PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 1 Discussion
DQ1 In the article Epistemology: Who Needs it?Preview the document Susan Haack reflects on the real-world relevance of epistemological ideas and begins with the thought that all of us—when we wonder what to make of newspaper reports of supposed medical breakthroughs, of failures of military intelligence, etc. call, implicitly or explicitly, on epistemology.
What does evidence consist of? Where do desires and feelings fit into evidence?
DQ2 Over the course of this module, you learned about Epistemology. With all, you have learned answer the following question(s).
Can you engage in “genuine inquiry” if you desire to reach a specific conclusion? Why or why not?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 2 Discussion
DQ1 Now that you have been exposed to a wide variety of ideas on the concept of free will its time to dig deep.
Do you think determinism and free will are reconcilable? Why or why not?
DQ2 Watch these two videos on free will and the weakness of will.
https://youtu.be/yQxv_kzuTD8
https://youtu.be/dXekMxn2LHI
Then answer the question.
Is weakness of will possible? If so how?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 3 Discussion
DQ1 This week you read the article “Platonically Irrational” by Nick Romeo where he explored the intersection of Plato and behavioral economics and cognitive biases? With that article in mind discuss
What cognitive bias does Romeo identify as explaining why we tend to think we can not learn anything from the past?
DQ2 You read the article Why Smart People Are Stupid by Jonah Lehrer with that article in mind discuss the following questions.
What is the “bias blind spot”? What does it suggest about our judgments of other peoples’ mistakes compared to judgments of our own mistakes?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 4 Discussion
DQ1 This week you learned about the Ontological Argument. With that knowledge answer and discuss the following question.
How can we know that God exists?
DQ2 This week you learned about the problem of evil. Use what you know to discuss the following question.
Does God have a nature? If so what does it look like?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 5 Discussion
DQ1 Examine the following argument. Is it an inductive or deductive argument? Is it valid and sound? If it is invalid or unsound, why? Is there anything else wrong with it?
Every event in the world is caused by other events. Human actions and decisions are events in the world. Therefore, every human action and decision is caused by other events
DQ2 Examine the following argument. Is it an inductive or deductive argument? Is it valid and sound? If it is invalid or unsound, why? Is there anything else wrong with it?
“I have terrible news for you. Mary is going out with Frank. I called Mary on Saturday night, and she wasn’t home. Then I tried to call Frank, and he wasn’t home, either!”
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 6 Discussion
DQ1 After watching the videos this week answer the following.
Which sounds more admirable to you: Acting out of duty or acting for the purpose of benefiting society? Explain your answer.
DQ2 After watching the videos this week and keeping in mind the material that we covered on logic answer the following.
Is it immoral to believe a claim without evidence? Why or why not?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 7 Discussion
DQ1 After reading the symposium answer the following question.
What is the object of love (i.e., what does love aim at) according to Socrates and Diotima? How do they argue for this position? Do you agree with them?
DQ2 After reading both Vernon –“What is Love?”& Ben-Zeev –“Endless Love” answer the following.
Based on these two readings, do you think that a good relationship involves partners changing each other, and changing for each other? Be sure to justify your answer by reference to the texts.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 1 Assignment
Short Paper 1
Prompt:
The skeptic argues that if we are sometimes mistaken about our beliefs, then it is logically possible that we are always mistaken and that we, therefore, do not have knowledge. How does this argument succeed or fail?
The essay should include the following:
A presentation of rationalism and empiricism.
A presentation of a priori and a posteriori knowledge.
A discussion of how each can lead to doubt.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 2 Assignment
Short Paper 2
Critically assess the claim that people are free to make moral decisions. Do you agree? Why or why not?
In this paper you must:
Take a clear stance
Draw on Philosophy to prove your position, not an opinion
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 3 Assignment
Question 1Many people believe there is nothing to learn from history, especially ancient history. What cognitive bias explains the formation of this belief
Availability Bias
Confirmation Bias
Bias Blind Spot
Dunning-Kruger Effect
Question 2What is the Bias Blind Spot
The assumption that everyone is more prone to thinking errors than you
Being immune to cognitive biases
Being unwittingly susceptible to cognitive biases
The phenomenon that makes objects in the car side mirror appear farther away than they actually are
Question 3What is the reasonable and rational response to a complex issue where you have no expertise and the experts are roughly evenly split
You should refrain from forming a conclusion on the matter
You should side with whichever experts you like more
You should continue to believe whatever you were raised to believe on the issue
You should believe whatever you want
Question 4An argument, as philosophers use this term, is
a group of statements, leading to a conclusion
a polite dispute, leading to tea and crumpets
an irrational contest, leading to a victor
a contentious debate, leading to physical violence
Question 5The premises of an argument are …
the reason or evidence offered for believing the conclusion
always true
probably unimportant
usually false
Question 6The conclusion of an argument is
the claim the premises argue for
always the last statement
when everybody is too tired to continue
the evidence or reasoning presented
Question 7An inductive argument tries to show that if the premises are all true, the conclusion is probably true.
Question 8In a reductio ad absurdum argument, you begin by assuming the opposite of what you want to prove in order to show that this assumption leads to a contradiction.
