Category: Philosophy

Instructions
Remember – these journal questions require more thinking than writing. Think about exactly what you are asked to do, and then write as economically as possible.
For this journal assignment, answer each of the following prompts:
Important Idea
Considering only the Introduction to Chapter 5, in terms of developing critical thinking and reasoning, what do you consider is the most valuable and important idea in that section? You can either summarize or directly quote the text; then, briefly explain why you find this idea important and valuable.
Critical Thinking
In Chapter 5, the section “Making Arguments” states: “In some ways applying our core critical thinking skills to analysis can be more difficult than offering an evaluative opinion. Analysis, like interpretation, is understanding at a deep level (p. 89)”
What concepts discussed in Chapter 4 might make analysis of a statement difficult – and why?
Beliefs
Why do you believe what you believe?
What is your “evidence”?
Test one of your beliefs by asking yourself, “Why?” As you answer each “why,” go down another layer – four layers will probably give you a good idea of why you believe what you believe.
Your product should show a well-reasoned and logical basis for your belief. Stay away from the big stuff, like believing in God, or who to vote for in the next election, and don’t look for sources – this is about what you believe and why you believe it. After all, this is only an 8-week course, and we can’t settle everything!

the teaching program at Harvard University says this about final exams: “[they] are one of the most common genres of capstone assignments, set at the end of units or courses in order to give students – and instructors – the opportunity to synthesize and reflect on the full arc of a unit and/or the semester”.
“. Some random person on
Reddit – ‘toofarbyfar’ – says the point of a final exam is “to demonstrate what you’ve learned over the course of the year, and bring all that knowledge together”. So let’s try to do that. Please take some time to “synthesize” and “bring together” what we’ve learned so far this semester. For each question please write at least a one paragraph response, though I would encourage you to expand your philosophical reflections a bit beyond that. As one can imagine this is an open book ‘final exam. Please take the time to go back to each module and review what we have covered before responding to the questions that follow.
And, please try your best to refer back to the work you did in these modules in your responses.

You will be submitting the topic for your Portfolio Project. Ensuring you have a topic that lends itself well to this assignment is a critical part of your success. There are a lot of excellent ethical topics that may not fit our format. In this discussion, we will work together to craft your topic to ensure you are set up for success!
For your paper, you are going to choose an ethical issue that can be argued from more than one position. The tricky part of the setup is that BOTH positions much be ethical. In other words, we want to have ethical positions in conversation with each other and not one ethical one vs. one unethical one. When you have completed this discussion, you should have a well-crafted topic showing your understanding of two different ethical theories. For clarity please label the elements below in your initial post.
In your initial post please include the following clearly labeled elements:
The question that you will address in your paper. This question needs to have a pro/con structure so that you will be able to express arguments both for and against the issue you have chosen. Please see the topic selection worksheet in the Week 3 Topic Selection Assignment area for examples.
The position you will take.
The counter position you will address. You must be sure that the counter position also has ethical support. One way to do this is to imagine which ethical theory would support that position.
In your response to classmates include the following elements:
State whether you believe your classmates counter-argument has ethical support and explain your position.
State which ethical theory we have studied so far would support the counterargument.
This feedback will be valuable in finalizing your topic. Please wait until you have completed this discussion

Clearly and concisely answer all 16 questions in the answer boxes below.
Use 12 point Times New Roman. Each answer cannot exceed 130 words. Any words over 130 words will not be read or graded.

In this article 
Actions
(read p.519-526 middle) Gilbert Harman makes a case for moral relativism.   Your task is to present, explain, and evaluate Harman’s argument.   More specifically, formulate a formally valid version of Harman’s main argument in the beginning of your paper.  Once you have done so, explain each premise of the argument.  Provide textual support where appropriate.   After presenting and explaining the argument, critically evaluate it.  You are required to raise a serious objection to at least one premise, and I want to see a creative example of your own to support the point you raise in the objection. (attched is also a shorter exsample of what is expected as well as the reading)

I have an initial draft with the major points and arguments already laid out. I used an AI essay aid to help make better sense of my very abstract and disorganized first draft. I like the way the Ai aid made my argument easy to understand and how it elucidated a lot of my wordy ideas. Unfortunately, despite extensively editing the final product to make it sound more like my tone, the paper is still being flagged by Ai detectors. I would just need someone who can essentially rewrite the essay while keeping all the information, points, and ideas the same. My goal is for the new rewritten version to not be flagged for Ai use. It’s a thought paper that explores the question of what love is. No sources or additional information is needed, just rewriting what is already there to make it sound more human-sourced while keeping a similar level of depth and clarity. 

