Pascal's Wager

Objective

• Evaluate Pascal's argument for belief in God

Agenda

Note to Block 3:  Your tests in Pinnacle were mistakenly labeled to be out of 40 points, instead of 36.  This is corrected.  Your grades should be improved!  

• Music: Unbelievers by Vampire Weekend (Lyrics)
• Collecting Some Journals!
• Pascal's Wager Discussion
• Watch Life of Pi

Western Religions

Objective

• Describe world religions and evaluate arguments for belief in God

Agenda

Short Class - 2 Hour Delay

• Crash Course - Quiz #2 - Western Religions
• Continue Discussion on Buddhism
• Journal #5 - Buddhist thinks all suffering comes from desire.  How ought one respond to this problem in order to live a good life?
• Reading - Pascal's Wager - Due Wednesday 2/25

Eastern Religions

Objective

• Explain major ideas of epistemology and metaphysics.

Agenda

Short Class - 2 Hour Delay

• Music - "Right Action" by Franz Ferdinand
• The chorus "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action" refers to three elements of the Buddhist Eightfold Path
• Quick Video Clip - "How you feel after too much Descartes."
• Test #1 Scores are in Pinnacle
• Slight curve (~2.5%) - one question made EC.
• Average Score = 80%
• Crash Course - Quiz #1 - Eastern Religions
• Begin Discussion on Buddhism

Test #1 - Knowledge

Objective

• Explain major ideas of epistemology and metaphysics.

Agenda

• Test #1 - Knowledge
• World Religions (Crash Course)
• Journal Entries (we're up to #4, see previous days).

Determinism vs. Free Will

Test #1: Knowledge has been delayed until tomorrow.

Objective

• Evaluate the concept of free will

Agenda

• Get Community Character List 
• Ok-Go Music Video: "This Too Shall Pass"
• Brief Lecture - Determinism vs. Free Will
• Q&A
• Community - Remedial Chaos Theory
• Discussion
• Journal Entry #4 - Do we have free will?  Why or why not?
• Study / Work on Crash Course (if time)

If you are absent today:

• Watching the episode of community is optional, however
• Read up on the Determinism vs. Free Will Debate
• Main ideas: Wikipedia - Free Will
• A handy video:  Wireless Philosophy - Problem of Free Will
• This won't be on this test, but will be tested later  (God/Identity units)
• You still need to complete journal entry #4 by Friday

Test Postponed

I know many of you will be attending Claire's funeral on Wednesday.  As a result, I am going to postpone the test until Thursday.  The first crash course quiz will be on Friday, and the second on Monday.

What is True?

Objective

• Analyze arguments about the limits of our knowledge

Agenda

• Attendance
• Test Review Sheet
• Explain Test Format
• Branches of Philosophy
• Small Group Discussion - Randomized
• Share thoughts on one article in depth
• Whole Class Discussion
• Discuss each article briefly
• Review Time
• Journal Entry #3: Evaluate the Simulation Argument.
• Test #1: Knowledge is Tuesday

The Thirteenth Floor

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Watch The Thirteenth Floor (60 min)
• Discussion
• Meditation III is due on Tuesday, February 10th.
• Knowledge readings are due on Wednesday, February 11th.
• Test #1: Knowledge is on Thursday, February 12th.

Descartes - Meditation II

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Discuss Descartes Second Meditation (45 min)
• Journal Entry #2:
• Is Theseus' ship the same after all the changes?  What about the other 'replica' ship using original parts? Explain your thoughts on the problem from our discussion.
• Watch The Thirteenth Floor (45 min)
• Meditation III is due on Tuesday, February 10th.

Work Day

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Agenda

• Work Day
• Journal Entry #1:
• Have you ever had a significant belief called into doubt?  If so, how did this cause you to rethink your other beliefs?  If not, consider what it would be like if one was.
• Do you agree or disagree with Descartes ' plan to "start over" with a new belief system from nothing in light of his past errors?

Descartes - Meditation I

Objective

• Analyze Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy
  

Agenda

• Reading Check
• Meditation I Discussion
• Read Meditation II
• Tomorrow: Thirteenth Floor

Logical Fallacies

Objective

• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• Work On Logic Presentations  (45 min)
• Presentations
• Begin Descartes Meditations
• Meditation I - Due Wed
• Meditation II - Due Fri
• Meditation III - Due Mon

Logical Reasoning

Objective

• Explain major logical structures

Agenda

• Logic Reading Quiz
• Work On Logic Presentations