Question 9Consider the following argument
All college teachers are full of themselves.
My Professor is a college teacher.
Therefore, My Professor is full of himself.
This argument is a valid deductive argument.
Question 10Reflect on a time when you were convinced of something by someone
(in conversation or in writing) that you now realize may have been due to a cognitive bias. Discuss the situation and the relevant cognitive bias(es).
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 4 Assignment
Short Paper 3
What is God?
In this paper you must:
Take a clear stance
Draw on Philosophy to prove your position, not an opinion
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 5 Assignment
Short Paper 4
The statement:
If God exists, then life has meaning. God does not exist. Therefore, life has no meaning
In this paper you must answer the following:
Is this inductive or deductive arguments?
Is this statement valid and sound? If they are invalid or unsound, why?
Is there anything else wrong with this statement?
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 6 Assignment
Short Paper 5
Suppose you are an act-utilitarian, and you must choose between two courses of action. In the first action, you could make a stranger very happy by giving her $100. In the second action, you could make another stranger even happier by giving him the same amount of money—but this action would involve breaking a promise to a friend. According to act-utilitarianism, which action is the morally right one? Do you agree with this choice? Why or why not?
In this paper you must:
Draw on Philosophy to prove your position, not an opinion
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 1 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 2 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 3 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 4 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 5 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 6 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Module 7 Journal
Directions: Each week you will write a 500-1000 word journal reflecting on reflecting on the intersection of the material covered and your personal life and view of the world during the corresponding week. Be as creative or as basic as you want with these – you can add graphics etc but they do need to be a minimum of 500 words. These are meant to be personal and address how the readings relate to your life.
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Midterm Exam
Question 1Many people believe there is nothing to learn from history, especially ancient history. What cognitive bias explains the formation of this belief?
Availability Bias
Confirmation Bias
Bias Blind Spot
Dunning-Kruger Effect
Question 2What is the Bias Blind Spot?
The assumption that everyone is more prone to thinking errors than you
Being immune to cognitive biases
Being unwittingly susceptible to cognitive biases
The phenomenon that makes objects in the car side mirror appear farther away than they actually are
Question 3What is the reasonable and rational response to a complex issue where you have no expertise and the experts are roughly evenly split?
You should refrain from forming a conclusion on the matter
You should side with whichever experts you like more
You should continue to believe whatever you were raised to believe on the issue
You should believe whatever you want
Question 4An argument, as philosophers use this term, is:
a group of statements, leading to a conclusion
a polite dispute, leading to tea and crumpets
an irrational contest, leading to a victor
a contentious debate, leading to physical violence
Question 5The premises of an argument are …
the reason or evidence offered for believing the conclusion
always true
probably unimportant
usually false
Question 6The conclusion of an argument is:
the claim the premises argue for
always the last statement
when everybody is too tired to continue
the evidence or reasoning presented
Question 7 An inductive argument tries to show that if the premises are all true, the conclusion is probably true.
True
False
Question 8 In a reductio ad absurdum argument, you begin by assuming the opposite of what you want to prove in order to show that this assumption leads to a contradiction.
True
False
Question 9 Consider the following argument:
All college teachers are full of themselves.
My Professor is a college teacher.
Therefore, My Professor is full of himself.
This argument is a valid deductive argument.
True
False
Question 10 Reflect on a time when you were convinced of something by someone
(in conversation or in writing) that you now realize may have been due to a cognitive bias. Discuss the situation and the relevant cognitive bias(es).
PHL105 Intro to Philosophy
Final Exam
As discussed in The Symposium, from other ideas of love?
Platonic love emphasizes intellectual growth
Platonic love does not include sex
Platonic love is solely focused on reproduction
Platonic love is only love between men and boys
Question 3Which of the following do most utilitarians believe determines the morality of actions?
The actual consequences of the action.
Whether or not the action violates God's commands.
The goodness of the intentions of the person performing the action.
The expected consequences of the action.
Question 4In Chapter Three Blackburn argues that it is a mistake to think that dualists have an easier time explaining the freedom of the will than physicalists do. It looks at first as if a dualist has an advantage: she can say that our ability to make free choices is explained by our possession of a non-material soul. Since the soul is not a physical thing, it is not subject to the laws of physical causation. But, says Blackburn, if we think more carefully, we will realize that this is really no solution at all. The ‘dilemma of determinism’ comes back again when we try to understand the freedom of a soul. Either a soul obeys causal laws (the laws of spiritual causality, we might call them), and its decisions are determined by prior causes, or it is subject to chance, and random spiritual impulses seem no more suitable as candidates for free and responsible actions than random physical motions do.
True
False
Question 5Arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it is called the fallacy of...
Appeal to the masses
Composition
Tu quoque
Appeal to reason
Question 6Fallacies can be psychologically persuasive even though they are...
Logically flawed
Psychologically impotent
Deductively valid
Inductively valid
Question 7David Hume Thinks we learn things from our senses not from god.
True
False
Question 8 Considering the various speeches together, what do you think Plato is identifying as the aim or goal of a proper relationship? How does this connect love and philosophy?
True
False
