Day 6 - Informal Logic. Marked Assignment Diary Entry Fallacies

Here's your first marked assignment - when complete please submit to D2L and into the Dropbox as you did with the Video Responses.

Marked Assignment: Identifying Logical Fallacies in Written Text.

Logic/Politics Diary Entry Fallacies

You are to read the fictional teen diary entry below (the sarcasm and humour within the entry are intentional - hey, teens have it rough in the modern world!). There are ten (10) logical fallacies contained within the written text of the entry. You are to create a two-columned chart. In the first column list (by cutting and pasting) each of the logical fallacies you identify from within the diary entry. In the second column identify the categorical type the listed fallacy belongs to (e.g. appeal to ridicule, appeal to spite, etc.).

You will be awarded one mark for each correctly documented fallacy in column A and one additional mark for correctly identifying its corresponding category (the type of fallacy that it is) in column B, for a total of 20 possible marks.  

Please call your work, "Logic/Politics Diary Entry Fallacies" and drop it into the appropriate Dropbox.

My Diary Entry for December 22, 2015

On our flight to Tahiti we had a five-hour layover in Vancouver. Since I was bored I decided to buy something to read. My mother suggested a history reference book would be interesting, but she knows nothing. How could she? She is lightning years removed from being a teen. I heard that Anita Moolah on the other hand had just written a book about getting her life back on track. That sounds so much more relevant to my interests. After all, Anita was, like the most happening teen idol of my adolescent years, so she would be an expert on quality living. I couldn't believe how in a lame, grand finale attempt to appeal to my sense of intellect, mom tried to convince me that generations of people long dead had more to reveal than a downtrodden, induced with woes, former pop star - "Yeah mom, like her tens of millions of dollars in music sales and court appearances hasn't given her a little more wisdom on the subject of life than your standard little 'white picket fence' existence."

Anyway while we were standing in line for my book mom had the nerve to suggest I was becoming mature enough to begin paying for some of the things I need. I was like thinking, "Hello Mrs. Blondie! Do I look like a wage earner? Mom needs to better understand that honest people are often poor. Like, Oh my Gosh, the only reason I even needed this charming little reading article was because, despite evidence to the contrary, I still find it hard to believe that increased social interaction between parents and their children can't be comparatively replaced by expensive alternative solutions. But instead I gave mom my most lovely, little child-like smile and said, "I was just thinking about how bored we'll be, cooped up like human cargo with thousands of other passengers. Who wouldn't provide some form of small offering of entertainment to help their adoring child pass the time? Please mom - Under similar circumstances I would do that for a child. Parents have always been providers. I truly believe that's a role you should assume as a parent." That last part was kind of like re-educating mom that if you believe in fictional bunnies while growing up you are more likely to possess a greater volume of chocolate on Easter morning.

For marking, I'll only assign 10 marks each in Knowledge and Thinking - this is meant to be a very quick assignment reviewing your ability to pick apart a set of arguments, simple stuff really, I'm sure you'll do well.  All the rest of your assignments have an extensive rubric to follow, not to worry.

Day 2 - Video Responses to Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics

We will watch these three videos (you can see the text of these talks (subtitles) by clicking the button directly below the video indicating "27 Languages") and take good notes.

Metaphysics (Dan Dennett)
Epistemology  (Marco Tempest)
Ethics (Paul Root-Volpe)

I'm trying to get a look at your writing so I suggest a couple of things to include in  your writing as follows:

• Define each of the terms (Ethics, Metaphysics, Epistemology) in  your writing.
• Use examples from the videos to illustrate and support your ideas.
• Use examples from elsewhere in society to illustrate and support your ideas.
• Use at least one quote from each video to help illustrate and support your ideas.
• Use your own ideas about whether you agree or not with what the videos are showing and that is what should form the basis of your writing.

Please submit to the Dropbox (Under "Assessments") in the D2L version of this course.  You'll sign in just like you would on a school computer at: 

hdsb.elearningontario.ca

asdf

Day 1 - Welcome to Philosophy!

This is ME and how happy I am that you have chosen this class!

