appear directly in your document or with your document when returned to you by email or returned directly to you by the instructor. Evaluations are private and can only be read by the student and professor.
OBSERVE THE DUE DATES!! Check on due dates:
All written assignments may be revised and
resubmitted. If at QCC you can go to
In all cases the written work must show evidence of the author’s awareness of the materials made available in the online textbook and through the related Internet links found in the Online Textbook that is part of the course. Proper citations and accreditation are to be made evident in the body of the work. The learners are required to provide evidence of research and scholarship and to AVOID Plagiarism!
Criteria for evaluation of the written assignments is given under Course Information document titled ” How you will be evaluated.” Other students will not view student written assignments anywhere within the course. Students may send drafts of their work to their classmates and discuss them through the use of email. They may discuss the assignment itself within the course in the Student Café.
I will go over returned written assignments with students. Before I do any student requesting a discussion of their work must first look over the rubric below and offer an explanation of how it is that I might have taken points off of a maximum score. If no explanation is offered then there will be no discussion. Students must understand what is expected of them in this learning activity. Reviewing the criteria in the rubric and assessing your own work aids in understanding.
Guidelines and Requirements for WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
1. Must be submitted by email or else not accepted
2. Must be on time or else not accepted
3. Must not have more than two spelling or grammar or syntax errors per page or else not accepted
4. Must have all parts completed.
5. Must present clear evidence of having done the reading or else not accepted.
6. Must evidence some careful thinking
7. Must NOT have any evidence of PLAGIARISM or other form of Academic Integrity Violation or else not accepted and a report filed with the Dean of Students
RUBRIC for Assessment of Critical Thinking in the form of Dialectical Thinking
You are to label the parts of the assignment with the letters a to e to make very clear that you have done each part.
Dialectical thinking
SUPPORT SERVICES If at QCC you can attempt to secure services in support of the written assignments
WRITING CENTER The Writing Center is a FREE resource that provides QCC students with tutoring assistance for reading comprehension and writing-related assignments. In order to continue providing QCC students with academic support during CUNY's response to the COVID19 pandemic, the Learning Center and the Writing is available online.
TIGERWRITE
Is TigerWrite Right for Me?
Although not interactive like a face-to-face tutoring
session in the Writing Center, TigerWrite could be
a helpful option for you if:
•
You have a full or partial draft of your paper;•
You can wait 2 days for feedback and then revise your
assignment before submitting it;•
You want writing assistance but are unable to come to
campus;
and/or
•
Your instructor has required your class to submit an
assignment to TigerWrite.
How Does TigerWrite Work?
TigerWrite is designed to be simple to use, with on-screen
instructions that guide you each step of
the way.
Here is the basic process for creating your tutoring session
in TigerWrite:
Step 1. Log into TigerWrite at
http://www3.qcc.cuny.edu/TigerWrite/
The college has an academic integrity policy and program. You may be severely penalized for violations of academic integrity. Learn about it and observe the principles. Among other things you must avoid plagiarism.
AVOIDING
PLAGIARISM |
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