PHI 200 All DQs

Week 1

Discussion Questions

What is Philosophy

Most people have views that are strongly influenced and informed by philosophy, often without realizing it. Identify a view you havewhether on politics, religion, science, culture, or even the media and entertainmentthat might be regarded as being related to philosophy. What kind of reasons do you have for holding that belief? What figure from the history of philosophy section do you think might have some views that are similar, or at least relevant, to your own? Explain why you chose that particular figure.

Justifying Beliefs

Many philosophers insist that our most strongly held beliefs should be examined and critically evaluated. What is required for a person to justify his or her beliefs? Do many people believe what they do without giving those beliefs critical scrutiny? What are the advantages of believing something without examining it? What are the disadvantages? Identify a specific belief you have that you think is worth defending, and explain how you might go about defending it.

Week 2

Discussion Questions

Ethics and Relativism

Our text discusses the challenge relativism presents to various ethical and religious viewpoints. Consider a specific moral question which might make it difficult to accept the relativist's response. State the moral issue involved, and provide an explanation as to why you think a relativist might have problem giving a justified response to it

Animal Rights

Do human beings have any obligations to other animals, in terms of their treatment? If it is wrong to treat animals cruelly, why is it not wrong to eat them? Explain if, and how, you think humans can find a balance between treating animals ethically while also raising them for food and for other reasons, such as the testing of pharmaceuticals.

Week 3

Discussion Questions

The Limits of Skepticism

Can a person be skeptical about everything, or are there limits? Is it possible to doubt everything, or almost everything? Are there beliefs you possess that cannot be challenged or shown to be false? How might the skeptic respond to your claim that such a belief cannot be doubted? Identify one such specific belief and present your response to the skeptic. (If you don't have such a belief, explain how one could live while not accepting any claim as true.)

Creationism and Science

After watching the video, explain what the basic issue is about teaching creationism (or Intelligent Design) in public school science classes. Indicate how you would resolve this dispute. Be sure to support your answer. Respond and reply to your fellow students.

Week 4

Discussion Questions

Proof of God's Existence

After reading about the various proofs of the existence of God, identify which of these arguments seems to be the best, and explain why you think so. Complete your response by reflecting on why philosophers have sought for thousands of years to provide such proofs, and whether it is necessary to do so.

The Turing Test

If you were asked to defeat the computer in the Turing Test (described in our book), what types of questions would you ask it? Explain why you think these questions would be the type to "reveal" the computer to be a computer? Why would these responses have to be given by a human being? (If you don't think there are such questions, you will need to explain what, if anything, shows that human beings are unique, and how it shows that.)

Week 5

Discussion Questions

The Value of Philosophy

After reflecting on what you have read about and thought about in our course, select one topic that you thought was interesting, challenging, difficult, aggravating, new, or provocative. Discuss why you chose this particular topic, what you have learned about it and how it made you think a bit differently both about the issues this topic raises and about the value of philosophy.

Philosophy and Society

After watching the video, "The Relationship of Philosophy to Other Fields," reflect on the relationship of philosophy to your life, in terms of your future education and career goals. What value does philosophy have? How can people benefit from thinking more philosophically? What significance does thinking and reasoning critically play in society, and in human flourishing?