Do you think service is something that you will regularly make a part of your life? Why or why not?

/in /by

One of the most meaningful manifestations of love is service; however, many people fail to see those opportunities to serve that are present in everyday life.

Your assignment is to select 2 of the suggestions listed below and carry them out.

1. Check-in on someone in need (neighbors, family members) – Check-in with someone via a phone call or a “virtual” meeting via Zoom or FaceTime to see how they are doing.

2. Do something thoughtful for someone in your home – this can be helping with household chores, undivided attention, or uninterrupted time to themselves.

After completing your activities, write about the activities selected and how you felt love was manifested through your actions. Do you think service is something that you will regularly make a part of your life? Why/ why not? Offer your suggestions for additional activities you will incorporate in your life. This should be about 1 1/2 pages if possible.

What features of utilitarianism make it the best? What are some of the things that utilitarianism can take into consideration that other moral perspectives might overlook, according to Dr. Shaw?

/in /by
Writing Assignment #2PHIL 2306—Introduction to EthicsDue on Sunday, February 28, 2020The firstwriting assignment involves an analysis of the article on the topic of criminal punishment; this article is written by William Shaw, and it is posted in the course as a PDF document.You will read this article, complete a reading quiz (which can be taken twice, and the highest grade will be counted), and write a five-paragraphpaper (as outlined below) which will be submitted through Moodle.This paper should be prepared in Microsoft Word according to MLA formatting guidelines; a template has been provided for you. If you choose not to utilize the template, information on MLA formatting is posted in the course. You will be graded on the content of your paper, of course, but a portion of the grade will be assigned based on correctly naming the file that you submit, submitting the paper correctly, formatting the paper correctly, and the mechanics of writing. A grading rubric has been posted with the assignment, to show you how your grade will be determined.When you are preparing your paper, you will assign a file name when you save it on your computer. The file name needs to be correct—so that when you upload your paper, it will be distinguishable from the papers submitted by the other students. The correct file name is:W2LastName FirstNamewhere “LastName” is replaced by your last name and “FirstName” is replaced by your first name (this should be your first name as it appears on my class roster—and thisshould match the first name that you put on the first line of the heading within the paper itself).There are videos posted with the assignment, as well. You are strongly encouraged to view these videos. They contain information about the writing assignments for the course—but also contain helpful information related to the article you are reading for this secondwriting assignment.This paper should consist of fiveparagraphs (which areoutlined below). Remember that each paragraph should contain at least 2 substantive sentences and is expected to be 5-8 sentences in length. Additionally, note that I am asking specific questions, indicating exactly what you should be explaining in each of your fiveparagraphs.Make sure that you answer the questions that have been asked.1) In the first paragraph, you should clearly explain why Dr. Shaw claims that utilitarianism is the best moral perspective to use when thinking about the criminal law. What features of utilitarianism make it the best? What are some of the things that utilitarianism can take into consideration that other moral perspectives might overlook, according to Dr. Shaw?
2) In the second paragraph, you should clearly explain the two things that allow us to justify a punishment from the utilitarian perspective. Make sure you do not simply state these; explain them. This is where you demonstrate your understanding of how utilitarianism works.