PRE-CLASS Questionnaire

1.  Why study philosophy?
2.  How would you eat soup with a fork?
How would you listen to music if the stereo was stolen from your car?
What could you use to support a falling down bookshelf?
How could you get rid of rain if your wipers don't work?
3.  Why you need to think differently in order to achieve.
4.  An introduction
5.  One of the many philosophers we will study.  Welcome ARISTOTLE!
6.  How philosophy can save your life: one man's story.

COURSE OUTLINE

When you are working hard, and you fall down ... get up again!

What I have learned this semester ...

Sometimes we don't see eye to eye

and that is all right.

When I am least expecting it
something will happen that will change how I think.

No matter how hard I try, sometimes people
won't change how they think ... and that is all right.

Mondays make me happy.

When things go wrong ... hug it out.

When we play, we play nice.

If we hurt someone, 

we try our best to make it better.

Circle time:

What have you learned?

Exam review

Themes	People	Words
Ethics Good Vs. Bad (evil)	Buddha Confucius Plato Aristotle	Moral agent Nihilism Humanism Golden Mean 4 main questions: are moral choices possible why do the right thing how can people be good without religion how should the rightness of wrongness be determined
	Socrates Hedonist Stoic	Good Life
	Thomas Aquinas Kierkegaard Nietzsche Sartre Bentham Kant	Good Person Utilitarianism
		Euthanasia Genethics
Metaphysics		Platonic Realism Materialism Ontology Determinism Taoism
Self Theories:	Descartes Hume Ricoeur Sartre	Substance Bundle Narrative Project
Person(hood)	Locke Dennett Warren Baier
Mind-Brain Question		Materialist Identity Theorist Subjectivist
Supreme Being	Sartre	Theism Deism Polytheism Monotheism Pantheism Ontological Argument Cosmological Argument Argument from Design Pascal’s Wager Atheists’ Argument Determinism Free Will(ism) Existentialism Nihilism

HZT4U Philosophy EXAM Marks    Student Name:______________________        /120 =   _____% Question 1Knowledge Uses accurate vocabulary, ideas and isms to support point of view Demonstrates understanding among philosophical facts, ideas, and concepts Presents information which has variety, depth, and relevance Uses quotations appropriately and effectively to support ideas /15

Thinking Sophisticated, explicit point of view A minimum of 2 clear theories that outline and support answer Sophisticated thought and insight Uses point-proof-comment method effectively; comments reveal solid analysis and connections          /15

Communication Logical progressions of linked thoughts Organization of paragraphs and thoughtful transitions between points and arguments Unity and cohesion of thoughts Uses appropriate wording and sentence structure Uses appropriate structural organization (intro, supporting paragraphs, conclusion) Appropriate voice is used /15

Application Relevant links to modern societal structures Clear and precise examples of  societal links are well explained          /15

FPT

Wed:
Written:
Samantha
Sam
Keira
Matt
Cailen
Kayla

One on on:
Katie
Alfred
Celine
Jake

Thurs: Group
Maddie
Zoe
Zoe
Breanna
Aria
Lindsay


Fri:
one on one:
Zack
Andrew
Taylor
Allie

Motivation

Circle time:

What do you need right now to motivate you?

FPT

Choice 1:
Debate on one of these three questions.  Topic to be chosen at random on the day of the debate.

1. Is selfishness solely a vice?
2. Is empirical science -- as in science which involves experimentation and quantifiable data -- the only way to gain knowledge?
3. Are anger, discompassion and hatred symptoms of weakness?

Choice 2:
Personal discussion with me.  10 minutes in length.  Topic to be chosen at random on the day of the debate.

Choice 3:
Personal written response.  500 words.  Topic to be chosen at random on the day of the task.

Rubric

FPT Options

Debate Example:
How is policing changing the way we live our lives?  Are the decisions of police often unjustified?  Discuss, providing philosophers and theories that would both agree and disagree with your personal philosophy.


Conversation Example:
Given these human rights (I would provide 5), rank them in order of importance.  Find philosophers who would disagree and agree with your personal philosophy.  Be prepared to defend your point of view and have societal links to substantiate it.


