Midterm 2: Kant

Here's a link to your Kant Midterm; you won't be able to complete all the questions yet, but if you want to download it and get started, feel free. Read the instructions carefully!

Let me know if you have questions while you're working on the exam; get started early so that you can get help if you need it.

Good luck, have fun.

Forum 3: The Laramie Project

***NOTE***

Because of the power outage, we introduced Kant in class today instead of finishing the movie. We'll finish watching the movie on Tuesday (I'll email the location before class). New due dates for your forum answers are below.

***NOTE***

Please read all of the comments before you post - my goal for these projects is to make them a real conversation. So see what other people have talked about before you post, and then take that into consideration in your own comments.

**NOTE**
Please stick very closely to the questions below. There are all kinds of discussions one could have about the ethical issues raised by this film, and there's value in having those discussions. But if we're all going off in different directions, it's impossible to pursue any one question in depth, and that's what I want to do.

***NOTE***
Make absolutely sure that you're speaking with respect for everyone in your comments. Comments that display disrespect for persons will be deleted and you will not get credit for your answer.

**NOTE**

Don't forget to sign your name to your post! I have more than one class at a time posting to various blogs, wikis, and whatnot, and I can't keep track of everyone's handle. Put at least your first name and last initial so I can record your grade.

Please post your response to one of the questions below by Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. Then respond to 1 of your colleagues by Sunday, March 27, at 8 p.m. Your comments should be substantive and thoughtful. Try to elaborate on your ideas, and explain why you think about things the way you do.

1. Many people were particularly upset that Matthew Sheperd was murdered because he was gay. Do you think there's something particularly bad about crime when it's aimed at someone because of their inherent characteristics (like their race, ethnicity, gender) rather than, say, because you wanted to steal something from them? Why or why not?
2. What unexamined ideas and assumptions do you think the young men had, that made them react the way they did to Matthew? What do you think motivated those assumptions?

If you missed watching the movie in class, you can get it from the library: The Laramie Project

I can't find transcripts from McKinney's trial online; here's a story about the defense from the New York Times.
image published by Xnatedawgx under a creative commons attribution/share alike license

Term Paper 1: Aristotle

Here's the link to your Aristotle paper. Some of the questions may not make sense until we're finished discussion on Thursday, but if you want to get started on the earlier questions, go ahead!

Term Paper 1: Aristotle

Grades for Forum 2

Here's a link to your grades from Forum 2. The post is worth 75 total points; the response is worth 50.

Forum 2 Grades

Forum 2: The Mission

General Instructions

1. *Update*
2. Sorry for the confusion - the characters listed below are the Guarani - I don't have names for the Spanish and Portuguese characters.
3. Choose one of the questions below to answer in depth.
4. 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!
5. 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.
6. Finally, copy and paste your answer in the comment box, below.
7. A good answer will be at least half a page long as you're writing it in your processing program.
8. Answers are due by 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
9. By 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday 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.

Miss a day of the movie? You can watch it here streaming online.
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 in this Mission 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?

Oh, by the way: for reference, here are the character names of the central characters-
Medicine man - Sigifredo
Chief (king) - Asuncion
Luitenant - Alejandrino
Young boy - Bercelio (the main little kid, with the monkey)

Jeremy Irons was Father Gabriel
Robert DeNiro was Rodrigo

The Cardinal's name is Altimarano

Midterm 1: Euthyphro

Here's a link to the first midterm: Euthyphro Midterm

Email me if you have any questions as you're working on it.

Answer are due Tuesday, February 22, during class.

Don't forget that we'll meet in the Skills Center lab next week.

Forum 1 Grades

Hi all,

Hope this works - let me know if you have trouble getting to the link.

Grades for Forum 1