3) In the third paragraph, you should explain the different types of benefits that we seek when we punish a criminal. Some of these may be benefits that we seek as a society; others may be benefits that we hope will be realized by the punished criminal; still others might be benefits that we are hoping that others might gain when we punish a criminal. Again, do not simply list these; put the ideas in your own words and explain the benefits and why they are valuable.4) In your fourthparagraph, summarize the reasons that Dr. Shaw claims that utilitarians would be in favor of alternative forms of punishment. What is it about utilitarian theory that makes it open to this suggestion? What sortsof alternative punishments might utilitarians be willing to explore, and (most importantly) why?5) In your final paragraph, assess the claim that Dr. Shaw has made regarding alternative forms of punishment. Is he right that utilitarians should be open to such an approach? That is, based on normative, philosophical reasons, why is it that utilitarians should or should not agree with what Dr. Shaw has suggested?Are there other (normative and philosophical) reasons, not necessarily based on utilitarian thinking, that would support or refute this claim?Notice that this paper does not ask for your opinion on the topic of criminal punishment. It does, however, askyou to clearly listen to the arguments presented by the author, and to explain those arguments (to show that you understand them). The goal is to be fair and objective in summarizing and assessing the claims which have been made by the author.When you are asked to state agreement or disagreement with the author’s claims(in the last paragraph), you are asked to provide normative reasons to support your conclusion. That is, you are being asked to “do philosophy.” The goal is not simply to state your agreement or disagreement—but to assess whether the author is saying something that is accurate.(He could be right, even if you don’t happen to like the idea!)The reasons that you offer should be normative—they should be objective reasons with which thinking people should agree.Also remember that the goal is to explain—not to merely report what the author has said. Don’t just tell me what the author said; explain why he said it, and explain what he meant by saying those things. The goal is to explain the author’s ideas, in your own words, as you would explain it to someone who has not read the article. Ideally, you would not quote from the article; demonstrate your understanding by explaining in your own words. If you do feel that you need to quote, a brief quote or two is acceptable, as long as the quote is placed in quotation marks and a page number is correctly cited.If you have any questions about this assignment, please do not hesitate to ask.

Is happiness the sole intrinsic good? Take a position and defend it: write a paper arguing that happiness is the sole intrinsic good, or write a paper arguing that it isn’t.

/in /by

Your paper should be approximately 1500 words, give or take. You don’t need to consult any outside sources; but if you use any sources, you must cite them properly. Please write about one of the following topics.

Is happiness the sole intrinsic good? Take a position and defend it: write a paper arguing that happiness is the sole intrinsic good, or write a paper arguing that it isn’t. If you argue that happiness is the sole intrinsic good, you will need to say something about other goods and explain why they are not counterexamples to your thesis. If you argue that happiness is not the sole intrinsic good, you will have to provide examples of intrinsic goods that are not happiness, or cases of happiness that are not good. If you give an example of an intrinsic good other than happiness, you will have to deal with the objection that this good is merely instrumental. Be sure to explain the difference between an intrinsic good and an instrumental good.

What does Aristotle mean when he says that “the common run of people and the most vulgar identify it [the good and happiness] with pleasure”?

