@jacob
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On Sunday, we discussed Plato’s allegory of the cave. You can find the video recap of the Allegory here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUQd8AKgSdc
For homework, please write a short essay answering one of the following questions:
What is Plato trying to tell us in this allegory? What do you think the Allegory of the Cave is being compared with?
How is the way you understand the world, your ideas and beliefs, shaped by the actions of others?
Would you want to be released from the cave? Why or why not?
Finally, all late homework from last time will be returned by the end of the week.
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On Sunday we talked about the mind-body problem, whether the brain is identical to the mind, and whether the existence of conscious experience can be explained physically (in terms of brain activity). Next week, we will discuss Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. You will receive a reading assignment pertaining to the Allegory of the Cave tomorrow. For Homework, please write a short essay answering the following question: is the mind the same thing as the brain? Why or why not? Remember to structure your essay in the following way. First, state the position you will be defending, and explain why you are defending that position. Then, consider an objection that someone might make to your argument. Then, respond to that objection.
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On Sunday we discussed the importance of the concept of personal identity to criminal justice. We also talked about how different moral frameworks (utilitarianism, communitarianism, etc.) can be applied to different ethical dilemmas and the difficulty of choosing an absolutely correct framework. This led to a discussion of “moral luck,” the idea that one can luck into or out of acting morally. On Sunday, we will finish talking about the idea of moral luck, and may also discuss the philosophy of mind. Our final meeting the following Sunday will be on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, one of the most influential pieces of writing in western philosophy.
For homework, please write a short essay answering the following question: which moral prism (framework) do you prefer the most? Do you think that most people agree with you? Do you think this is the framework that you would actually follow in a real-life ethical dilemma? Feel free to use our examples from class in your response. Here are the moral prisms that we talked about:
The Communitarian prism asks: “How would I act if everyone in my community knew exactly what I was doing?”
The Rule-Following prism asks: “What would I do if everyone in the world were to do as I did?”
The Utilitarian prism asks: “What course of action will best maximize total happiness in the world?”
The Virtue prism asks: “What would the most virtuous person I know of do in this situation?”
The Caring prism asks: “What course of action will best sustain and nurture a caring relationship between myself and others?”
The Egoist prism asks: “What course of action will most effectively ensure that my personal goals are reached?”
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On Sunday, we discussed and tried to answer the following questions:
· What is the relationship between law and justice?
· What is the purpose of the law?
· Does justice require equality? Complete equality? Or just equality is certain aspects of life?
· What makes a situation fair or unfair?
Please write a short essay (about three paragraphs) addressing any one of these questions. Remember that it is always a good idea to structure your argument in the following way. Begin by laying out your thesis and argument. Then consider a counterargument. Then respond to the counterargument.
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On Sunday we discussed the meaning of ethics, the Trolley Problem, and whether there are any objective moral principles. For next week, please write a short essay (about three paragraphs) answering the following question: How do we determine the morality of an action? Are the consequences of the action all that matter, or something else? Structure your argument in the format we have been practicing. Start by arguing your position. Then consider an objection. Then respond to the objection.
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