Instructions
Write a
paper of between 500-750 words on one of the three options below:
Use one or
more moral theories from weeks 6 and 7 to justify what you believe is the right
thing to do concerning some contemporary situation.
Define and
describe the theories you use.
Describe
the contemporary moral situation and why it is a moral situation.
Describe
how the theory provides the reasoning/justification to demonstrate your
proposed solution is the best one.
You have
encountered various theories of knowledge and theories of being in this course,
beginning with Plato/Socrates (as well as pre-Socratics like Parmenides),
Descartes and the
rationalists, empiricism, and Kantian constructivism. The
phenomenological method as described in Week 7 can also give us tools for a
theory of knowledge. Use one or more theories
from epistemology and/or
metaphysics to discuss what kinds of things you can know and
how you can claim
to know what you know.
Define and
describe the theory or theories that you use to make your claim.
Say
something about the range of possible knowledge that you can legitimately claim
as
knowledge. That is, does it include only knowledge of what can be sensed and
whatever is
physical? Or can we know abstract objects like universals? Can we
have knowledge of more spiritual or esoteric realities, like the soul, God,
religious doctrines, etc.?
Explain
the reasons that support your viewpoint by providing arguments that are in
dialogue with relevant thinkers discussed in our course.
Use one or
more theories from weeks 3-5 and 8 to demonstrate humans have a purpose.
Define and
describe the theory or theories you use to make your claim.
Keep in
mind that the goal is to argue humans have a purpose. If you do not think we
have one, consider another option.
Be sure
your argument includes like-minded philosophers on the type of purpose you
claim humans have.
Your paper
will be written at a college level with an introduction (one that states an
argumentative/interpretive thesis and that indicates what would be covered and
in what order), body paragraphs, a conclusion, along with in-text
citations/Works Cited page in MLA, Turabian, Chicago, or APA formatting.
Remember—any resource that is listed on the Works Cited page must have an
in-text citation in the paper to match or this is considered plagiarism. [Note,
MLA style is preferred, but depending on your degree area, you may be more
familiar with APA or one of the other styles. You can use any approved style,
just be consistent.] Submit as a
MS Word document.
Resources:
Tutor.com – information available in the syllabus
APUS
Library