/in /by

Lots of topics to choose from: Part II: Answer one and only one of the following topics in Part II (organized as you see fit):1.What does Aristotle mean by the following in the opening scene of Book One: “[w]ill not knowledge of this good … be very important to our lives … [and] equip us, like archers,who have a target to aim at, to hit the proper mark?” (1094a 20) Briefly explain the passage in its context. What does Aristotle mean when he says that “the common run of people and the most vulgar identify it [the good and happiness] with pleasure”? (1095b15) What does he mean when he says that “the cultivated and active … believe the good to be honor … [and] the end of political life”? (1095b 20) What does he mean when he says that “[i]n the third place there is the contemplative life, which we shall examine later on”? (1096a) When all is said and done what is the highest good to which the knowing archer aims according to Aristotle? And why is it that “[t]he pleasures of thought, in2
turn, are superior to the pleasures of the senses, and there are further differences with in each class.” (1176a) Explain these sentences in the context of the text in which they arefound.How does Aristotle defend this surprising claim in Book Ten, which you will be happy to learn: “So happiness is coextensive with study, and the greater the opportunity for studying, the greater the happiness, not as an incidental effect but as inherent in study;for study is in itself worthy of honor. Consequently, happiness is some kind of study or contemplation.” (1178b 25-30) No surprise, Aristotle defended the philosophical life as the highest good. Where does Aristotle go wrong and where does he go right and why?Is the original analogy at the start of this topic misleading? Why or why not? 2.According to Aristotle, “it is … indispensable for a student of virtue to differentiatebetween voluntary and involuntary actions, and useful also for lawgivers, to help them inmeting out honors and punishments.” (1109b 30)What is the difference betweenvoluntary action and deliberative choice according to Aristotle, and why does it matter?According to Aristotle, “choice is either intelligence motivated by desire or desireoperating through thought, and it is as the combination of these two that man is a startingpoint of action.” (1139b 5) Illustrate Aristotle’s claim with an illustrative example. If itis a matter of choice, “virtue or excellence depends on ourselves, and so does vice.”(1113b 5) As characters, how do the self-controlled, morally strong, and morally weakdiffer according to Aristotle? How did they come to be that way? In other words, howdoes Aristotle argue that vice and virtue are voluntary? This seems to be a remarkableclaim. How does Aristotle defend it? Does the following demonstrate his point:“onceyou have thrown a stone and let it go, you can no longer recall it, even though the powerto throw it was yours, for the initiative was within you”? (1114a 15) Is it really so?Consider the following counter-argument to Aristotle’s position on deliberative choice:“All men seek what appears good to them, but they have no control over how thingsappear to them; the end appears different to different men.”” (1114b) What doesAristotle defend his position (see 1114b—1115a). What might be said against Aristotle’sposition from the side of the psychological and social sciences? What might Aristotle sayin reply if anything?3.Consider the following from Aristotle: “Is it then possible that while a carpenter and a shoemaker have their own proper functions of action, man as man has none, but was left by nature a good-for-nothing without a proper function? … Should we not assume that just as the eye, the hand, and the foot …

Explain Latour’s concept of “matters of concern.” How do “facts” and “values” seem to relate in this concept?

/in /by

PHL- Exercise #6

1) Explain Latour’s concept of “critical barbarity” (p. 240). What are its “two mechanisms?” (250 words max)

2) Explain Latour’s concept of “matters of concern.” How do “facts” and “values” seem to relate in this concept? (250 words max)

Determine which of the premises, if any, are true and why. This second requirement should be the bulk of your response.

/in /by

Argument Reconstruction . It is your task to pick one of the arguments from the reading and then reconstruct it in the standard argument form.
Argument Analysis: After reconstructing the argument, the rest of your response should be an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. You must determine whether the argument is valid or invalid and why. From there, you must spend time to determine which of the premises, if any, are true and why. This second requirement should be the bulk of your response.

Only one argument needs to be reconstructed, there is no need to do more than one.

2) Make sure you put the argument in standard form before writing anything else.

3) Make sure you understand validity.

Determine whether the argument is valid or invalid and why. From there, you must spend time to determine which of the premises, if any, are true and why.

/in /by

write a response to the reading

Argument Reconstruction pick one of the arguments from the reading reconstruct it in the standard argument

Argument Analysis: After reconstructing the argument, the rest of your response should be an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. You must determine whether the argument is valid or invalid and why. From there, you must spend time to determine which of the premises, if any, are true and why. This second requirement should be the bulk of your response.

Describe the stakeholders in (persons affected by) the problem and how they would be impacted by each of your alternatives.

/in /by

  Consider the possible alternative solutions to the problem you identified. Describe the stakeholders in (persons affected by) the problem and how they would be impacted by each of your alternatives.  Select a moral theory from those (Virtue Ethics or Utilitarianism) that you will use to identify the best alternative among those you described. Explain why that theory is well-suited to analyzing the particular problem you identified.  Choose one alternative as your moral recommendation to solve the problem. Give a moral argument that defends your solution, using the moral theory you chose to explain why this alternative is (morally) the best solution. You may choose, in addition to your written argument, to present your argument in formal style (as a list of premises and conclusion), but this is not required.

