Philosophy

Choose any one of the theories on personal identity, from an author discussed in Unit 2 (Descartes, Locke, or Hume), that interests you. Specifically, choose a theory that you are convinced is wrong/false. In your own words, explain the reasoning that the author uses to defend the view (i.e., the author’s argument). Then, identify one specific premise in the argument and present an objection to that premise (i.e., convince your reader why s/he should reject that premise, and subsequently, the author’s theory). Address how the original author might respond to your objection, and how you would respond to their response.   Logistics Your paper should do all of the following. i)  Papers should be 1000-1500 words in length (approximately 3-5 double-spaced pages). ii) Provide textual support for your arguments by quoting or paraphrasing at least 3 times from the relevant course readings. iii) Cite all quotations/paraphrases used by naming the author of the work, the title and the chapter/section that you are citing from.

In engaging with the jailhouse thoughts of Socrates and Martin Luther King, we realize that we can’t fully consider issues of justice and injustice (what in our first reading Frankena calls normative thinking) until we have an account of what makes the just actions just and the unjust actions unjust (what Frankena calls meta-ethical thinking). We then get discussions of four different meta-ethical accounts: subjectivism, the divine command theory, cultural relativism, and egoism. (These are actually five if we count both psychological and ethical egoism.) Choose one (two, at most) of these accounts and apply it/them to some of the thinking of Socrates or King that we’ve encountered in this course, to show either why what you choose does NOT offer a plausible account of meta-ethics or why it DOES. Be sure in your discussion to include an objection that a reasonable person might have to your position, as well as your reply to it. Your two-to-three pages (500-750 words)

Not less than 1500 and not more than 1800 words, using the diagram, assess yourself as to how you make decisions and actions every time using the adherents of Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, Ethical Egoism, and Ethical Altruism. Below are guide questions to help you out in your self-assessment, do not answer them individually rather use them to write your content. 1. In making decisions, how many percent (100 as highest) do you use from Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, Ethical Egoism, and Ethical Altruism? 2. In deciding what action to pursue, how many percent (100 as highest) do you use from Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, Ethical Egoism, and Ethical Altruism? 3. In your experiences in making decisions, which ethical theory do you lean towards most of the time? Are you a relativist, absolutist, egoist, altruist? 4. Do Objects of Desire and Objects of Aversions play a role in your decision making and performing an action? 5. Are you always caught in a “Fallacy of Contradiction” when weighing your options? 6. What are the things you consider before and during making decisions and taking an action?

1. Define the problem in the scenario 2 Analyze the problem 3 Generate options for solving the problem 4 Evaluate the options for solving the problem  5 Decide on the best option for solving the problem 6 Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective  Your child comes home from school with an assignment sheet for a school project. He / she is very excited about the project and begins work immediately, doing research on the Internet and gathering materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that your child is not including all of the required items in the project, and you have some ideas for how to improve the quality of the presentation. You recently read an article in a parenting magazine about the importance of a child developing responsibility for his/ her own learning. You recall the many ways in which your parents took over your school projects. You, on the other hand, want to encourage your child’s confidence in his / her ability to complete a project independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store when you see a parent of a student in your child’s class. That parent has spent over $30 in supplies for the science project and is taking a day off of work to put the pieces of the project together.

You may write on any one of the following topics: 1)      Plato believes that for everything that exists there is an ideal form of that thing. This form in turn serves as a guiding principle for our lives. What is a form that is important for us to know today? a.       Present three reasons why this form is important. Give an example each reason. b.       Present the best argument against your position. Explain why your position is stronger. 2)      Aristotle believes the correct action is one that always falls between two extremes. What is a useful example in today’s world where we could apply Aristotle’s doctrine of the “mean”? a.       Present three reasons in support of your view. b.       Present the best argument against your position. Explain why your position is stronger.

To what extent are rights grounded in autonomy? Do humans therefore have a right to physician-assisted suicide? Can we prove that autonomy deserves respect using Kant’s argument? Explain and evaluate the premises of his argument (JTA56). Comment on each numbered premise. Are there any false premises?     https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/twu/detail.action?docID=819315 https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/twu/detail.action?docID=819315

Personal preference: In this essay, the concepts Socrates can be compared to Locke’s modern day interpretation

Explain the sorites paradox. What is your favorite solution to the sorites paradox and why? What, if anything, is problematic about your favorite solution to the sorites paradox?

Watch the following short video lecture: Belief Holism, Consistency, and Rationality. If the link does not work, you can copy and past the URL: https://youtu.be/W5IeXE9YcS8 (it’s about 16 minutes long). Next, answer the following three short essay questions: 1.Explain in your own words the video lecture. Explain in a way that you are telling and teaching a friend the contents of the video. 2.Everyone has had inconsistent views. You may have come to believe something that was inconsistent with what you previously believed. This might have made you change your beliefs. What were those views and how were they inconsistent? What did you do to resolve them? 3.Think of a time when someone held inconsistent views. This could be a friend, family member, a politician, a celebrity, etc. What were the inconsistent views and how were they inconsistent? What would be the best way to resolve the inconsistency?

Is it possible for individuals to flourish if others with whom they are connected are not also flourishing? Consider this with respect to Aristotle’s account of Eudaimonia and MacIntyre’s account of practices, as well as the other readings and media. Identify a community or practice in which you are involved in which the flourishing of the individual is tied to the flourishing of others. Does this require that we limit certain rights pertaining to the individual (for instance, the right to free speech or to pursue monetary gain), in order to promote the flourishing of the group within that context? Be specific, and use examples when appropriate.