philosophy

PAPER ASSIGNMENT Topic: Briefly present Searle’s two thought experiments that are designed to show that simulations of brains do not understand the external symbols they manipulate (namely, the water pipe simulation and the “Chinese gym”).  Then, explain the Churchlands’ alternative viewpoint, according to which at least some brain simulations ‘might be conscious’. Which side in this debate, Searle or the Churchlands, provides the most compelling reasons in your opinion? Explain why you think so and then try to advance the discussion a couple of steps. To advance the discussion, you will need to think about how the viewpoint opposing your own is likely to respond.  Spec’s: 5 pages, double-spaced, some normal font, standard margins.  Criteria of evaluation: Exposition of the views/arguments •clarity •fullness •accuracy  Evaluation •degree to which things are reasoned out •strength of argument •originality  General •structure/organization

Think up and articulate three interesting and insightful claims (three theses) about the practical value of Spinoza’s thinking.  Make claims that you can support the text.  Your thesis may concern about anything relevant to the topic of Spinoza’s practical value.  Don’t just make broad general claims.  Find interesting details and make subtle claims. A precise thesis is better than a blurry one. SPINOZA BOOK COPY https://monoskop.org/images/d/d8/Deleuze_Gilles_Spinoza_Practical_Philosophy.pdf

Instructions See the general instructions in the Essay Discussion Instructions section of the course menu. Once you choose which question you’d like to write about, write your essay and post it in the discussion board and also save it as a Word document. To create your post, click the blue Create Thread button. To be able to read and respond to others’ posts, you will first need to publish your own post. Your first post is the one that will be graded–a blank post WILL be graded if it is your first post in the board. You can save your post as a draft, but it will not be published for students to view, nor will it be queued for grading until you click the Submit button. When you refresh the board, after you publish your post, it will allow you to view everyone’s posts. If you hover your cursor at the bottom of a post, the button to reply to that student’s post will appear. Use your course texts to help you respond to the topic, and when you quote and summarize from the course texts, include information about the page reference. You are discouraged from using additional sources. If you do choose to use an outside source, be sure to cite your source, just as you do when you use the course texts. If you use a quotation or an example from a website, cite the website’s url and the date accessed. Once you are ready for your classmates to read it, post the thread containing your essay. Then go to the TurnItIn dropbox section here in Blackboard and post your Word document into the dropbox. You do not need to include your response to another student in the file that you upload to TurnItIn. Finally, read your classmates’ posts. A complete assignment includes your written response to at least one essay besides your own–part of your score is based on your reply to at least one of your classmate’s posts. It should be a meaningful reply that continues the discussion, points out something good about the post, and makes a constructive suggestion for improvement. Topics for your Essay, Choose A or B Essay Length tips–To answer these topics completely, it takes about 2 pages – 8-10 paragraphs. Use the topic questions and the scoring rubric to see if your draft responds fully to all parts of the question. A complete thoughtful answer is more important than word count. Topic A: What is the fallacy of Straw Man? How is it different than simply disagreeing with someone else’s point of view? Use the material in Vaughn’s book to help you give a detailed explanation of what the mistake in a Straw Man is. To demonstrate your understanding and to teach the idea to the rest of the class, provide a relevant real-life example of the logical mistake. (You MAY use an outside source to help you present your example; be sure to summarize or paraphrase, cite, and use announcing verbs.) Choose carefully – consider whether your example does a good job of illustrating a Straw Man. Compare it to similar fallacies, and show why your example is a Straw Man rather than another fallacy like an Appeal to the Person. Your discussion of your example should be detailed so that readers can evaluate the fallacy. Argue the case for why your example is an example of Straw Man. Topic B: Is it morally permissible to believe in God just because it is to your practical advantage to believe? Why or why not? Use the material in Vaughn’s book to help you explain how Pascal argues for belief in God. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of other thinkers have identified in his reasoning. What does the argument against believing in God without sufficient evidence look like? Is it plausible that God would look kindly on atheists and agnostics to because they refuse to believe without evidence? After all, aren’t they simply using God’s gift of reason to arrive at their decision?

The introduction to Culture and Identity  implies that culture creates tensions and conflicts within and among us. We have discussed how those tensions and conflicts become normalized as cultural practices, and how those cultural practices become part of our identities. In the three stories we have read for this section–Going to Meet the Man, White Trash Primer, and The Bridegroom–I would like you to explore how cultural practices that are presented as normal are, on further analysis, worth examining as strange, or even grotesque or monstrous. Use as many of the texts as you like to expand on this topic, but remember that the goal is to look at examples of culture as the environment the promotes and justifies actions/attitudes that shape controversial elements of identity in individuals and community.

Compare and contrast the first stanza of the Xin Xin Ming with the poem written by Huineng according to the Platform Sutra. Xin Xin Ming The great way is not difficult; Just don’t pick and choose. Cut off all likes and dislikes And it is clear like space Huineng Enlightenment is not a tree, The bright mirror has no stand Originally there is not one thing– What place could there be for dust

Turnitin® This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin®. Instructions Metaphysics Journal Respond to the following prompt as thoroughly as possible. Please remember to use the Toolkit whenever possible in your responses, as I’m grading you for the depth of thinking and reasoning you show in your responses. Make a list of the 5 – 10 things that are most real to you and explain why those things are more real to you than other things. R? A? I? C? As a point of comparison, list at least a few things that are less real (or not at all real) to you and explain your reasoning for why you believe these things are less real than the other things you listed above. Would most other people agree with your assessments of what is real and what isn’t? To what extent does outside agreement matter? Explain. (I suspect your response to this will vary, depending on which things in your list you’re talking about, so be specific.)

Using what you know about burden of proof, who has the burden of proof in the following agreements, and why? 1. God’s existence 2. Animal rights 3. Gun control  4. Bigfoot’s existence 5. The medical efficacy of CBD oil

Watch the video but this time explained with reference you have learn on chapter 7 whether you think betty is competent Remind yourself in the video that betty is being treated in 3 different stages of her condition if possible for you to argue that she is more competent in one of those stages than the others. The link of the video is does doctor knows best.

Basic Essay Structure  – Introduction: provide ket definitions / any important context.  Give your THESIS and a brief statement of core reasons. Paragraph 1:  an argument for your view Para 2:  consider and respond to a counterargument Para 3:  another argument for your view Para 4: counterargument Conclusion:  Cab be brief.  Sum up why your case is the stronger. PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: P-POINT – what is the main point in the paragraph? I- ILLUSTRATION – illustrate the point with reference to theory and perhaps a case study, example or quote E- EVALUATION – how successful is this argument?  This should happen in every paragraph C-COUNTER EVALUATION – what counterargument might you briefly raise and reject? M-MINI CONCLUSION – make it clear where this discussion has taken us – i.e. that your point is strong and potential issues fail.   REFERENCES: When you are citing, do this in the text (you don’t need footnotes) Remember to include a bibliography

Discuss just war theory. What about the theory seems correct? Do you think there are any problems with the theory? What are these problems?