Why be ethical? #6

If others around you do not choose to behave in an ethical way, does that affect your choices to be ethical? Explain your answer.

Why be ethical? #5

What responsibility do you have to society to be moral/ethical? Based on your answer what do you suppose the effects on our society would be?

Why be ethical? #4

Who do you consider when making everyday choices that affect others? Yourself, those you like, people you don't know? Explain your thought process when you make these choices?

Why be ethical? #3

After our discussions, where would you say the majority of your own ethical decisions come from? Duty-based, consequential, egoist? Explain in a sentence or two.

Why be ethical? #2

Hypothetically, if God did not exist, would it be important for people to still follow some code of morals/ethics? Why or why not?

Why be ethical? #1

If we have a choice whether or not to be ethical, why do people choose to do so?

Ethics and you.

Over the course of the past 2 weeks we discussed several topics and ideas concerning ethics. During this time you have been presented with various opinions and difficult ethical scenarios. Have our discussions and activities changed your perspective concerning ethics in any way? Explain why or why not.

So.....how do we acquire knowledge anyway?

So we've discussed 3 ways in which philosophers argue that we acquire knowledge; rationalism (through reason we gain objective knowledge), empiricism (through our sense experience) and constructivism (we "construct" knowledge based on our science, language, etc.) gaining subjective knowledge. Which of these 3 theories would you say you most agree with? Give at least 2 reasons why.

Please post your assigned vocab word for "The Apology" for all to share and enjoy!

Logic and Reason

He that cannot reason is a fool.
He that will not is a bigot.
He that dare not is a slave.
~Andrew Carnegie

We've discussed the use (or lack of) logic or reason in our society to some degree. Read the quote from above and describe what you believe it means. In addition, try to give an example in your answer.

Philosophy I & II

After our brief discussion and introduction to "why philosophy", to what are you looking most forward about our class?

Political Podcasts

Political Podcasts

After watching our "philosophy of politics" podcasts, what did you learn today about political systems/political philosophy? Have your opinions regarding human nature and the best forms of government changed? Explain why you feel this way?

Technology and Authenticity

We've had some discussion about the possible correlation between technology and happiness and/or the authenticity of our lives. The Amish often rank as high as any group in terms of level of happiness. Do you believe the rejection of technology is responsible for this higher level of happiness? Why? (If you do not agree, what do you believe the reason to be?)

Also: Does happiness ultimately equate to authenticity?

Philosophy for you

these few weekds have changed me quite alot. Because of the class that i am taking second hour i have been overthinking about life. Now i am starting to realize that that is the wrong thing to do.
This class helped change the way i look at other people but more importantly myself. I figure that i only have one life to live and one chance to make my mark on this world. Therefor i am trying to be as unique as i can and try different things that other people normally wouldnt think to do. All i can say is that this class has helped me in alot of ways. In other ways it has made me crazy. Which isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Philosophy and you.....

So, we are many weeks into philosophy classes. To this point, how has philosophy changed your perspective? What has it made you think about? Has it helped you to view anything differently? Describe briefly in 2-3 sentences how the topics we've discussed have had an affect on you (assuming it has).

Objective vs. Subjective ethics

We've touched on the idea of objective vs. subjective truths. Sure, we can pretty much all agree things like 2+2=4 to be an objective truth but what about ethics? Are there objective standards of right and wrong? Are the rules/laws we live by just a collection of subjective ideas created by people or a reflection of something objective (karma, God, etc.) As you answer this question try to provide an example and don't dismiss the idea of objectivity too quickly.

Why study Ethics?

Over the past week or so we've discussed various philosophies concerning how we make our ethical choices. Ethics has and continues to be one of the central questions in philosophy, but why? Why is it so important to study questions of ethics and how does it pertain to you as an individual?

Rationalism

out the three philisophical beliefs i have to agree with rationalism the most. It's hard to separate fact from opinion when it comes stating facts. I trust my senses over anything else that anyone might tell me. That is why rationalism is my choice. The other two deal with gaining knowledge from other people and/or not first hand. For me i like to see things for myself and know for a fact taht its true.

Philosophy II: So....how do we acquire knowledge anyway?

So we've discussed 3 ways in which philosophers argue that we acquire knowledge; rationalism (through reason we gain objective knowledge), empiricism (through our sense experience) and constructivism (we "construct" knowledge based on our science, language, etc.) gaining subjective knowledge. Which of these 3 theories would you say you most agree with? Give at least 2 reasons why.

Plato's objective truths

As we discussed, Plato believes we can reach objective truth through the disciplined use of rational thought. Other than mathematics, do you agree with Plato? Are there objective truths in the universe? Explain why you think so.

Philosophy I Apology Vocab

Please post your assigned vocab word for "The Apology" for all to share and enjoy!

"The Unexamined Life"

As we discussed in class, the Greek philosopher Socrates is famous for his statement, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Why might this statement be important to the history of philosophy? Why might this statement be important for your own life?