Category: Philosophy

I’m 26 years old and have my bachelors in kinesiology from CSU East Bay. I played competitive softball growing up and have been able to maintain long-term relationships. I’ve always questioned God And when the pandemic hit my beliefs and career choices changed. I’m now pursuing a nursing degree. I don’t care whether or not the essay states. My views have changed on God, whatever is easier. Reference chapter 3 from the book problems in philosophy by James Rachel ‘s and Stewart Rachel’s

Your first essay should be a minimum of 1400 words and a maximum of 1700 words.  Double-spaced. Typed.  And Titled! Come up with a good title.  Not, for example, “Essay 1.”  Edit your writing.  A big part of your grade will be determined by how clearly it is written.  it should be well-organized and your thesis (main point) should be clearly stated and supported by quotations from whatever texts you use.!IMPORTANT:   Write your essay as though you are writing for an intelligent college freshman who has not read the text you are writing about.  This will force you to explain yourself clearly.  
Also, limit yourself to answering the question.  Don’t waste time giving historical background information.  You should base your answer on the pages I assigned.   Do not tell me what Wikipedia or some other secondary source says.  Your essay should have at least SIX short quotations.  These quotations should be integrated into your own sentences.  NO BLOCK QUOTATIONS.  Also, cite the source of your quotations, so I can look them up if I want to.  When you write your essay write only about something I have assigned; do NOT base your essay on secondary sources.  Double-space your essay.  If you do not double-space you will lose 10 points.   At the top of your essay put your name, the date, Philosophy 1. Title your essay.
Whatever text or texts you choose to write about make sure you base everything you have to say on those texts; not on what other writers say about those texts.  
Choose ONE of the following questions to write about.
1.  Compare and contrast the views of Sigmund Freud. and G.K. Chesterton on religion, reason, and fairy tales.  To answer this question you need to discuss Freud’s book The Future of an Illusion and Chesterton’s essay “The Ethics of Elfland.”
2.   Explain how Chesterton’s “fairytale philosophy” (the part that can be summed up in the words of the frog “Lord how you made me jump!”) is very similar to Hume’s Fork.  
3.  Explain how Plato’s discussion (in Phaedo) of knowledge (or learning) as recollection contributes to his attempt to show  that the soul is immortal.  Does it succeed in showing that the soul is immortal?  If not, what does it  show?
4.  Compare and contrast the views of William James (as expressed in his essay “The Will  to Believe”) and Sigmund Freud (as expressed in his book The Future of an Illusion) on whether we are rationally justified to believe in God.
5.  Explain Descartes argument in  the First and Second Meditation.  Put your major emphasis, though, on the First Meditation.  Explain what the major stages of Descartes’ argument are in the First Meditation.  Also, explain how the Second Meditation offers an answer to the question raised in the First Meditation.
6.  Explain David Hume’s argument that we have no reason to believe in induction.  Base your essay on the selections from Hume that I assigned.
7.  Explain Locke’s view of substance (both material and spiritual substances). Base your essay on the selections I assigned from Locke.

3. Rawls’ Theory of Justice and Mill’s Utilitarianism: Evaluating Their Efficacy in Combatting Racial Bias in the Social Contract.