Choose an article to analyze

https://theconversation.com/amazon-echos-privacy-issues-go-way-beyond-voice-recordings-130016

https://theconversation.com/the-privacy-paradox-we-claim-we-care-about-our-data-so-why-dont-our-actions-match-143354

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ktorpey/2019/02/28/if-you-dont-care-about-online-privacy-you-should-read-this/?sh=590b429e3886

https://anonyome.com/2019/07/digital-privacy-does-matter-to-you/

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/technology/facebook-privacy-hearings.html

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/11/15/americans-and-privacy-concerned-confused-and-feeling-lack-of-control-over-their-personal-information/

 

 

How convincing is Bentham’s critique of natural rights, and, in particular, his view that there are no such things as natural rights, that is, rights that exist prior to and independently of any human-made laws?

/in /by

Instructions

The suggested length for each of the answers is approximately 300 words, although some of your answers may be longer, others a little shorter, depending on the question you are answering. This is open book (needless to say) and you may discuss the questions with others if you like. However, you must write your own answers. If two or more students present the same answer, word for word, for any question, both will receive zero for that question. Also, in your answers you must not simply copy material from the Ppt slides or readings; your answers must be written in your own words (except of course where you are quoting some other source)

List of Questions

  • Do you think that morality, right and wrong, is largely subjective, a matter of how people feel about acts, or is it possible to provide objective grounds for thinking that an act is right or wrong? How might human rights be relevant to this old issue in ethics? Support your view as best you can by argument.
  • What are the strongest reasons (discuss at least three) for thinking that human rights exist prior to and independently of any human-made laws? Do you think these reasons are ultimately persuasive? Support your view by argument.
  • In Reading 3, Jeremy Bentham describes the idea of natural rights embodied in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen as “nonsense upon stilts”. Describe as clearly as you can what he means by this and why he thinks it is true.
  • How convincing is Bentham’s critique of natural rights, and, in particular, his view that there are no such things as natural rights, that is, rights that exist prior to and independently of any human-made laws?
  • Human rights are commonly described as “rights that we possess simply in virtue of being human – no other qualification is needed”. How adequate is this statement as an account of what human rights are? Explain and defend your answer in detail, noting, among other things perhaps, what is involved in providing a philosophical analysis of a concept.
  • Describe clearly what was referred to in class as the “minimal moral standards” account of human rights associated with the philosopher John Rawls (among others). Assess in detail how plausible the minimal moral standards theory is as an account of human rights? Support your assessment by argument.
  • Briefly, but clearly, describe what was referred to in class as the “basic needs” or “capabilities” approach to what human rights are. How does it differ from the minimal moral standards theory? Assess how plausible or accurate the basic needs approach is as an account of human rights.
  • Summarize social contract theory briefly but clearly, and then explain or describe the conception of HR that emerges from it? Discuss the main pros and cons of the social contract account of what human rights are.
  • Describe as clearly as you can the account of human rights referred to in the lectures as the “pragmatic approach”. Do you think it provides an adequate definition of human rights? Why or why not? (Do not be deterred from criticism by the fact that the Prof endorsed it.)
  • Describe briefly, but clearly, the utilitarian approach to the justification of human rights. Do you think utilitarianism could ultimately provide a convincing justification for the institution of human rights? Support your view by argument as best you can.
  • In Reading 8 John Hospers implies that human rights are self-evident and hence don’t stand in need of, and therefore cannot really be given, any justification. Do you agree? Why or why not?
  • What does Johannes Morsink mean in Reading 11 when he refers to the “universal accessibility” thesis? Do you agree or disagree with this thesis? Why or why not?
  • What, in your view, is the most plausible approach to take in trying to justify human rights. (You may defend one of the approaches discussed in class, or you may defend some other approach.)
  • It has sometimes been said that human rights are really just a form of Western imperialism; that is, a way of illicitly trying to impose Western values on other cultures and societies? How plausible do you think this charge is? Support your assessment of it by argument.
  • Do you think cultural relativism or universalism about ethics and human rights provides a stronger basis for being tolerant of other cultures? Defend your view by argument.
  • Choose three different objections that have been, and still are, commonly raised against HR, describe them clearly, and then assess how convincing they are.

