Thursday, June 3, 2010

Final post: What is your personal philosophy?

In your post please address the following questions:

*What is your political, ethical and / or religious philosophy?
*What evidence or life experiences do you use to support your philosophy?
*Out of the philosophers we have discussed this quarter, with whom do you have the most intellectual agreement? With whom do you have the most disagreement?
*What do you plan on doing with your personal philosophy? How will it shape your life?

Thanks for sharing your insight with me this term. I have loved teaching this class!!!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Post #7: Religious Philosophy

Thursday, 5/27 - Hybrid day #2

(The purpose of this journal entry is NOT to promote any school of thought or to make you feel uncomfortable. If you are concerned about the content of this journal entry either journal about that or speak to me. Thanks.)

Choose the statement which best applies for yourself:
* As a believer, I argue that God exists using the following type of arguments....
* As an atheist, I argue that God doesn’t exist using the following type of arguments...
* As an agnostic, I argue that God could exist, but that we don’t have conclusive evidence using the following type of arguments...

Friday, May 21, 2010

Post #6: Free Will

Give an example of a "decision" you made that was really just a response to stimuli and behavioral conditioning (Skinner's argument). Give an example of when you had free will (Sartre's argument). Which philosopher do you agree with more and why?

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Social Contract continued...

Friday, May 14th (Hybrid day a.k.a. "senior skip day")

Compare and contrast how Marx views the social contract and whether you can or should break it with Locke's view of the social contract. With whom do you agree more? Why?

Friday, May 7, 2010

Social contract

Diversity Day, 5/7

Explain what the social contract is in your own words. What do you think the responsibilities should be of the citizens and of the government under the social contract? Do you think our government is upholding it's responsibilities to its citizens? Offer an example to support your opinion.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Post #3: Ethics

Friday, April 30th

Which ethical theory that we have discussed (utilitarianism, deontology, categorical imperative, cultural relativism, ethical relativism, moral intuitionalism) best reflects your own ethical system? Why? How has it served you in deciding the correct course of action?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Post #2 - Metaphysics

Thursday, April 22nd
Plato, Aristotle, Buddha & Lao-tzu wrote very different views on metaphysics. Whose is the most appealing to you & why? Which is the least appealing to you & why?

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Post 1: Metaphysics

Friday, April 16th

Choose ONE to journal on:
1. Considering the beliefs of the pre-Socratic philosophers: what are the basic building blocks of life? What are examples to prove that these items are the basic building blocks? What are examples to disprove that these are the basic building blocks?

2. Were the Sophists wrong to teach Greeks how to use speaking skills to achieve success? Should philosophy be used only for higher things, or are practical uses appropriate as well?

3. Plato hated the Sophists. How might the relativism they introduced have contributed to the decline in society that led to the execution of Socrates (Plato's theory)?