Archived

2011 front page archive:

WELCOME TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE MIND WIKI!

Bookmark this site and check in at least once a day for updates, homework, resources and discussions.

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Link to the Trolley Problem Quiz:

Trolley Problem

Link to Utilitarian cases for research:





Do you seek power?

Term 2 Homework and Exam revision (including the chapter on Fallacies) - go to HOMEWORK, and scroll down for TERM 2
For quotes and articles, here are some good examples:

Frontline - Fall of Rudd

Fascinating Rise and Fall of Kevin Rudd

The Australian - The Rise and Fall of Kevin Rudd

And the best opening line of all ...

(This one gives you preview access to David Marr's essay on Rudd's downfall - just click the preview link and use the zoom functions to read it - a very telling piece of writing with **great quotes**)

For some examples of previous responses to the links between Machiavelli, Plato and Kevin Rudd's demise, se:

Machiavelli and the Fall of Kevin Rudd

Machiavelli, Plato and Kevin Rudd

Machiavelli and Rudd

Environmental Philosophy references for your Environmental Proposal and Letter:


 * Assignment Handout: [[file:Enviro Assignment.docx]]**


 * John Muir:**

The Sierra Club Exhibit: (find out more about Muir and the Sierra Club here)

**http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/**

**"Man's Place in the Universe" (online copy)**


 * Henry David Thoreau:**


 * The Thoreau Reader Online**


 * (Includes the full version of "Walking" from 1862)**


 * Vandana Shiva**

Videos and summary of ideas:

@http://current.com/green/89152862_small-farmers-ecofeminism-vandana-shiva.htm

"How Ecofeminism Works"

@http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/ecofeminism.htm


 * Epicurus and the Environment:**

Principal Teachings of Epicurus

@http://www.analyse-und-kritik.net/2006-2/AK_O_Neill_2006.pdf


 * 'Rising Currents' Exhibition about the New York Waterfront (MOMA):**


 * Rising Currents Exhibition**


 * How to write a letter to government:**


 * @http://www.pekisko.ca/pk_write.html**

Homework- Archived 2010

** Week 1: **
Task 1. Blog Entry #1: DUE: Mon. 08/02/10

Task 2. Prepare your 2 min presentation on an early philosopher from Raphael's famous 'School of Athens' painting. DUE: Tues. 09/02/10 Download here:

** Week 2: **
Task 1: 'Biography of a Famous (or Favourite) Philosopher' DUE: Fri. 19/02/10

Download:

Week 3: Blog Entry #2, 'Definitions in Philosophy' (including your definition of intelligence) DUE: Mon. 22/02/10

Download it here:

** Week 4: **
Blog Entry #3, 'What is Intelligence' / Emotional Intelligence DUE: Mon. 01/03/10 Handout: 'Emotional Intelligence' by Daniel Goleman

Download it here:

Week 5: Socratic Dialogue: Typed up on blog. Type up and edit the Socratic Dialogue you scribed during class.

Due: Mon. 09/03/10

Week 6: Socratic Dialogue Questions: Due: Fri. 19/03/10 Download it here:

** Week 7: **
CD Player (Ethics): Due: Mon. 22/03/10

Download it here:

** 'The Ethics of Facebook': Due: Fri. 26/03/10 **
Download it here:

** Term 2 **
Week 1

Discussion of arguments for the existence of God + Natural Selection and 'The Problem of Evil' Reading: "Does God Exist", The Philosophy Gym

Week 2: "Does God Exist"? Evaluating the Arguments Due: Fri. 23/04/10



Week 3 Simon (Student Teacher) will be teaching the class. Ethical issue: "What's Wrong with Gay Sex?" from The Philosophy Gym

Meta-Ethics: Plato's argument from The Euthyphro: 'Are things wrong because God says so, or does God say that they are wrong because they are?'

No homework this week

Week 4

Nietzsche and morality

Group Task: Developing a morality to suit your situation:



In class: read and discuss the Nietzsche cartoon about 'slave' morality.

Religions of the world - research session in the library + work on assignment for HOMEWORK.

Week 5

Research + Presentation week

Present your comparative religion assignment and see others present theirs. At the end of each presentation, ask questions!

Homework: Complete your presentation to a high standard and rehearse at home.

Week 6

Presentations continue

No homework (apart from revision / finishing any pieces you have not yet submitted on your blog)

Week 7

"Is morality like a pair of spectacles?" The Philosophy Gym

On your blog, complete the 11 questions related to the handout.

Download them here:

Week 10

"Against E-Ville" The Ethics of Terrorism

What are your views on the Ethics of Terrorism? 1. Read through the E-Ville Dilemmas again, and respond to the prompts at the end of each section. Your responses should be based on the discussions in class so far and your own ideas. Offer a range of ideas, issues and considerations for each problem.

(For Dilemma 20, answer the question, 'Can non-violence and the avoidance of harm principle lead to real change against an evil opponent? What issues and difficulties does this approach create?)

2. Outline and explain your own ethical dilemma related to the issue of terrorism. You may find an article and comment on this, related to the topic. Suggest some possible problems, issues and reponses to this dilemma, using philosophical reasoning.

Due: First week back, Term 3

TERM 3

= **Week 1-2** =

Complete the reflection questions on the handouts: "The Warrior" and "The Observer"

= **Week 3-4** =

Read the extracts from Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Plato's "The Republic" in the handout (Philosophy of Power).

Complete Tasks 1-3 in class. Complete any unfinished questions at home in preparation for the 'Fall of Kevin Rudd' assignment.

Complete the questions on the article: "Rights Watchdog Savages War on Knives" from The Age newspaper.

First blog entry for term 3 (Task 1-3) due: Friday 13/08/10

**('... war on knives' article questions should also be uploaded by end of week 4)**
= **Week 5-6** =

**Assignment: The Philosophy of Power applied to the fall of Kevin Rudd**
= DUE: Fri. 20/08/10 ** (10% off per day late) ** =

See handout for details. You will be working either individually, in pairs or a three. If you are a group of three, you will need to address three themes. The minimum number of themes is two. Suggested themes may be found under the link "The Fall of Kevin Rudd" to the left column of the wiki.

**There are two components to this task:**

**1. A research report: 5 pages** **2. An in class presentation of your argument and findings from the newspapers.**

**All projects will be presented in the library.** **There will also be an award for the best research report.**

**Theme 1:** Prudence / Reputation / Private and Public faces of leadership / better to be feared than loved **Theme 2:** Fighting by law or force / Lion and Fox (Machiavelli) / deception (or breaking one’s word as a virtue in leadership) / Plato’s Guardian(s)