Research Paper: Great Thinkers:
Due: Wednesdau January 11th, 2012
Length of Paper: 1000 Words Typed
Please include the following: 3 sources, minimum 5 quotes in paper, citations
in text and a separate bibliography
Option 1: KANT's Revolution: Does Immanuel Kant bridge traditional &
contextual Philosophy?
Some argue that Immanuel Kant has offered a revolutionary approach to
epistemology by reconciling the traditional dichotomy between rationalism
and empiricism. Kant said, it was a careful reading of David Hume
that "interrupted my dogmatic slumbers and gave my investigations in the
field of speculative philosophy a quite new direction." Kant supposed that
the only adequate response would be a "Copernican Revolution" in philosophy,
a recognition that the appearance of the external world depends in some
measure upon the position and movement of its observers. This central idea
became the basis for his life-long project of developing a critical
philosophy that could withstand them.
The crucial question, according to Kant, is not how we can bring ourselves
to understand the world, but how the world comes to be understood by us.
Instead of trying, by reason or experience, to make our concepts match the
nature of objects, Kant held, we must allow the structure of our concepts to
shape our experience of objects. This is the purpose of Kant's "Critique of
Pure Reason": while showing the limits of PURE REASON he shows how reason
still determines the conditions under which experience and knowledge are
possible. Numerous LINKS are provided to aid you in this paper. Make sure
to focus on Kant's ideas areound "KNOWING" and not his ideas about "ETHICS".
Option 2: Who is the Philosopher that is most relevant to our world
today?
Your challenge is to research the philosopher who you feel is most
significant, important and relevant to our society, culture and world so
that you can make a convincing argument as to why you feel this person is so
important.
Many people throughout history have been giants in bringing us to new
heights of awareness and insight. These sages, prophets, dreamers and
thinkers have helped us to imagine new ways to live and understand our
world. Some of them have moved us to think and act in entirely new ways.
Your job is to highlight the unique contributions of one of these special
persons who you feel has something special to teach the world that we live
in today. You will need to argue forcefully not only what their philosophy
is all about, but also how we need to apply this philosophy or world-view to
the important issues and realities that confront us in the present moment.
Option 3: “What does it mean to be a Human Being?”
Using at least 3 different philosophers, with a minimum of 3 sources,
employing multiple quotes, and using proper footnotes and bibliography, write
a paper entitled: “What does it mean to be a Human Being?” Feel free to
agree or disagree with the philosophers you have chosen – but be sure to
articulate your own philosophy on this central issue. Good luck I look
forward to reading your papers.
Philosophy Final Culminating Assessment: Ideas that Matter NOW
Due: Wednesday Jan 11th, 2012 Drop Dead Date Fri. Jan 13th, 2012
Length of Paper: 750-1000 Words Typed
Fotnotes & Bibliography required: Please include the following: 2 sources,
minimum 3 quotes in paper, citations in text and a separate bibliography
Research one of the following contemporary thinkers who is wrestling
with ideas of global significance which are relevant to you personally in
your own attempt to seek out the truth and become a wiser human being.
Write an essay using at least three sources in which you summarize this
person's ideas and in which you are able to illustrate why this person's
ideas are crucial to the improvement of our world. Your thesis statement or
argument should focus on how this person's ideas must be paid attention to
if our world is to progress or evolve. Make sure to quote this person and
your sources; footnotes and bibliography are essential.
Some of the figures you may consider are as follows:
Economics & Globalization:
Naomi Klein, Maude Barlowe, Noam Chomsky, Marilyn Waring
Creation & Ecology:
David Suzuki, Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, Matthew Fox
Spirituality & Healing:
Deepak Chopra, Jean Vanier, Mary Jo Leddy
Justice & Peace:
Jim Wallace, John Dear, Jon Sobrino, Pablo Freier
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