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Instructions
Description:
For this assignment, you will choose a scientific theory and write a proposal for how you intend to research it and argue on its behalf.
Before you begin writing your proposal, it is imperative that you understand how to write a philosophy paper. First, read the excerpt by Peter Horban below (all of which can be found in the APUS library). Second, read my directions for how to format your paper as an argument. Third, read my directions for how to write your proposal.
Directions for how to write your proposal:
Once you know where you are going with your topic and have gathered the pertinent sources for your research you can begin your proposal. Start by outlining your intentions for the paper (see Supporting Materials), then write a brief overview of what you hope to accomplish in the paper, i.e. how you will defend the theory you chose, and finish with an annotated citation page.
This proposal should be 300 – 400 words, in MLA or APA format. Additionally, it should include an annotated bibliography of five resources. An annotated bibliography is a regular bibliography but with a couple of additional sentences after each entry that you write that describes how the resource will assist you in writing on your topic. It is expected that your topic and your resources will develop as you do your research and writing, and you may feel free to make adjustments as you go. You should also incorporate as much of our assigned reading/course materials as possible.
In addition to our course materials, a good place to get started is at the Philosophy Research Guide in the APUS Library (see link below). For your annotated bibliography, at least three of your references should be from the APUS Library, including two which are academically, peer-reviewed journal articles. In your annotation, make sure that you describe where you found them in the APUS Library.
Please look at the following to help you write a philosophy paper.
Please look at the following to help you format your paper as an argument.
Due on Apr 28, 2024 11:55 PM

Write an essay on the question: Is desire a sign of our imperfection?
I already have the introduction drafted but you may still change it if you want to. 
Introduction:
Desire is one of the most complex aspects of human nature. This feeling of wanting things can be determined as good or bad. The presence of desire can indeed motivate us and push us to achieve our goals. However, it is also true that desire can sometimes lead to unhealthy behaviors with negative outcomes if not properly understood or managed. So, is desire a sign of our imperfection? To respond to this question, we need to discuss the different types of desire and acknowledge the meaning of imperfection. Also, desire could actually be one of our imperfections, not just a sign of it. Lastly, whether human beings are capable of truly becoming perfect would also be an idea to further develop. 

-write an argumentative essay for your final paper which should be between 1500-2000 words (roughly 6-8 pages) on Reflections on the Doctor-Patient Relationship in
Medical Humanities from the Perspective of Care
Ethics*
Huei-Ya Chen1 Wei-Ding Tsai
The essay MUST be 6 pages minimum. Please use 12-point font in Times New Roman double spaced. You may write up to 8 pages maximum. No more and no less. Please include a work cited page in APA format. See Purdue Owl online for instruction on APA format.
This essay must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph in addition to your body paragraphs. The introduction paragraph should briefly explain what you will be discussing and state your thesis. The thesis statement should make clear what position/s you will be taking in the essay. Finally, your conclusion should provide a recap of the main points of your essay and tie everything together neatly. You are encouraged to use your conclusion to expand on the overall importance of what you have chosen to write about.
Write in your own words! DO NOT USE AI such as Chat GPT, it is obvious to me and easy to detect. 
Write this essay as if you are explaining these ideas to someone who isn’t familiar with the material. You should feel confident that the reader can understand what’s being presented without prior knowledge. 
The Rubric:
The essay is worth up to 250 points, and the outline that you will be submitting a week prior is worth 50 points. 
Structure and Writing:  Your paper should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There should be a clearly stated thesis in your introduction. Please make sure you proofread your paper before submitting it. I highly encourage reading it out loud to yourself or someone else. Make sure you are spelling words and names correctly, using proper grammar, and exhibiting a good writing style. A well written paper should transition from one topic to the next smoothly and read clearly. 
Up to 50 points will be awarded for structure and writing.
0 points: No structure/ missing intro and/or conclusion, tons of mistakes in writing and grammar. 
25 points: Structure and writing is satisfactory, some mistakes but overall effort is strong. 
50 points: Structure and writing is excellent, little or no mistakes, demonstrates style and strong vocabulary. 
Explanation of Question/Problem: Your paper should demonstrate your knowledge and comprehension of the reading you are referring to. You should be able to explain the question/problem clearly and carefully such that someone unfamiliar with the material is able to understand. 
Up to 100 points will be awarded for your explanation of the question/problem.
25 points: Demonstrates some understanding of the question/problem. Satisfactory engagement with the topic but there is a lot of room for improvement.
50 points: Demonstrates good understanding of the question/problem and engages well with the topic. There is some room for improvement.
100 points: Demonstrates excellent understanding of the question/problem. Strong and creative engagement with the topic. 
Argument: Your paper should have a carefully laid out argument that you provide strong reasoning for. You should have a clear thesis statement and supporting premises that a reader would find convincing and thoughtful. 
25 points: Argument is satisfactory but lacks some organization and/or reasoning is weak. A lot of room for improvement.
50 points: Argument is good and well-organized. Reasoning could be stronger/improved. 
100 Points: Argument is excellent and very well organized. Reasoning is strong and clever. 

PHILOSOPHY
(Spring 2024)
Choose one of the statements below as a thesis
statement to defend in an essay. The essay must
a)     
Be at
least 3 pages in length, double-spaced with normal margins.
b)    
Include at
least 3 references to course readings, with at least one from the first part of
the course (theory & reasoning) and at least one from the second part of
the course (topics)
c)     
Make a
clear and well-structured argument in favor of your chosen thesis.
d)    
Be
submitted by the deadline through Bb in either MS Word or PDF format.
e)     
Include
proper and formal citations and reference list.
Statements:
Having children through surrogacy is/is not morally acceptable.