 

What are the basic characteristics that distinguish Protestant Christianity from Roman Catholicism? Do their differences outweigh their similarities, or do the essential principles that they share unite these traditions as legitimate expressions of Christianity?

/in /by

PHIL109 World Religions – Research Paper Guidelines

Essay writing is one of the best exercises to help improve critical thinking, argumentation and practical logic skills. This will help you learn how to effectively work with information, structure it, filter out questionable data, make conclusions – simply everything connected with the study of logic. When writing an essay every paper needs structure and focus, consistent guidelines can help you consider all valuable points of a critical essay.

Steps In Essay Writing

Choose a central problem or argument: make sure that the topic is not too difficult, and you will be able to come up with basic arguments. Before you start reading, make a list of questions that you can consider while reading. Also, a good idea is to take notes as you read and briefly write your own thoughts.
Thesis statement: for a philosophy paper a thesis statement is important as it guides the central focus of your paper. Create a thesis statement that will appear at the end of your introduction paragraph. The thesis statement will generalize your critical opinion on the topic and give the reader a preview of what the body of the paper will be discussing. Make sure that the thesis statement provides enough information.
Paragraphing: each and every paragraph should be a minimum of three sentences and consist of a single evidence that is aiming at explaining or supporting the thesis statement. The introduction paragraph should consist of a background information on the topic so as to familiarize the reader on the topic that you have chosen. Paragraphs should have a topic statement that captures the attention of the reader and at the same time give them a small synopsis of what you are going to talk about in the rest of the paragraph.
Analyze the information: what evidence, arguments, and claims have you found? Identify weaknesses and strengths, pointing out important relationships.
Examine different viewpoints: examine and evaluate scholarly opinions about your chosen topic. Review contexts, does the author try to approach the topic from an ideological perspective? Consider the fact that your own interpretation may be influenced by your culture, ideology, and other biases. Don’t make assumptions, it is a mistake to consider a particular viewpoint to be obvious and undeniable with demonstrable evidence.
Conclusions: the last paragraph should consist of the concluding phrases that reinstate the thesis statement and at the same time summarize the paper. Briefly sum up the ideas you came up with in an overview. Define the importance of your findings and take liberty to point out the directions that need further research. You can imagine that you are a participant of discussion and your task is to explain your opinion with evidence. Remember that you should avoid pronouns like “I” and “my.”Writing Your Research Paper

Since most papers in are thesis papers in some form, you will need to focus on the purpose of a thesis paper, which is to analyze and present a well thought out argument for a particular position.

A philosophy paper consists of at least six (6) parts:

(1) the introduction

(2) the presentation of the arguments

(3) the presentation of counter arguments/objections

(4) a response to these objections

(5) Conclusion

(6) Bibliography

For a six-page paper, it is important to make links between sections, and I urge you to consider using subtitles for different sections of the paper. Subtitles make a paper more readable and they help you focus and re-focus on the direction of your thinking. Write out your first arguments, for example. Don’t worry about your grammar or

spelling in your first draft. What is important is that you articulate some ideas, get them down on paper. You’ll be able to revise these thoughts later.

Introduction
The opening paragraph serves an introduction to your paper. It should contain a thesis statement and an explanation of your thesis. Your goal in this term paper is to critically analyze all the sides of the issue and then decide which position is best.

Presenting Arguments to Support the Thesis
Present three arguments supporting your thesis. Remember, the purpose of your paper is to convince the reader, in this case your professor (me!), to accept your thesis. Make a list of possible arguments. Do not repeat arguments. Each argument should be different, not a rehash of an earlier argument. Such tactics are guaranteed to irritate your prof. who will waste valuable time reading the same argument twice. Do not make assumptions. Do not make claims you cannot support, back up your arguments. Do not put more than one argument in a paragraph. After you have completed a draft of your paper, go back and check your arguments for fallacies.

