9. Media: Meaningful or Madness?

The outlets of information seem increasingly limitless—it’s not just Diane Sawyer  or David Letterman broadcasting facts or conjecture over airwaves.  Virtually anyone with access to  Internet  can reach out and connect with millions of others.  Obviously that can be very good, very bad and everything in-between.  Chapter 11 offers some challenging observations about this relatively new social phenomena. Read through the sub-topics and choose a section that interests you.  Write about it and how it relates to your interests. 75-100 words.

8. Ethical Dilemmas

It’s easy to point the Finger of Guilt at well-known personalities or entities who defy the standards of ethics, moral and values on a grand scale and the consequences are far-reaching.
What is difficult is to examine the common violations of our more personal standards, especially the ones that we become immune to noticing—because we see them so often or we may know someone guilty of such action,or perhaps we are guilty of some of them ourselves.
It can be as simple as taking home a handful of paperclips from our job to knowlingly accepting and keeping the incorrect change (in our favor, of course) from the grocery store cashier.
Your task is to describe three common ethical dilemmas and offer some suggestions of how a person could or should turn the situation around.
Remember Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
“Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”
In other words, if it’s OK for you, then it should be OK for everyone, everywhere and every time.  Hmmmm

7. Silver Blaze

     The story Silver Blaze demonstrates Critical Thinking in action You now know the story and the world’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Discuss the following in 75-100 words.
     This tale is an exercise in deductive reasoning.  Write about the clues that Holmes pulled together to solve the mystery of Silver Blaze. What happened to Silver Blaze and why?  Who was Strayker and what was his part in the mystery? What was the rationale of the barking dog? What was Mr. Simpson up to that fateful evening?  Why did Holmes ask Mrs. Strayker if he met her at a social event previously? What particular clues did Holmes explain to the others?    Take any one of Holmes’ suppositions and write a simple (three conditional propositions) chain argument.

SALEM TRIALS:THING OF THE PAST?

Salem Trials: A Modern Metaphor?

Can the same kind of instinctual  prejudice and fear that took over a small Massachusetts village more than 300 years ago take over the minds in modern society sparking  “witch hunts”  to estrange certain members of our society, encourage  condemnation  of  those who  may have different beliefs, attitudes and practices  and finally, creating separate rules and sentences of alienation  for anyone who does not follow the current  social mores and fads? If so, how does it do so?  If not, why?

Think about our recent class examination of The Salem Witch Trials and compare it to modern issues in politics, religion, school bullying, family values and our American society -at-large.  How does our modern media affect society’s attitudes in these cases?

Please write a 150-200 word insightful response to this  examination.     

5. Metacognition Exercise

Thinking About Thinking:  When people are asked for their viewpoints about a particular issue, many of them respond with elaborate (long and wordy) reasoning or argument(s).   WHY do you think this happens?  Give an example of a “hot topic” you may have explored recently.  What was your viewpoint on the topic? What was an opposing view?  Simplify a response to the opposing viewpoint.    75-100 words. Thinking About Thinking:  When people are asked for their viewpoints about a particular issue, many of them respond with elaborate (long and wordy) reasoning or argument(s).   WHY do you think this happens?  Give an example of a “hot topic” you may have explored recently.  What was your viewpoint on the topic? What was an opposing view?  Simplify a response to the opposing viewpoint.    75-100 words.

4. Critical Thinking

Examine the statement:  Think about a work situation where you can visualize a viable scenario for the following statement:

 “Each adult person has the potential to control the direction of their own lives.”

Give two examples when this is not true.  How might the circumstances be altered  to make it true?  Think of the situation from the opposite point of view.  Give an example.  Then  give an example of what might alter that situation.

Write your response to this Critical Thinking prompt in 75-100 words.

3. Nature vs. Nurture:Language and Communication

We are aware that Language and Communication skills stretch beyond simple words, phrases and a handshake.  Also, we explored  some research in the field of speech communication that focused on some issues. 

Nature vs. Nurture : Language and Communication ability is innate at birth; it is shared from a baby’s first cry, to a parent’s hugs and  “oooohhs and ahs.”  If a child is denied social experience with others, can communication skills be developed   in children  beyond the childhood years?

After viewing the research documentary, The Wild Child (Nova 2006), discuss the research  on Genie, Victor or both.  Who benefitted from the research and how?  Did the children (Genie and Victor) gain anything from these studies? What about the psychologists who were involved?

·         Why would a project like this be referred to a  Forbidden Experiment?

·         What did you think was the motivation for the Researchers?

·         Why was the research stopped in each case?  How did you perceive the reasoning of the researchers?   

·         What were  the final results for Genie and/or Victor?  Was this is the best possible scenario for either of them? What would have been better?

·         This documentary provided much troubling information. What did you find most disturbing?

Because of the many factors involved for this topic, I will permit longer responses, if you wish.  Please keep your responses between 75-200 words.   

REASON, EMOTION AND CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT BELIEF SYSTEMS

This is an exercise in using critical thinking as we examine opposing viewpoints by two prominent  philosophers in the field of belief systems.  You are expected to write between 75-100 words.

  

       You have been directed to read Thomas Aquinas’  “The Existence of God”(p.57) and  “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, (pp. 58-59).

      Our task is to analyze and summarize each of the essays.  Then bring out at least one point of view that supports the main idea of each essay.  Give your explanation on how the point(s) reinforce the belief system of each writer.  You may offer your opinion on each point of view, if you wish.  Remember, we are practicing to appreciate the value of ambiguity.  It is important to consider points of  view other than our own, although we do not have to believe or follow them.

1. All About You!

Introduce yourself. Your First Name and Last Initial are sufficient. Please add your class ID# (e.g.:PHIL 250-###) Tell about your major and why you chose it. Tell something unique about yourself or something you are interested in. Also, what prompted you to return to school?  Share at least one of your goals. Remember, this is an internet blog and the information you share is published.  You are expected to write between 75-100 words per entry.

Welcome Budding Philosophers!

This is outsidetheboxfall11,  a blog forum exclusively  for students in my Philosophy 250 Analytical Reasoning and Critical Thinking classes.  Your assignment is to respond to each one of the weekly blog prompts that will appear on this site.  Please respond in a paragraph format between  75 -100 words.
 Think about what you are writing as this site represents what you know, as well as how well you say it.You may write independently or respond to a peer’s current commentary on the topic.  Remember, what you publish is public information, so—make sure your comments are appropriate and respectful to others.  You may disagree with other points of view, but do so in a mature, scholarly manner.
Blogging is using  technology, a crucial skill that will enhance your learning and broaden your ability to communicate seriously and professionally.  It can be a fun activity, but it is also a part of your homework responsibility and it will count toward a percentage of your final grade.
Now go directly to the first blog and introduce yourself. 

Enjoy!
Professor  Miuccio