Descartes: Meditation III

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #8: Describe one reason why you think that Descartes - whether his logic is sound or not - is worthy of some study.
• Test Format
• MC / Matching / TF
• One long essay.  Choose from two topics:
• Allegory of the Cave & The Matrix
• Compare the two ideas, describe purpose of these stories.  Take a position on the question:  "Is it always better to know the truth?  Why or why not?"
• No notes.  Access to text of the allegory.
• Descartes Meditations
• Summarize Descartes main arguments, first his questioning, then his case for his own existence  then the existence of God.
• You may use your Meditations text, complete with highlights and margin notes.
• Discussion
• Meditation III
• Student questions
• Descartes Proof of God's existence
• Evaluate the main argument
• Why is God not a deceiver, according to Descartes?
• The Matrix
• Cipher's Problem:  Would you want to be plugged back in?
• Does it matter if it's real or not? 
•  Is pleasure the ultimate goal?
• Neo: "All my memories never happened."
• Is that true?
• What makes a memory real?

The Matrix & Reading

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #7: How does Descartes prove that he exists?
• The Matrix
• Read Meditation III

Descartes: Meditation II

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #6: What problem from Descartes Meditations does The Matrix resemble?
• Meditation I Discussion
• Share student questions
• Discuss
• Add Mr. M's highlights
• The Matrix

The Matrix

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #5: Is the problem of the "evil demon" something that you think can be overcome with pure reason, or does it present so much uncertainty that we can't know anything?
• The Matrix
• Read Meditation II-III

Descartes: Meditation I

Objective

• Describe major logical structures& logical fallacies
• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Warm-Up #4: Why does Descartes start this project of doubting everything?
• Meditation I Discussion
• Share student questions
• Discuss
• Add Mr. M's highlights
• The Matrix
• Read Meditation II

Radical Doubt

Objective

• Describe major logical structures& logical fallacies
• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• No Warm-Up Today.  Just get your poster and prepare to present with your partner.
• Logic Posters Presentation
• Start with Jessica, continue clockwise
• Descartes Reading
• Read Meditation I
• Discuss as a class

Logical Fallacies

Objective

• Describe major logical structures& logical fallacies

Agenda

• Warm-Up #3: What is the main difference between deductive and inductive reasoning?
• Quiz #1: Logical Reasoning
• Take Quiz
• Review Quiz
• Logic Posters & Presentation
• Will present @ start of class tomorrow
• (If Time) - Begin Reading Descartes

Logical Reasoning

Objective

• Analyze Plato's Allegory of the Cave
• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• Warm-Up #2: Based on your reading, what do is the main point behind Plato's Allegory of the Cave?
• Allegory of the Cave - Analysis & Discussion 
• Story & Setup
• Finding The Truth
• What is real?
• Theory of Forms
• Is it always better?  Do people like it?
•  Returning to the Cave
• How would you be regarded?
• PowerPoint
• Logic
• Logic Reading (Quiz on Thurs)
• Logic Presentation (due on Fri)

Plato: Leaving the Cave

Objective

• Analyze Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Agenda

• Collect Info Sheet
• Computers
• Log On
• Website
• Setup Journal
• V-Sauce
• Find the video we watched yesterday on the Public Drive.  It can be found under Public / Malafarina / Philosophy of Knowledge
• Watch the remainder of the video.  We left off about 5 minutes in.
• Warm-Up #1: Michael introduces the concept of a Theory of Mind.   Why is this idea so important?  What does it enable humans to do that other animals can't do?
• PowerPoint
• Major Figures
• Allegory of the Cave
• Primary Source:  Allegory of the Cave (due tomorrow)
• Logic Reading (due Thurs)

Introduction

Objective

• Explain classroom procedures and expectations
• Analyze how we know what we "know"
  

Agenda

• What is Philosophy?
• The Key Question
• Discussion
• The Topics
• The Syllabus
• Pass Out Syllabus
• Pass Out Info Sheet
• The Cactus
• Discussion Rules
• Question Cards for Mr. M
• Discuss: What is something you know to be true?
• V-Sauce
• Computers
• Log On
• Website
• Setup Journal

Homework - due tomorrow

• Info Sheet / Permission Slip