Assignment
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 4, 5
Lesson
Instructions
Remember – these journal questions require more thinking than writing. Think about exactly what you are asked to do, and then write as economically as possible.
For this journal assignment, answer each of the following prompts:
Important Idea
Considering only the Introduction to Chapter 5, in terms of developing critical thinking and reasoning, what do you consider is the most valuable and important idea in that section? You can either summarize or directly quote the text; then, briefly explain why you find this idea important and valuable.
Critical Thinking
In Chapter 5, the section “Making Arguments” states: “In some ways applying our core critical thinking skills to analysis can be more difficult than offering an evaluative opinion. Analysis, like interpretation, is understanding at a deep level (p. 89)”
What concepts discussed in Chapter 4 might make analysis of a statement difficult – and why?
Beliefs
Why do you believe what you believe?
What is your “evidence”?
Test one of your beliefs by asking yourself, “Why?” As you answer each “why,” go down another layer – four layers will probably give you a good idea of why you believe what you believe.
Your product should show a well-reasoned and logical basis for your belief. Stay away from the big stuff, like believing in God, or who to vote for in the next election, and don’t look for sources – this is about what you believe and why you believe it. After all, this is only an 8-week course, and we can’t settle everything!
Click on the following link for an example of layers of why:
Example of Layers of Why
Suppose your claim is “All people should work to support their children.” Here is an example of possible “layers of why” for this claim:
Layer 1: People should work to support their children because it is the right thing to do.
Layer 2: It is the right thing to do because it is true that children need to be cared for by adults.
Layer 3: I believe my last statement is true because it is an accurate descriiption of what occurs – that is, very small children sicken and die if adults do not care for their needs; older children may exhibit many physical and emotional deficiencies if they are not properly cared for.
Layer 4: Reasonable attention to the needs of children is just since children are largely dependent on their parents (who, after all, brought them into the world) for all of their needs during the early years of their lives. Furthermore, such attention leads to a healthy, productive and ordered society in which each individual has an opportunity to achieve his or her highest potential.
Note
Don’t be tempted to skip steps. If you start with layer 5, you have just opened up a whole new line of “whys.” For example, why should everyone be afforded an opportunity to reach his or her highest potential? After all, for most of the history of the world, that has not been the case.
If you include references to outside sources (beyond the textbook), make sure you cite them properly.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
Length: 1 ½ -2 pages (not including prompts, title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page (as needed)

This essay is for a class titled “Money and Values”. It deals with the philosophical approaches on how to perceive the protestant reformation and the way in which its associated protestant work ethic has propelled a unique stage of capitalism in the United States. I started the introduction and have included tips and advice in the document attached. Ensure that the there are at least 2 sources (websites but mainly primary sources) per page in order to guide the writing. This means 20 sources in general. Feel free to approach the essay from an argumentative lens that is not too strict in regards to how it is writtten. I am looking for a unique argument anf a nice flow over a very strict / robot-esque piece of writing. Include footnotes and a bibliograohy

ype your full name Type your last name and page number
Course
Date
Center Paper 1 or 2 or 3: Include your 2 themes in the title and the name of the movie
(Do not bold or underline title—only italicize film titles and foreign words)
A.) Did you like or dislike the movie and/or the documentary? Why? (10 pts.)
Use “I think,” “I agree or I disagree,” etc. (Type a lengthy paragraph).
B.) What is your philosophical theme after watching the movie? (40 pts.)
Indent first lines. Use double spaced. Type a lengthy paragraph.
Choose a philosopher’s name who you can back up for your selected philosophical theme. Let say Soren Kierkegaard on fear and trembling or Aristotle on happiness. Other philosophers such as Confucius, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Mill, William James, etc. familiarize yourself with names of well-known philosophers mentioned in academic journals and books.
Explain as clear as possible why your chose this philosophical theme (for example, courage, fear, anger, truth, ignorance, creativity, knowledge, wisdom, empathy, solidarity, friendship, irrationality, the absurd, meaning in life, power, freedom, etc.). Comment on it. Use your own words. Back your arguments with rational explanations and back it up with at least 1 scholarly quote from a book and 1 peer-reviewed article from an academic journal. Cite the source in parenthesis, using the new MLA. For instance, “…” (Molloy 518) if it is from a book source or for article sources use the following format: (author’s last name and page number—no p. or pp.). For philosophical sources search in Galileo philosophy websites and journals like the American Philosophical Association website, or use quotes from philosophy electronic books and how they define your philosophical theme that you selected for your movie. Make the connection between the philosophical theme and the film narrative. Explain it in your own words. Use I.
C.) What is your religious and/or theological theme after watching the movie? (40 pts.)
Indent first lines. Use double spaced. Type a lengthy paragraph.
Choose a name of a religious thinker, scholar or theologian who has done research on this particular theme. Let say the XIV Dalai Lama on love in action or Thomas Merton on contemplative truth. Religious thinkers are theologians and/or religious scholars and authors such as Karen Armstrong, Paul Tillich, Martin Buber, A. J. Heschel, Elie Wiesel, etc.
Explain as clear as possible why your chose this religious and/or theological theme (for example, faith, enlightenment, salvation, liberation, love, compassion, selfish desires, lust, greed, envy, devotion, passion for life, sense of awe and wonder, authority, priesthood, forgiveness, determinism, free will, choices, the good life, death, etc.). Comment on it. Use your own words. Back your arguments with rational explanations and back it up with at least 1 scholarly quote from a book and 1 peer-reviewed article from an academic journal. Cite the source in parenthesis, using the new MLA. For instance, “…” (Wead and Lellis 111) if it is from a book source or for articles use the following format: (author’s last name and page number—no p. or pp). For religious or theological sources search religion, theology or spirituality academic journals like the American Academy of Religion, or use quotes from religion or theology electronic books and how they define your religious or spiritual theme that you selected for your movie. For instance, use quotes from books by the XIV Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, Desmond Tutu, etc. Make the connection between the philosophical theme and the film narrative. Explain it in your own words. Use I.
D.) Have the Works Cited page at the end of each paper (10 pts.).
Center Works Cited in the last page (it could be page 3 if need it in order to cite all the sources using the new MLA).
Do not bold it or underline Works Cited.
Use at least 4 scholarly sources (2 from scholarly books and 2 from peer-reviewed articles in academic journals using Galileo). Make sure they are good academic books and articles (peer-reviewed ones). They must cite names of authors, articles’ titles, journal names, volume, issue number, year of publication, website link, and enter your Accessed date of your entry. See samples in Purdue Owl website for citing properly all your sources using the new MLA.
Use the new MLA Manual Style. Check samples in Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide by googling it. Use alphabetical order. Use double spaced. Indent second and third lines. Italicize book titles and name of journal. Type Accessed date of your entry at the end of each article’s web link. Do it manually! Don’t expect the computer to do it for you. They don’t follow the last formats.

