University of Phoenix Material

Course Discussion Prompts
PHI/105 Version 5 / 3

First Messages

Week 1 First Messages

· The word philosophy comes from Greek meaning “love of wisdom.” Do you think that the word still carries that meaning? Why, or why not?

· Why is it important for a good philosopher to consider both sides of an argument?

· The common usage of the word argument has a very negative connotation (“I had an argument with my friend.”) but that is not how the word is used in philosophy. Imagine you had a friend that only understood the common meaning. How would you differentiate the two for your friend?

· Do you think what is true depends on what society believes is true? Why, or why not?

Week 2 First Messages

· Read these two statements: “The behavior of atoms is governed entirely by physical laws.” “Humans have free will.” Are these two statements incompatible? Why or why not?

· Review Aristotle’s ten categories of being. Do you think it is possible that alien intelligences might think about things in terms of different categories? If so, how? If not, why not?

· Is the ability to perceive things with our senses the same thing as knowledge acquisition? Why, or why not?

· Aristotle believed that if individual horses did not exist, there would be no such thing as the form horse? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Week 3 First Messages

· Skeptics say “Nothing can be known.” Do you think there can be an objection to this claim? If so what is it? If not, why not?

· Think of an object. Does the object you thought of have qualities you may not know about or not have qualities you think it has? Which one, and why?

· Descartes’ famous saying “I think, therefore I am” is supposed to be a support or proof of the existence of the soul beyond the mere matter that makes up a person. Do you agree with this proof? Why, or why not?

· Is your brain the same thing as your mind? Why, or why not?

· Is it possible to experience anything other than your own perceptions? Why, or why don’t you think so?

· Do you think infants have “experiences” or merely “sensations”?

Week 4 First Messages

· “Everything doubled in size last night.” Could this be true? Why, or why not?

· If there is no objective right or wrong, good or bad, how do you think we should determine how to live our lives?

· What do you think Sartre meant when he said “We are condemned to be free”?

· Do you think all oppressed groups suffer? Why? Do you think all groups that suffer oppressed? Why?

· Do you think philosophical analysis is valuable? Why, or why not?

· “Square circles are non-existent things.” “No squares are circles.” Which of these two propositions is simpler from the standpoint of a philosophical analysis? Why?

Week 5 First Messages

· Do all morally good actions have a single thing in common with each other? Why, or why not?

· Is pleasure always the ultimate object of a person’s desires? Why, or why not?

· Is it possible to have moral values without a belief in God? Why, or why not?

· Are moral value judgments merely an expression of personal preference, or are they a cultural artifact? Why do you think so?

· Rawls stated if we are thinking rationally and in our self interest, and if we are not influenced by irrelevant considerations, we would agree with his principles of justice. Do you agree? Why, or why not?

· Would it be right and proper to legalize human slavery if that resulted in an increase in the well-being of society as a whole? Why, or why not?

Week 6 First Messages

· Marcuse said, “A revolution will come, born of disgust at the waste and excess of the so-called consumer society.” Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not?

· Which do you think is more important, individual freedom or the common good? Why?

· Nozick stated, “Any state necessarily violates people’s moral rights and hence is intrinsically immoral.” Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not?

· Plato identified three classes in an ideal state: a governing class, a merchant class, and a military class. Do these distinctions make sense in a modern republic? Why, or why not?

· Which do you think would be better: a dictatorship or anarchy? Why?

Week 7 First Messages

· Are power and riches chains or are they the keys to freedom and happiness? Why do you think so?

· If reincarnation had been a common belief in the West, do you think that belief would have influenced our society? If so, how? If not, why not?

· If you had to choose between wisdom and courage, which do you think would be the more important virtue to possess? Why?

· Some frame Confucius and Lao Tzu as philosophical opposites. Which of the two philosophies is most appealing to you personally? Why?

· Mencius stated that difficulty and suffering are opportunities to develop independence and peace of mind. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Week 8 First Messages

· As the book notes, a popular bumper sticker reads: “God is coming, and she is furious.” Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions personify God as a male. Would those religions be fundamentally different if they personified God as a female? Why, or why not?

· A common Judeo-Christian belief is that God is omnipotent and omniscient. Another common Judeo-Christian belief is in mankind has free will. Are these two ideas mutually exclusive, or can they be reconciled? How, and why?

· Many philosophers have attempted to explain or prove the existence of God by rational means. Do you find any of these proofs compelling? Why or why not?

· Is it better to doubt everything that is less than certain, or to believe in possible falsehoods? Why?

Week 9 First Messages

· Do you think it is possible for different groups to have truly empathetic understanding of each other? Why or why not?

· Both feminists and post-colonialists argue for the importance of justice. Do these two groups mean the same thing by the word “justice”? If so, what do you think they mean? If not, why not?

· Do you think you have personally benefited or suffered from sexism in our society? Why, or why not?

· Do you think you have personally benefited or suffered from colonialism in our society? Why, or why not?

· Ruddick theorized that maternal thinking affects moral reasoning. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

· If you believed that establishing an American colonial government in some South American country would benefit the native people and protect the environment, would you support colonialism? Why, or why not?

· Do you believe there is such a thing as experience without interpretation? Why, or why not?