Identify historical beginnings of philosophy and contemporary positions concerning the nature of knowledge and reality
CO1: Identify historical beginnings of philosophy and contemporary positions concerning the nature of knowledge and reality
CO3: Distinguish the basic concepts of moral and political philosophy
CO4: Evaluate arguments for and against the existence of God
CO5: Evaluate various approaches to the mind-body problem
Task:
This 4 – 5 full page (not to exceed 6 pages) Philosophical Essay you will be writing due Week 7 is designed to be a thoughtful, reflective work.
The 4 – 5 full pages does not include a cover page or a resource page. It will be your premier writing assignment focused on the integration and assessment relating to the course concepts.
Your paper should be written based on the outline you submitted during week 4 combined with your additional thoughts and instructor feedback.
You will use at least three scholarly/reliable resources with matching in-text citations and a resource page.
All essays are double spaced, 12 New Times Roman font, paper title, along with all paragraphs indented five spaces.
Description:
You will pick one of the following topics only to do your paper on:
According to Socrates, must one heed popular opinion about moral matters? Does Socrates accept the fairness of the laws under which he was tried and convicted? Would Socrates have been wrong to escape (CO3)?
Consider the following philosophical puzzle: “If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” (1) How is this philosophical puzzle an epistemological problem? And (2) how would John Locke answer it (CO1)?
Evaluate the movie, The Matrix, in terms of the philosophical issues raised with (1) skepticism and (2) the mind-body problem. Explain how the movie raises questions similar to those found in Plato’s and Descartes’ philosophy (CO5 & CO6). Do not give a plot summary of the movie – focus on the philosophical issues raised in the movie as they relate to Plato and Descartes.
Socrates asks Euthyphro, “Are morally good acts willed by God because they are morally good, or are they morally good because they are willed by God?” (1) How does this question relate to the Divine Command Theory of morality? (2) What are the philosophical implications associated with each option here (CO4)?
Explain (1) the process by which Descartes uses skepticism to refute skepticism, and (2) what first principle does this lead him to? (3) Explain why this project was important for Descartes to accomplish (CO2).
Your paper will be written at a college level with an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion, along with in-text citations/resource page in proper formatting. Remember – any resource that is listed on the resource page must have an in-text citation in the paper to match or this is considered plagiarism.
Resources:
Word is free to students – if you encounter an issue please write classroomsupport@apus.edu for guidance
Tutor.com – information available in the syllabus
APUS Library
Citation and Reference Style: You will follow the citation style that is common to your discipline/program (APA, Turabian, AP, or MLA). If you do not have a citation style, please use MLA style. OW Purdue is a great resource for the formatting of citations and resources
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