Health Care Rationing (PP20)

Read the article Why We Must Ration Health Care by Peter Singer. Does the author make a good case for rationing? Why or why not?

Due Friday, December 14, 2012

Black in America (PP19)

What does it mean to be black in America? Who is black? Watch the CNN special on Sunday, December 9th and discuss.

Due Friday, December 14, 2012.

Human Subjects Research (PP18)

Beginning in 1990, Arizona State University began a study using DNA from the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona. Read the articles at the links below. Discuss the importance of informed consent in human subjects research.

Indian tribe wins fight to limit research of its DNA
From the New York Times (04/22/2010)

Havasupai case highlights risks of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Informed consent and the ethics of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Due Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Animal Rights (PP17)

View the video clip below, then answer the following questions: Do animals have rights? Why or why not?

Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University

The Case for Animal Rights

Due Monday, December 10, 2012

Privilege (PP16)

Read the article Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack and discuss.

Due December 7, 2012.

MLK Letter from Birmingham Jail (PP15)

Read the MLK letter from a Birmingham jail and discuss.

Due December 7, 2012

Property Ownership and Copyright Protection (PP14)

The US Supreme Court is currently considering a case (Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc (11-697)) about the resale of textbooks across foreign and US markets. Read the articles linked below and discuss what you think is the most just way of addressing the questions raised by the case.

Due December 3, 2012

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/26/justice/court-student-copyright/index.html

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/10/27/Supreme-Court-to-hear-copyright-case/UPI-21041351374651/

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/a-supreme-court-clash-could-change-what-ownership-means/

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/23/kirtsaeng_v_john_wiley_sons_case_may_upend_international_copyright_law.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/business/supreme-court-hears-copyright-case-on-imported-textbooks.html?_r=0

http://cornellsun.com/node/53922

http://www.theonlineseller.com/2012/10/30/supreme-court-hears-textbook-resale-case/

Greenhouse Gases (PP13)

Read the article (linked below) about global efforts required to reduce greenhouse gases and poverty. Discuss the relationship between global warming and poverty as well as any obligation we may (or may not) have to address the issue.

Global Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Required to Reduce Poverty
Scientific American (11/19/2012)

Due November 29, 2012

Rebuilding After a Natural Disaster (PP12)

Read the articles below and discuss what obligations, if any, we have to rebuild disaster stricken areas over and over again.

As Coast Rebuilds.......Critics Ask Why 
NY Times 11/19/2012

When Taxpayers Pay People to Rebuild in Harm's Way
NY Times 11/19/2012

Due November 29, 2012

Breaking Down Political Maps (PP11)

Look at the electoral vote breakdown (map from Huffington post here) and discuss what social and/or cultural factors may have contributed to the national divide.

Due November 15, 2012

How Free Are We? (PP10)

Keeping in mind the class discussion on social norms and cultural roles and expectations, how much freedom do we really have in our choices/behavior. Please be sure to defend your position.

Due November 15, 2012

Implicit Bias (PP9)

Take one of the following Implicit Association Tests (Harvard University research) and post your score. Print your results and bring to class for our discussion. Test Options: Race, Arab - Muslim, Weight, Native

Due November 1, 2012

Death and Dying (PP8)

Listen to this Podcast with Raymond Tallis (from Philosophy Bites) and discuss the end of life in the context of self identity.

Due October 25, 2012

Political Affiliation (PP7)

Take the following two quizzes:
Pew Political Party Quiz and the GoTo Political Party Quiz

Post and discuss your results. Be prepared to discuss in class as well.

Due October 11, 2012

Civic Engagement (PP6)

Take the Civic Engagement Quiz developed by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and post your score. Print your results and bring in to class. 

Due October 8, 2012

Pascal's Wager (PP5)

Using your textbook and the class discussion, consider the strengths and weaknesses of Pascal's Wager.

Due October 4, 2012

Euthyphro (PP4)

Read Euthyphro (by Plato). What does the piece tell us about Socrates? About knowledge?

Due September 24, 2012

Pew Online Religion Quiz (PP3)

Take the Pew religion quiz and post your score. Then bring a printout of your results to class next week. Do NOT study in advance, do NOT look up any answers. All students who take the quiz, post their score, and bring in the printout will get full credit regardless of how many questions were answered correctly.

More information about the complete survey and national results can be found here. Do NOT read this until after you have taken the quiz yourself.

Due September 20, 2012

What Is the Matrix? (PP2)

What does the film "The Matrix" suggest about the nature of reality, our ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not, and the value of life in and out of the 'Matrix'? 

Due September 13, 2012

Argumentation and Commonly Used Fallacies (PP1)

In philosophical argumentation, it is important to recognize logic fallacies and avoid using them. Think of those fallacies in your textbook and/or discussed in class and find current examples (3 minimum) of their use on the web or in popular print publications. Be sure to identify each fallacy and explain why it is a fallacy.

Due September 6, 2012

New to Blogging? Need Help? Try This Tutorial

How NOT to Write a Blog Post

A funny take at how NOT to blog from Chris Clarke at Coyote Crossing.....

Welcome Fall 2012 PHI 101 Students

Welcome to PHI101 at GWCC. This semester we will be focusing on human nature and the nature of the universe including knowledge, perception, freedom, determinism, and the existence of God. We'll use the class blog to share ideas and discuss topics of interest. Enjoy!