Assignment: Philosophy
1) Philosophy's first martyr, Socrates, warned his fellow Athenians that the sole pursuit of material wealth corrupts the kind of person that we are. Explain whether you agree with this statement or not. In what way can wealth be corrupting? Does it depend on the person or circumstance?
2) Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living. What do you think he could have meant by that, or what does that statement mean to you? Explain your answer.
3) How would you define propaganda, in what circumstances would you likely encounter it, and what are some strategies for detecting and protecting oneself from it?
4) Give an example of a logical fallacy that you have seen or heard. It could be from TV shows, letters to the editors, websites, debates, etc.
5) Do you believe that moral principles are absolute or are they relative? Consider the examples of lying, killing, and stealing. Is it always wrong to lie, kill, and steal, or are there circumstances when those actions might be ethically permissible (put aside the legal implications of those actions for this question). If so, can you think of circumstances in which those actions might be ethically permissible?
6) Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the World Wide Mind (a technology that was featured in the 22nd Century program). Can you think of beneficial ways in which the WWM can be put to good use? Are there any concerns that you might have with it?
YouTube Video: "An introduction to the discipline of Philosophy".
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.