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CAP List of Topics A* 1

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CAP List of Topics A* 1. Explain Socrates' philosophic way of life. Do you agree with the American philosopher John Chafee when he calls Socrates one of the 'models of humanity"? Make sure you discuss the concepts of Socratic Method and Socratic Irony in your paper. 2. Retell the story of the Ring of Gyges. What point is Plato trying to make with that story? Do you agree or disagree with that point? 3. Evaluate one of the arguments for God's existence (e.g., cosmological, fine-tuning, moral, etc.). What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument? What is your assessment of the argument? 4. Explain and evaluate cultural relativism. Provide examples to illustrate your claims. Make sure you compare the theory with that of moral absolutism. 5. Discuss and evaluate the ethical theories of ancient Greece. Which theory do you find to be the most persuasive and why? Include examples in your discussion. 6. Compare and contrast two of the following ethical theories: utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, divine command theory, Buddhist ethics, virtue ethics, secular humanism, and Transhumanism. Which theory do you find to be more persuasive? Be sure to give examples and criticisms of your position. 7. Compare and contrast science with religion. Are they compatible, or are they incommensurable ways of knowing? Is one superior to the other? Can there be conflicts between the two? If so, describe the conflict and explain how it can be resolved. 8. Discuss and evaluate the works of James Randi, Michael Shermer, and Paul Kurtz. What are they trying to do and how are they going about it? Do you agree with their missions? 9. Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism. Which position do you find to be more reasonable? Does it depend on what kind of knowledge we're trying to acquire (e.g., mathematical, scientific, theological, ethical, etc.)? Are the two modes of inquiry contradictory or complementary? 10. Explain and evaluate Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism. Compare and contrast it with empiricism and rationalism. Of the three epistemological theories, which one do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 11. Discuss and evaluate one of the theories against God's existence (e.g., conflicting truth claims, social upbringing, evolutionary arguments, etc.). Do you find it to be persuasive and why? Make sure you substantiate your position. • Papers should either be in Microsoft Word format (.doc). Upload to Canvas by the due date towards the end of the semester. • Four-to-six pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12-point, one-inch margins. • MLA or Chicago system of citation. • Include a cover page that contains the title of the paper, your name, my name, the date, and the class (e.g., PHIL 1301.710 or MW 10:10 AM). • Include a short outline of the main points of your paper and include it after the title page. • You are allowed to write in the first person. Sample Footnotes (For those following the Chicago Manual of Style) Michael Shermer, The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule (New York: Times Books, 2004), pp. 25-26. Nadrian C. Seeman, "Nanotechnology and the Double Helix," Scientific American 290 (June 2004): 64-75. Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner, eds., The Founders' Constitution (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), chap. 9, doc. 3, http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/. Shermer, Good and Evil, 25. Seeman, "Nanotechnology," 64. Next Previous 024 x 2 ) 3:28 PM 5/7/2021 21 < > 9 ] W 8. Discuss and evaluate the works of James Randi, Michael Shermer, and Paul Kurtz. What are they trying to do and how are they going about it? Do you agree with their missions? 9. Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism. Which position do you find to be more reasonable? Does it depend on what kind of knowledge we're trying to acquire (e.g., mathematical, scientific, theological, ethical, etc.)? Are the two modes of inquiry contradictory or complementary? 10. Explain and evaluate Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism. Compare and contrast it with empiricism and rationalism. Of the three epistemological theories, which one do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 11. Discuss and evaluate one of the theories against God's existence (e.g., conflicting truth claims, social upbringing, evolutionary arguments, etc.). Do you find it to be persuasive and why? Make sure you substantiate your position. 12. Discuss and evaluate the three theories of life's meaning: theism, nihilism, and subjectivism. Which theory do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 13. Summarize and discuss Thomas Kuhn's views regarding the nature and conduct of science. Include discussions of paradigms, anomalies, revolutions, and the role of the scientific community. Compare his view of science with that of Karl Popper's. 14. Discuss the Intelligent Design and Evolution controversy. Do you think that ID should be taught in school? If so, what kind (e.g., public, private, college, elementary, etc.) Specifically, should ID be taught in biology classes alongside evolution, or should it be taught in a humanities/philosophy/religion class? Substantiate your position. Next 4 Previous of La 9 ] P os 11 3:29 PM 5/7/2021 tul . Think of the CAP as a well-researched persuasive/argumentative paper. Imagine that you are trying