Reminder, due Monday, via Turnitin:

Harvard writing book, pp. 57-99, detailed outline or summary. Due the Monday after break, March 24, in hardcopy and via Turnitin. NOTE THE CHANGE! :) 

Monday we will finish discussing the Dialogue book. Please read the final chapters: we can discuss anything from the final chapters.

Wednesday we will move on to the Thinkers' Guide to Philosophy of Religion, Ch. 1, the concept of God. 

Assignments for after the Break

Due Friday after the break, March 21: please read the interviews with Plantinga and Antony from the NY Times. Write a well organized essay, with explicitly stated sections, where you:

I. have an introduction that clearly and briefly explan what you will do in the paper;
II. Explain the main claims and arguments from Plantinga
III. Explain the main claims and arguments from Antony
IV. evaluate at least 4 of Plantinga's and Antony's claims or arguments (at least 2 each) in terms of whether you think they are true or sound or not.
V. write a brief concluion that explains what you did in this paper.

so:
I. Introduction
II. Plantinga's Claims and Arguments
III. Antony's Claims and Arguments
IV. Evaluating Plantinga's and Antony's Claims and Arguments.
V. Conclusion

Harvard writing book, pp. 57-99, detailed outline or summary. Due the Monday after break, March 24, in hardcopy and via Turnitin. NOTE THE CHANGE! :)

Midterm writing essay, due Friday 3/7. BY TURNITIN AND IN HARDCOPY. 

Short assignment: pick a different argument that what you discussed earlier and write a paper clearly stating and explaining the argument, some of the main objections to it, and whether the argument sound or not. Thus, a different version of this assignment, done in an even better way than before:

Your assignment is to clearly and accurately explain one of the arguments for God's existence discussed in these chapters, in a manner so that someone who was not familiar with these arguments would understand. You must also explain at least two objections and whether you think the argument is sound or not. 

Your writing must have these section in the paper; these sections must explicitly be in the paper


A Title (Give your paper an informative title)

I. Introduction
Use these exact words: In this paper, I will discuss the argument for God's existence known as _(give the name of the argument). I will first state the argument and explain each premise. I will then explain at least two objections to the argument. In my conclusion I will explain whether whether I think the argument is sound or not, which will involve explaining whether these objections are strong or not.   

II. The Argument

(fill in this section)

III. Objections to the Argument

(fill in this section)

IV. Conclusion

For Monday:
Please read and write a detailed, detailed, summary or outline by next Monday (3/3): Jim Pryor on how to write a philosophy paper; due via Turnitin:

http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

Reading for Friday, 2/28,

The God decision

Christian parents teach their children to believe in God, atheists teach them not to. Who is doing the right thing?

by Michael Ruse

For Monday, read chapter 5 in the dialogue book on suffering. We will discuss this chapter and related issues and readings midterm week, including these readings: "A Tale of Twelve Officers" and "African-American Philosophy of Religion and the Many Problems of Evil"

Midterm writing essay, due Friday 3/7.

Short assignment: pick a different argument that what you discussed earlier and write a paper clearly stating and explaining the argument, some of the main objections to it, and whether the argument sound or not. Thus, a different version of this assignment, done in an even better way than before:

Your assignment is to clearly and accurately explain one of the arguments for God's existence discussed in these chapters, in a manner so that someone who was not familiar with these arguments would understand. You must also explain at least two objections and whether you think the argument is sound or not. 

Your writing must have these section in the paper; these sections must explicitly be in the paper


A Title (Give your paper an informative title)

I. Introduction
Use these exact words: In this paper, I will discuss the argument for God's existence known as _(give the name of the argument). I will first state the argument and explain each premise. I will then explain at least two objections to the argument. In my conclusion I will explain whether whether I think the argument is sound or not, which will involve explaining whether these objections are strong or not.   

II. The Argument

(fill in this section)

III. Objections to the Argument

(fill in this section)

IV. Conclusion

Please read and write a detailed, detailed, summary or outline by next Monday (3/3): Jim Pryor on how to write a philosophy paper; due via Turnitin:

http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

More assignments posted soon.

Questions from today:

1.  What is the point (or points) of this class? What are we trying to do?

2.  Should other people accept or adopt your religious beliefs? Why or why not?

3.  Should you believe your own religious beliefs? Why or why not? COULD there be someone who should not accept or believe his or her religious beliefs? Who, when, how, why?

4.  If you went to a doctor with some symptoms, would you want the doctor to diagnose you on the basis of good reasons and evidence? If ‘yes,’ do you think religious beliefs should be held on the basis of good reasons, evidence and so forth?

a.  Big question behind this question: what are good reasons anyway, what is good evidence anyway??

5.  Can religious beliefs be good or bad? Are religious beliefs good or bad? Or good and bad? In what way(s)? How so? For who? When? Where?­

“MORALLY GOOD AND BAD”   

OR PRUDENTIALLY..

VS.

INTELLECTUALLY OR “EPISTEMOLOGICALY” OR RATIONALLY GOOD OR BAD.. 

NEW DUE DATES; THIS WILL BE UPDATED IN TURNITIN ASAP THIS AFTERNOON. 

1. Ch. 4, "The Natural Order," is now due by this Wednesday, 2/19 by 11 AM.

2. Harvard writing book; first section 0-56;due on the Monday, the 24th by 11 AM.

3. New assignment, now due by Friday February 21 by 11 AM.

This might partially overlap with and build on your previous writings about Ch. 3, 4, as well as Ch. 2. 

Your assignment is to clearly and accurately explain one of the arguments for God's existence discussed in these chapters, in a manner so that someone who was not familiar with these arguments would understand. You must also explain at least two objections and whether you think the argument is sound or not. 

Your writing must have these section in the paper; these sections must explicitly be in the paper


A Title (Give your paper an informative title)

I. Introduction
Use these exact words: In this paper, I will discuss the argument for God's existence known as _(give the name of the argument). I will first state the argument and explain each premise. I will then explain at least two objections to the argument. In my conclusion I will explain whether whether I think the argument is sound or not, which will involve explaining whether these objections are strong or not.   

II. The Argument

(fill in this section)

III. Objections to the Argument

(fill in this section)

IV. Conclusion

(fill in this section)