Topic/instructions: Write a short journal essay of 350 – 400 words.  This journal is due by no later than 11:30 pm on Sunday, 12/13.
Consider the video with Marcus du Sautoy that we saw in class on 12/8.  To see it again, here’s the link: https://vimeo.com/106089707
After watching the video and thinking about what we have learned about free will and determinism, are you more convinced that determinism (about human nature) is true?  Or do you think that determinism is not true, and that we have real free will?  Be sure to explain your position!  As you write your journal, it might be a good idea to think about incorporating the idea of compatibilism, and/or perhaps some ideas from the Sartre material that we have discussed.
Making references: If you make a specific references, then just make an in-text, parenthetical page reference, such as: (Solomon, 201).
Submitting your journal here on Blackboard: First click on where is says ‘Journal 5’ above.   After this, scroll down to  ‘Assignment Submission’, and click on where it says ‘Write Submission.’  A text box pops up, and then you either type your journal directly in the space, or copy/paste your journal into the space.
After putting your journal in that text space, you can either click on ‘Save as Draft’, or ‘Submit.’  If you click on ‘Save as Draft’, it means you have saved a draft of your journal in that space on Blackboard – you can come back to Blackboard later and continue to work on it.  Also, do note that I cannot see the journal when you have clicked on ‘Save as Draft.’  If you put your journal in the text space and then click on ‘Submit,’ then the journal is submitted to me, and I can see it.
I would like you to put your journal directly into the space as described in the preceding paragraphs.  Also, do not email your journal to me.

Final Paper Questions
Students can choose to write one of the two following papers with the following themes:
Paper 1:
Analyze the office at Glengarry-Glenross from a Marxist perspective. What would Marx have to say about what transpires at the office?
Or:
Paper 2: Analyze the office at Glengarry-Glenross from a Utilitarian and Pragmatist perspective. What would the Utilitarians and the Pragmatists have to say about what transpires at the office?
The midterm paper is due on Friday, December 18.
MODULATION OF THE PAPER TASK
In order to write a good paper the student needs to combine knowledge and information from the following three areas assigned:
A. FROM FILM

1. Distinguish, analyze characters and events.
2. Read their actions, and statements, consider the consequences.

B. FROM LOGIC READINGS

1. Know the structure of the argument.
2. Avoid Informal Fallacies.
3. May use inductive or/and deductive arguments.
4. Produce a valid and sound argument.
5. Start with a claim, and prove it.

C. FROM MAGEE READINGS

1. Show understanding of Marxist theory and his critique of Capitalism.
2. Show understanding of Utilitarianism and American Pragmatism.

RUBRIC
The paper will be graded on the student’s ability to do the following:

1. Construct a valid and sound argument.
2. Show good understanding of the assigned readings.
3. Show good application of the assigned readings.
4. Demonstrate a careful reading of the film characters and actions.

The lectures on how to write our first term paper are most important to be attended by the student. They will also be recorded and posted in Conferences, but it is only in the live sessions that the students will be able to ask their own questions.

 Contemporary Moral Problems Final Exam Fall 2020 Online Semester
Part 1.  Short Answer.  In a sentence or two, respond to the following questions.
1. Describe one of the main issues raised by moral relativism.
2. Name three different varieties of moral relativism.
3. Describe the thesis of Emotivism.  Do you see a problem with it?  Describe the problem.
4. Describe the difference between consequentialism and nonconsequentialism.
5. Define the concept “person” in ethics.  What makes it a key concept in ethics?
6. Define “Virtue Ethics.”  What makes virtue ethics different from either consequentialism or nonconsequentialism?
7. In the abortion issue, what is the one question that apparently must be resolved before taking a position?
8. Define Euthanasia.  Briefly describe why the concept of “consent” is so central this this question.
9. In the argument over whether or not healthcare is a right, describe the two main positions put forward on either side of the question.
10. What is the name of the ecological study published in 1972, which created a political commotion?     The next four questions concern this study.
a) What was the thesis of the study?
b) Define “carrying capacity.”
c) Define “sustainability.”
d) Define “overshoot.”
Part 2. Essay Section.  Below are three questions.  Pick one and respond in 200 words or so, about a page.
1. Socrates said that “the unexamined life is not worthy to be lived for a human being.”  That is essentially the argument in chapter one of Doing Ethics.  Do you think the book makes a good argument?  Why, or why not?
2. Of the questions we looked at this semester, which one do you think is the most pressing moral question of our time?  And why?
3. What is a right?  Do you think people have rights?  What are our rights based on?  Can you give a coherent defense of the idea of rights?

1. What does Logic study?
2.  What is the difference between an argument and a non-argument?
3. What is so special about statements, in contrast to other kinds of expressions?
4. Describe the standard of truth on which both categorical and propositional logic rest.
5. What is a category?
6. Name the two main branches of logic.
7. Describe the fundamental principle of each branch of logic.
8. Give an example of an argument that is deductive, and one that is inductive.
9.  Define the concept of ‘validity.’  What kinds of arguments are valid or invalid?
10. Define the concept of ‘strength.’  What kinds of arguments are either strong or weak?
11. Define ‘Soundness’ and ‘Cogency.’
12. Why is it possible to have a valid argument with false premises?
13. List the four standard form categorical propositions.
14. Draw the Venn Diagrams for each of the four standard form categorical propositions.
15. Here are two categorical propositions.    A: No A are B        O: Some A are not B.
On the Aristotelian standpoint, are these two propositions consistent?   On the Boolean standpoint, are these two propositions consistent?
16.  Here is a statement in Propositional Logic.  Construct a truth table to show all the possible truth values this statement can have.
If (A or not B) then B.     (Remember to write this out using the symbolism for the logical connectors because I am unable to do it here.)
17. Here is an argument in Propositional Logic.  Construct a truth table to test for validity.
If juvenile killers are as responsible for their crimes as adults, then execution is a justifiable punishment.
Juvenile killers are not as responsible for their crimes as adults.
Therefore execution is not a justifiable punishment.
Symbolize the argument on a single line, and construct the truth table.  (Note, it should be symbolized like this, but with the connector symbols:  If J then E/ not J // not E.
18. Suppose you have a statement in Propositional Logic where all of the truth values under the main operator are true, what kind of statement is it?
19. Suppose you have a statement in Propositional Logic where all the truth values under the main operator are false, then what kind of statement is it?
20. Suppose you have a statement where all the truth values under the main operator are a mix of Ts and Fs, what kind of statement is it?
21. Suppose you have two statements to compare, and they have the same truth value on every line, then what is their relation?
22. Suppose you have two statements and they have opposite truth values on every line.  What is their relation?
23.  Here is an argument in Propositional Logic.  Use the Indirect Proof method of truth table to test for validity.  Remember to make an initial assumption.
If  not A then (B or C) / not B // If C then A.   (Again, remember to write this argument out using the symbols for the logical connectors.)