to persuade an intelligent, but uninformed reader of your conclusion, which is encapsulated in your thesis statement. The last sentence of your introductory paragraph should be your thesis statement. A common problem that I see is that the thesis statement is way too broad. Be sure to narrow it down sufficiently to write a well-written paper in 4-6 pages. • The paper should consist of the reasoned defense of some claim, which is stated in your thesis statement. • A good paper is modest and makes a small point; but it makes that point clearly and straightforwardly, and it offers good reasons in support of it. • Make the structure of your paper obvious. Include a short outline of the main points of your paper. • Be concise, but explain yourself fully. ns 5 cics Some Possible Writing Strategies ex al The paper has to do substantive work, not merely regurgitate an author's main points (although, of course, it is important for you to restate an author's position before criticizing it). Some possibilities are: Criticize an argument; or show that certain arguments for the thesis are no good. Defend the argument of thesis against someone else's criticism. Offer reasons to believe the thesis. Offer counterexamples to the thesis. 6 Requirements of the Paper . You must cite at least two academic sources (such as journal articles, books, websites, etc.). Make sure those sources are academically reputable. Since web addresses change constantly, you can find the website by googling its name. Be careful of satire websites or fake news. Some good websites include the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Philosopher's Imprint, and the numerous electronic databases that the school library carries. Possible outside sources include books, journal articles, magazines, databases, Websites, videos, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs. When possible, try to cite from recent sources. Make sure you evaluate your online sources for trustworthiness and credibility. 8. Discuss and evaluate the works of James Randi, Michael Shermer, and Paul Kurtz. What are they trying to do and how are they going about it? Do you agree with their missions? 9. Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism. Which position do you find to be more reasonable? Does it depend on what kind of knowledge we're trying to acquire (e.g., mathematical, scientific, theological, ethical, etc.)? Are the two modes of inquiry contradictory or complementary? 10. Explain and evaluate Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism. Compare and contrast it with empiricism and rationalism. Of the three epistemological theories, which one do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 11. Discuss and evaluate one of the theories against God's existence (e.g., conflicting truth claims, social upbringing, evolutionary arguments, etc.). Do you find it to be persuasive and why? Make sure you substantiate your position. 12. Discuss and evaluate the three theories of life's meaning: theism, nihilism, and subjectivism. Which theory do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 13. Summarize and discuss Thomas Kuhn's views regarding the nature and conduct of science. Include discussions of paradigms, anomalies, revolutions, and the role of the scientific community. Compare his view of science with that of Karl Popper's. 14. Discuss the Intelligent Design and Evolution controversy. Do you think that ID should be taught in school? If so, what kind (e.g., public, private, college, elementary, etc.) Specifically, should ID be taught in biology classes alongside evolution, or should it be taught in a humanities/philosophy/religion class? Substantiate your position. Next 4 Previous of La 9 ] P os 11 3:29 PM 5/7/2021 tul CAP List of Topics A* 1. Explain Socrates' philosophic way of life. Do you agree with the American philosopher John Chafee when he calls Socrates one of the 'models of humanity"? Make sure you discuss the concepts of Socratic Method and Socratic Irony in your paper. 2. Retell the story of the Ring of Gyges. What point is Plato trying to make with that story? Do you agree or disagree with that point? 3. Evaluate one of the arguments for God's existence (e.g., cosmological, fine-tuning, moral, etc.). What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument? What is your assessment of the argument? 4. Explain and evaluate cultural relativism. Provide examples to illustrate your claims. Make sure you compare the theory with that of moral absolutism. 5. Discuss and evaluate the ethical theories of ancient Greece. Which theory do you find to be the most persuasive and why? Include examples in your discussion. 6. Compare and contrast two of the following ethical theories: utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, divine command theory, Buddhist ethics, virtue ethics, secular humanism, and Transhumanism. Which theory do you find to be more persuasive? Be sure to give examples and criticisms of your position. 7. Compare and contrast science with religion. Are they compatible, or are they incommensurable ways of knowing? Is one superior to the other? Can there be conflicts between the two? If so, describe the conflict and explain how it can be resolved. 8. Discuss and evaluate the works of James Randi, Michael Shermer, and Paul Kurtz. What are they trying to do and how are they going about it? Do you agree with their missions? 9. Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism. Which position do you find to be more reasonable? Does it depend on what kind of knowledge we're trying to acquire (e.g., mathematical, scientific, theological, ethical, etc.)