Choose one of the theories of virtue discussed in course meetings 21-23 (do not choose the same author as for the previous paper):
THEORY CHOSEN: “Aristotle and his definiton of Excellence” Aristotle; Nicomachean Ethics; 
What must the world be like for that theory of virtue to be plausible? Why couldn’t people become virtuous in such a way if the world were different than the author believes, or why wouldn’t people who had become such be considered virtuous in such a different world? (~ 500 words)
What myth, story, or mystical experience might support the claim that the world works as the author believes it does? How would recounting that myth or experience help support the philosophical claims about the world? (~ 500 words)
Do you find the myth, story, or mystical experience plausible? Does it make you want to strive for virtue according to the author’s conception? Or do you find it implausible, and if so why? Does the myth’s implausibility turn you away from seeking virtue according to the author’s conception? (~ 500 words)
You must follow the citation practices and plagiarism warning as for the first paper.
Essays must be submitted on Blackboard by 10:00 PM on Tuesday 21st of May. No late work will be accepted as grading must be completed.

List of Readings to Choose from an argument:
Meditations on First Philosophy- Descartes- Mediation One, Two, Three 
Evolutionary
Materialism – Charles Darwin
Contemporary
Materialism – Francis Crick, E.O. Wilson
Critique
of Contemporary Materialism – John McCarthy’s “The Descent of Science”
Aristotelian
Hylemorphism (including Adler’s Thomistic “Is Intellect Immaterial?”)

Attached below is a paper that i have written and I need you to read it and expand the current topic and make it into a 12 page paper (It is already 8 pages long you will only need to add about 4 more pages). it is important to stick to the topic! below is the rubric for my class.
Write a 12-page reflective essay on a philosophical problem that matters to you. 
Students typically choose a paper they’ve written in a prior class that they would like to revise and further expand on. 
In the first part (roughly 4 pages) you reflect on how your views on that problem have evolved; in the second part (roughly 8 pages) you put forward your current view on the matter, drawing on what you have learned. In so doing, please display your knowledge of how the problem has been approached by some major historical figures *or* how it is approached in contemporary philosophy. Be sure to defend your view against likely objections.
The essay should reflect your skills in reading other philosophers’ texts, analyzing and constructing arguments, and expressing your own views in writing in a clear and coherent manner.
For this paper, make sure you: 
• use Times New Roman font, 1” margins all around, 12pt font, double-spaced; 
• state the topic clearly;
• explain the views of other authors clearly and concisely; 
• define all technical terms; 
• argue for your own thesis, providing reasons in support of your claims; 
• respond to objections to your thesis and arguments. 

Please write a philosophical paper on linguistic constructivism. Argue that knowledge about language and knowledge itself is a result of empiricism and is not as concrete and objective as it seems. Use one source to introduce the idea, use the 2nd source to introduce a strong counter argument, and use the last source to defend the argument the paper is ultimately trying to make.