Pl 250  Final in-class writing exercise

This exercise may be done on either of the two times assigned for Pl 250 final examination periods: Tues., Dec. 14 at 3:30 (for RU07 on the schedule) or Thurs., Dec. 16 at 1:15 (RU06 on the schedule).  Loy 5 will be the location for both exercises.

Notes on both sides of a 3X5 card are permitted during this exercise, as is the use of a dictionary and thesaurus.  Please bring your own pens (not pencils) and writing material to the classroom.  What is not permitted is an essay already written out in advance of the writing period.  The idea is to make the writing conditions as equal as possible for everyone.  So that the instructor may share in this equality, please WRITE AS LEGIBLY AS POSSIBLE!  What cannot be read cannot be evaluated.

The writing exercise will consist of the student’s treating four thinkers drawn from two of the final three sections covered in the course.  The sections are: 1) The justification of the state—MLK, jr., Locke, Mill, Marx and Engels, ch. 10 and 11; 2) Problem of God—Anselm, Aquinas/Dawkins, Dostoevsky/Swinburne, ch. 12 and 13; 3) The meaning of life—Aristotle, Sartre, ch. 14.  At the beginning of the period a student will be selected to draw from a hat containing the names of the three themes listed above: 1) justification of the state, 2) problem of God, 3) meaning of life.  The one that is picked will be the theme that everyone MUST write on for the first half of the exercise.  Then, another drawing will take place to determine which individual thinker from that section everyone must write about.  The student is free to pick the second thinker to write about from that same section.

The second half of the exercise is the student’s choice.  Choose which of the two remaining themes you want to write about and then pick two thinkers from that theme.  The thinkers are listed in the paragraph above.  Note that the last theme, the meaning of life, has only two thinkers.  Consequently, if that theme is selected, both Aristotle and Sartre must be treated.  Bottom line: for this exercise, you will be writing on only two of the three themes and two thinkers from each of those themes—for a total of four thinkers.

The Questions:

1)      Justification of the State:  what is the problem with justifying the state philosophically?  (Be sure to define “the State” in speaking to the problem.)  Then explain how each of two thinkers from this section attempts to resolve the problem.  What reasons do they give for their conclusions?  Give a concrete example that illustrates their reasoning.  Finally, evaluate their arguments, pointing out strengths and weaknesses.

2)      Problem of God: what can be said about God’s existence?  (Once again, be sure to define what each thinker means by “God” in his argument.)  Explain and illustrate the arguments of two thinkers from this section.  Finally, evaluate the arguments for strengths and weaknesses.  Dawkins is included only as a critic of Aquinas’ argument and Swinburne is included as a critic of Dostoevsky.  The full arguments of Dawkins and Swinburne need not be explained, nor need their names be mentioned explicitly.  Only the way in which their arguments provide a challenge to Aquinas or Dostoevsky is relevant.

3)      The Meaning of Life:  what is the meaning of life, according to Aristotle and Sartre?  What arguments (reasoning) do they give for their positions?  Illustrate this reasoning by concrete examples.  Finally, evaluate their arguments for strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, spend a paragraph or two explaining whether or not there has been any change in your self-understanding or the way you describe yourself as a result of your conversations with the thinkers and issues discussed in these three sections.  Be as specific as possible.

Thanks for your contribution to the course.  Have an ecstatic Yule!