? Are the two modes of inquiry contradictory or complementary? 10. Explain and evaluate Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism. Compare and contrast it with empiricism and rationalism. Of the three epistemological theories, which one do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 11. Discuss and evaluate one of the theories against God's existence (e.g., conflicting truth claims, social upbringing, evolutionary arguments, etc.). Do you find it to be persuasive and why? Make sure you substantiate your position. 8. Discuss and evaluate the works of James Randi, Michael Shermer, and Paul Kurtz. What are they trying to do and how are they going about it? Do you agree with their missions? 9. Compare and contrast empiricism and rationalism. Which position do you find to be more reasonable? Does it depend on what kind of knowledge we're trying to acquire (e.g., mathematical, scientific, theological, ethical, etc.)? Are the two modes of inquiry contradictory or complementary? 10. Explain and evaluate Immanuel Kant's transcendental idealism. Compare and contrast it with empiricism and rationalism. Of the three epistemological theories, which one do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 11. Discuss and evaluate one of the theories against God's existence (e.g., conflicting truth claims, social upbringing, evolutionary arguments, etc.). Do you find it to be persuasive and why? Make sure you substantiate your position. 12. Discuss and evaluate the three theories of life's meaning: theism, nihilism, and subjectivism. Which theory do you find to be the most persuasive and why? 13. Summarize and discuss Thomas Kuhn's views regarding the nature and conduct of science. Include discussions of paradigms, anomalies, revolutions, and the role of the scientific community. Compare his view of science with that of Karl Popper's. 14. Discuss the Intelligent Design and Evolution controversy. Do you think that ID should be taught in school? If so, what kind (e.g., public, private, college, elementary, etc.) Specifically, should ID be taught in biology classes alongside evolution, or should it be taught in a humanities/philosophy/religion class? Substantiate your position. Next 4 Previous of La 9 ] P os 11 3:29 PM 5/7/2021 tul . Think of the CAP as a well-researched persuasive/argumentative paper. Imagine that you are trying to persuade an intelligent, but uninformed reader of your conclusion, which is encapsulated in your thesis statement. The last sentence of your introductory paragraph should be your thesis statement. A common problem that I see is that the thesis statement is way too broad. Be sure to narrow it down sufficiently to write a well-written paper in 4-6 pages. • The paper should consist of the reasoned defense of some claim, which is stated in your thesis statement. • A good paper is modest and makes a small point; but it makes that point clearly and straightforwardly, and it offers good reasons in support of it. • Make the structure of your paper obvious. Include a short outline of the main points of your paper. • Be concise, but explain yourself fully. ns 5 cics Some Possible Writing Strategies ex al The paper has to do substantive work, not merely regurgitate an author's main points (although, of course, it is important for you to restate an author's position before criticizing it). Some possibilities are: Criticize an argument; or show that certain arguments for the thesis are no good. Defend the argument of thesis against someone else's criticism. Offer reasons to believe the thesis. Offer counterexamples to the thesis. 6 Requirements of the Paper . You must cite at least two academic sources (such as journal articles, books, websites, etc.). Make sure those sources are academically reputable. Since web addresses change constantly, you can find the website by googling its name. Be careful of satire websites or fake news. Some good websites include the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Philosopher's Imprint, and the numerous electronic databases that the school library carries. Possible outside sources include books, journal articles, magazines, databases, Websites, videos, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs. When possible, try to cite from recent sources. Make sure you evaluate your online sources for trustworthiness and credibility. • Papers should either be in Microsoft Word format (.doc). Upload to Canvas by the due date towards the end of the semester. • Four-to-six pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12-point, one-inch margins. • MLA or Chicago system of citation. • Include a cover page that contains the title of the paper, your name, my name, the date, and the class (e.g., PHIL 1301.710 or MW 10:10 AM). • Include a short outline of the main points of your paper and include it after the title page. • You are allowed to write in the first person. Sample Footnotes (For those following the Chicago Manual of Style) Michael Shermer, The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule (New York: Times Books, 2004), pp. 25-26. Nadrian C. Seeman, "Nanotechnology and the Double Helix," Scientific American 290 (June 2004): 64-75. Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner, eds., The Founders' Constitution (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), chap. 9, doc. 3, http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/. Shermer, Good and Evil, 25. Seeman, "Nanotechnology," 64. Next Previous 024 x 2 ) 3:28 PM 5/7/2021 21 < > 9 ] W