Presenting Objections to the Thesis
Step into your opponent’s shoes for a while and ask yourself: what are some of the arguments against your thesis statement? Make a list of the objections or counterarguments. Select the three strongest objections to your thesis and formulate a counter argument position to your thesis.

Response to Objections to the Thesis
Respond to objections one at a time. If you numbered your counterarguments, refer to each one by its number; for example, Response to Objection 1. If the objection is a good one but you do not change your thesis, you should explain why the moral concerns that support your thesis statement are morally more compelling.

Conclusion
The conclusion sums up your paper. It should include the following:

a restatement of the thesis
a brief summary of the arguments you used to support the thesisBibliography and Footnotes
Any references or works used from other sources should be cited in footnotes at the bottom of each page. Additionally, make a Bibliography (of sources, or Works Cited) used in composing the paper. Your Bibliography should include, at minimum, all the references mentioned in the footnotes.

Potential Essay Topics

Karl Marx argued that religions arise as an escape from poverty and social oppression. Consequently he thought that when social problems were eliminated, religions would die away. What arguments and examples would you give for and against this position?
Explore the insights of Freud regarding religion, and use those insights to examine the religious tradition with which you are most familiar. How would Freud understand that religion? Do you agree? What are your conclusions?
Explore the insights of Jung regarding religion, and use those insights to examine the religious tradition with which you are most familiar. How would Jung understand that religion? Do you agree? What are your conclusions?
Compare and contrast the insights of Freud and Jung regarding religion? Whose view is stronger? How helpful are their conclusions?
Examine the impact of a religious leader such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Desmond Tutu, and how their faith shaped their convictions to fight for social justice and bring change to their respective country. What were their convictions? What arguments did they fight against?
Does theism or atheism best answer the timeless question of Who Am I, Why Am I Here?
What do you regard as the essential core of Jesus’ ethical teachings (i.e. those that are specifically concerned with the moral conduct of human beings)? Do you think that embodying these teachings is essential for salvation in the Christian tradition? Why or why not?
What are the basic characteristics that distinguish Protestant Christianity from Roman Catholicism? Do their differences outweigh their similarities, or do the essential principles that they share unite these traditions as legitimate expressions of Christianity?
Discuss the concept of “exile” in Judaism beginning with the exile from the Garden of Eden and ending with contemporary issues surrounding the modern state of Israel (including at least one other example of exile in between).
How is the concept of jihad related to the “Five Pillars of Islam.” Do you think that Muhammad would support the use of terrorism to “protect the Way of God against the forces of evil” (Living Religions, 423)? Why or why not?
Examine the role and status of women in Islam. Do you think that the essential principles of Islam preclude the development of feminism within the tradition, or is feminism consistent with the Qur’an and the sunnahof Muhammad?
Choose one of the four major paths of Hindu “discipline” (i.e. Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga) and explain its approach to religious self-transformation in terms of the foundational principles of Hinduism — Brahman, Atman, Karma and Moksha.
Describe the relationship between the caste system (varna), the four “stages of life” (asrama), and the Hindu concept of dharma — known collectively as Varnasrama Dharma. How does this system relate to the principles of Brahman, Atman and Karma … and how does it help one progress towards spiritual liberation (Moksha)?
What are the most important religious themes common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam? Based on your understanding of these three religions, do you think that Islam is more similar to Judaism or to Christianity … or is it somewhere in between the two? Justify your answer with specific examples.
What beliefs do Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism have in common? How do they differ? Do you think that the similarities are more important than the differences, or vice-versa?
Describe the basic beliefs and practices of Chan/Zen Buddhism, highlighting specific elements that show the influence of Daoism and/or other East Asian traditions. What is the significance of this East Asian influence on the Chan/Zen tradition?