philosophy

The discussion grading rubric lays out a simple three-part structure for these essays. Think of this as paragraphs:

First paragraph: WHAT IS THE PRIMARY TEXT and what is your THESIS?:A brief overview of the text you are using: "In The Apologia Socrates....."  Remember, The reader may know less than you about this text and you need to demonstrate your familiarity with it. What it is about (a sentence or two) and CITE it.  At the end of the first paragraph, place your THESIS: "This post argues a,b,c ". Remember, your reader cannot read your mind, and you never want anyone making up stuff about what they think you are meaning.  

Second paragraph: one, two, or maybe three brief points (cited quotes from text) that provide proof, reasons, rationale for your thesis.

Third paragraph: your personal experience, wisdom, examples to support your thesis and conclude the post.

 For anyone (all of us) who need another eye on your writing, structure, grammar, I recommend Grammarly.Com or Whitesmoke.Com. If you use these, I will give extra points.

In-text citation in all paragraph and at least 3 MLA citaions

Each question should have their citation

Question 1:  Political Theory : Religious Tolerance?  John Locke believed in Religious Tolerance (except for Catholics) and also that legislative and executive power of the government should be exercised for the good of society. Explore this topic by asking yourself a political question:

Answer the question: Is it proper for government to legislate religious tolerance? (in other words, is it right to make religious intolerance a crime?)

Use Locke's Second Treatise on Government the learning resources, as well as your own experiences and reasoning in your argument.

· MLA Citation:  http://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/mla_tutorial.cfm

Question 2:  Political Theory : The Limits of Freedom. Locke promoted the rights of the individual over the power of the state but recognized the power of the state to limit freedom in some cases. Explore this conflict by asking yourself a political question:

· Answer the question: Do citizens have the right to break the law as they see fit, even if it harms me directly?

· Use Locke's Second Treatise on Government , the learning resources as well as your own experiences and reasoning in your argument.

. REQUIRED READING

(1) [PRIMARY TEXT] John Locke, Second Treatise on Government. Project Gutenburg, n.d. Project Gutenburg Text.

The text of John Locke's Second Treatise of Government (1690), edited by C.B. McPherson.

(2) Diana, M. Casey. "Locke Publishes Two Treatises of Government." Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2013.

An introduction to Locke's political treatises on government and Natural Law. [ADA: Audio option]

(3) Russell, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy. vol. [New ed.], Routledge, 2004. Routledge Classics.

(a) Chapter 14: Locke's Political Philosophy, pp. 563-582

II. SUPPLEMENTAL READING

(4) Hillard, Richard L. "John Locke." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2014.

A short introduction to the life and writings of John Locke. [ADA: Audio option]

(5) "Skepticism." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1p. 1.

An introduction to the philosophical concept of Skepticism. [ADA: Audio option]

(6) "Enlightenment, Age of." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1p. 1.

A short introduction to the social and intellectual climate of the 18th century. [ADA: Audio option]

(7) Malcolmson, Patrick. "Natural Law." Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2014.

A short introduction to the concept of Natural Law. [ADA: Audio option]

III. SUPPLEMENTAL AUDIO/VIDEO

"Colonial America ep. 4: John Locke." YouTube. Uploaded by Kristina Edgar, Aug. 9, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aPnKCDArdE

Sample

In "Plato's Allegory of the Cave", the prisoners in the cave believe the images they see on the walls of the cave are real or true because that is all they have known since birth.  They were never exposed to anything else; and, therefore, do not know some other form of reality.  This knowledge is what they believe to be the truth. One could argue that truth to the prisoners in the case of the shadows is based on the correspondence theory because their idea of truth corresponds to their “facts or reality.”  (Philosophy, para 8). 

Even though one prisoner is left out of the cave and sees another world, he has a difficult time believing what he sees because he does not know this other world.  He doesn't believe when he is told that the shadows are not real because his only knowledge of what he believed to be true was based solely on the objects on the wall in the cave.  With a bit of time and seeing images such as a reflection in the pond, the images become clearer.  As his eyes start to adjust to the sunlight, he becomes knowledgeable about this new world and realizes that maybe what he saw in the cave was not true.  With this knowledge in hand, he goes back to the cave and has a hard time seeing the images on the cave wall.  The prisoners think that he is foolish for not believing that the shadows are real, and they refuse to believe that there is any other truth than what they have seen in the cave.  This is an example of how "most people are not just comfortable in their ignorance, but hostile to anyone who points it out" ("Plato's Allegory of the Cave" 2:22). 

I think the prisoners' knowledge of the world was based on rationalist beliefs.  They believed the shadows were real objects from their experience of seeing only the shadows in the cave.  The prisoner who was released proved English Philosopher John Locke's argument that "the rationalist belief that the principles of knowledge are intuitively self-evident, arguing that all knowledge is derived from experience, either from the experience of the external world, which stamps sensations on the mind or from internal experience, in which the mind reflects on its own activities." ("Epistemology" para 5).

 I think I justify my beliefs to others based on what I know from my experiences.  For example, I believe in God based on my upbringing and my experiences in going to church and listening to what was preached to me.  I went to a Catholic church and was told that God exists; therefore, I believe it because that is what I was taught.  That is how I would justify my belief in God.  However, after becoming interested in other religions, I still believe in God but not only the God I was told to believe in.  With a bit more knowledge, I know that there are other Gods and not everyone believes in the same God.

In sum, I think the difference between truth and belief is truth is based on facts and belief is what we think is true. 

Works cited:

Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2018, 1p. “Epistemology.”  World Book, Inc. Chicago. 2021,  https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d01a6104-81f1-4c3d-b350-7ffb2dd7e9a8%40sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=ep050300&db=funk .

Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2018, 1p. “Philosophy.”   World Book, Inc. Chicago.  2021,  https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=0f131593-e3fa-4051-92c3-dea9a5521635%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=ph068900&db=funk .

Gendler, Alex. “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.”  YouTube, uploaded by TED Ed., 17 Mar. 2015,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWOpQXTltA .

I will be happy to work with anyone on your work. Good work is self-respect.

Prof. Ed