Written Question Example:
In deciding who you would save (one person or a group) from an oncoming train, what parameters to you put on the importance of life?  Outline your parameters and find two philosophers (one from each of two units) who would agree with you.

Test Review

Political:
Anarchism
democracy
totalitarianism
fascism
conservatism
libertarianism
liberalism
Machiavellianism (fear vs. love)
social contract


Social:
utopianism
religious utopianism
feminism: Caitlyn Jenner
religious pluralism
social contract
civil disobedience
existentialism marxism: (Marcuse): Caitlyn Jenner
liberalism: Caitlyn Jenner

Events:
same sex marriage: Ireland
Mozambique decriminalizing homosexuality
sex-ed curriculum Ontario
tax savings on feminine hygiene products
Rand Paul filibuster
Fifa controversy
Water in Texas
Heat in India
hospital shooting in Guelph
California drought
Fires burning in Alberta

These next few weeks ...

Mon: circle
Tues: (Lindsay absent), test prep
Wed: Test
Thurs: Kayla and Zack to write test, FPT prep
Fri: FPT prep
Mon:circle, letters
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs:
Fri:
Mon: circle, letters
Tues: exam questions and prep
Wed: exam questions and prep

Try again ...

Circle Time:

Who is your greatest encourager?  What have they encouraged you to try again?

1.  Discussion of what is in the media.

2,  Test prep.

Test questions practice

# 1:
Political

Political philosophy is the study of human social organization and of the nature of man/woman in society. Are the problems of society owing mostly to man's fallen nature, to bad social organization and management, or to something else?  Choose 2 different philosophers who would support your point of view and outline what they would say.  Include one societal link that demonstrates your point of view.


#2
Social

A principle question for social philosophy is:

Who gets what????

This matter is known as DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.  Just how are the goods and services within any society to be distributed?   In any society no matter how small (an island society) or how large (the People’s Republic of China) there will arise the question of how goods and services are to be distributed.  Whether people will be free to work and keep what they earn or whether all must contribute in some way to the welfare of others, particularly those not capable of working and caring for themselves.  Choose 2 different philosophers who would support your point of view and outline what they would say.  Include one societal link that demonstrates your point of view.

Fundamental Changes

Circle time:

Tell me about one personal, local or global event that 

fundamentally changed how you perceive(d) the world.

1.  Links: discussion about the movie and the theories studied

2.  Chart: events, people (etc) we know that link to the theories studied.

I'm sorry ...

Circle time: 

One of hardest things to do be it in school, in a family setting, or in politics is to say you are sorry.

Do you need to apologize?  To whom?  Why?

Finish presentations.

In a perfect world ...

Circle question: In a perfect world, who is our leader?  Or, what philosophy do we follow?

1.  Continuation of social and political philosophies.

Unrest

Circle time:

What is causing the greatest unrest in the global community today?

1.  The ABCs of social and political movements.

Names, cities, human rights, riots, civil disobedience ... who/where/what can you name?

2.  Definitions:

Social philosophy: branch of philosophy that addresses relationships between people and political institutions.

• social welfare
• labour policies
• equality vs equity

Political philosophy: branch of philosophy that looks at the ideal type of government and where the power resides.

• power of the church vs the state
• justice
• monarchy/democracy/constitutional monarchy etc
• meanings of justice and freedom

Main thinkers: a flipped classroom: See mine as an example

1. Find your slides
2. provide limited background info (name, dates, locations etc)
3. provide ONE main social or political philosophical theory
4. find a current (last 100 years) event where the theory came into play (video, 2-5 minutes)
5. explain importance

We will start the flipped classroom presentation on Friday.  You will be expected to take notes and ask questions of your peers.

Circle time: Inspired by the idea of Supreme Being

In many faith systems (both organized and not) there is often a power greater than human which inspires right action, right thought, right deed.
These men in Baltimore decided it was time to stand up to the rioters and defend their police.

Circle question:

Who or what inspires you to do the right action, right thought, right deed?

Supreme Being: Theory

Who would you save?

Circle time: Who would you save?

