Thursday, September 30, 2010

First Term Paper


Here's a link to your first term paper assignment: Nicomachean Ethics

The paper is due Tuesday October 12.

Get started right away so that I can help you if you have any questions. Contact me if you're having any problems at all on the paper - if you need help organizing your thoughts, understanding part of the question, or determining whether you're missing something important.

You're welcome to watch the movie again online if you want to review. Here it is on YouTube; streaming on Netflix; streaming on Amazon.

Good luck, have fun!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Grades for Forum 3

Here's a link to your grade on the Mission forum.

Look up your grade by your student ID. If you know you posted, but don't see your grade, send me an email. I probably just typed your ID in wrong.

The first column is your student ID number. The second column is your percentage grade for the first post. The third column is the number of points you earned, out of 75, for the first post. The fourth column is the number of points you earned for your reply to a colleague, out of a possible 50 points.

Let me know if you have questions.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Watch the Movie Streaming Online


Some of you have expressed an interest in watching parts of the film again. Here's a link to rent the movie online: The Mission.

Discussion Forum: The Mission


General Instructions
  1. Choose one of the questions below to answer in depth.
  2. Spend at least 10 minutes brainstorming your answer to the question; don't be satisfied with the first answer(s) that come(s) to mind, but continue to think more deeply about the problem for the entire 10 minute period. Write your answer in a text-editing or word processing program - don't write it directly in the comment box!
  3. The, spend another 10 minutes editing your answer - challenge yourself about your answer, ask yourself why you think the way you do, and develop your answer more completely.
  4. Finally, copy and paste your answer in the comment box, below.
  5. A good answer will be at least half a page long as you're writing it in your processing program.
  6. Answers are due by 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
  7. By 4 a.m. on Monday morning, respond to one of your colleagues. You can (respectfully) challenge the person's reasoning, expand on what someone else has said, use a colleague’s idea as a jumping off point to develop something else, or ask a colleague (in detail, and showing why and how you’re confused or unsure of their reasoning) to expand on what they’ve said. But be sure you’re demonstrating serious engagement with the ideas.

Questions
Choose one of the questions below to work on.
  1. Mendoza's views of what constitutes the good life undergo sweeping changes in the film; how do his views change, and what do you think it says about how to live a good life?
  2. Do you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
  3. Gabriel's view of courage is based on his religious commitments; could you make an argument for that view, without depending on a particular understanding of the divine?

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Midterm 1: Euthyphro


Here's the link to the Midterm: #1 - Euthyphro

Don't forget to start early!

Let me know if you have any questions while you're working on the exam.

Good luck!