Film

Sometimes it's not obvious until it hits you over the head ...

Circle time: 

Tell me one thing that is now so obvious to you now that, 

at one point in your life, 

was not so clear.

The human nature of the question of a Supreme Being . . . 
In order to begin your study of questions of a Supreme Being, please read through Chapter 8 of the text and make  notes on these ideas. . . 


Different Approaches to Concepts of a Supreme Being
Theism
Deism
Polytheism
Monotheism
Pantheism
Panentheism     For these six note the similarities and differences between them.


What about the Existence of a Supreme Being (God)?
The Ontological Argument
Cosmological Argument
Argument from Design (Intelligent Design)
Pascal's Wager
Atheism


Hard Determinism
Theories of Freedom
Soft Determinism


And Where Do We Derive Meaning from in our Lives?
Nihilism
Theistic Approach
Non-Theistic Approach

Resistance is futile ... so is Ignorance. We MUST keep QUESTIONING.

1.  Think, pair, share: With a partner, look at these definitions of a person.  Discuss the good and bad of each definition.  Rank them in the order to which you agree with them (accuracy in your mind).  Leave out any you disagree with. 

2.  Share with another set of partners.

3.  As a group of 4, write your own definition of a person.  Share as a class.

4.  In your groups of 4, list 5 criteria for personhood (5 things a person must have to be considered to have personhood status. Ex: self-awareness).  

4a.  Person?  Our Criteria

5.  Using this continuum, decide where each of these living beings appear.

6.  Class continuum: where are your living beings? Discuss.

7.  Introduction to Peter Singer.

8.  Peter Singer on personhood.  Do you agree with any/all/part of his definition of a person?  How could his definition of a person affect law (government or social)?

9.  NOTE: this next video is being used to contradict the previous video.  It is not necessarily my belief or the belief of any member of this class. It is NOT graphic.  

Abortion 73: anti-abortion group. Do you agree with any/all/part of their definition of a person?  How could their definition of a person affect law (government or social)?

10.  Susan Savage-Rumbaugh: The gentle genius of bonobos: Persons?

11.  Personal response: written.  For intro discussion tomorrow.  

What is more important to personhood; 

mind (consciousness) or matter (brain and body)?  

Bring texts for tomorrow.

Who decides who I am? Continuation of Intro to Metaphysics

Circle Time:  Imitation can be the most flattering action.

Who would you/do you imitate?

Why?

Personhood, self, supreme being(s): an introduction to Metaphysics

Who am I?

Circle time:  Look at the posters. 

 Which one represents a part of you?  How?

You may have to share the poster with someone else.

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

Socrates (469 - 399 BCE)

Big Questions of Metaphysics: Presentation 

Self: Main ideas from text

How do you define the ''self''?

Notes from text.

Bundle Theory
Who: David Hume

• the "Bundle" refers to the collection of experiences that you carry around with you forever.
• the Bundle represents your experiences.
• It's a loose collection of PERCEPTIONS about your past experiences.

Project Theory
Who: Jean-Paul Sartre

• the "Project" refers to an ongoing, never-ending project, like the building of a bridge that never ceases.
• always evolving, your "self" is always changing, it's connected to the past (experiences) and the future.
• The exact nature of the project that Sartre refers to is connected to the soul, morals, conscious thinking.

Narrative Theory
Who: Ricoeur:

• The image of a "Book" comes to mind, somewhere to write your own story.
• The main character is created by one's experiences and present events.
• The story is related to other people too, and everyone's book intermixes.
• Your story never ends, even after death as your story continues to be written in other people's narratives (books).

Substance Theory:
Who: Descartes

• the "Substance" is a mental substance of the mind, NOT derived from material things.
• This is the opposite of the Bundle Theory.
• Experiences do NOT change the self, they only send the self in difference directions.
• This is analogous to a sail boat, e.g., "the HMS Self" - the wind are experiences that may change the boat's direction in the water but do not change the boat in any way.

Your turn!  Into your notes definitions for the following:

• idealist
• realism
• materialism
• monists
• dualists
• ontology
• determinism
• substance
• essence
• form