...politics to name a few. Just as the earliest philosophers found their intellectual foundations in the works of the pre-Socratics collective, we too, found our ways of thinking influenced by the work of older men in our families, other folk in the neighborhood, and those no longer with us. Their labor-intensive road map provided us the basic knowledge from which to begin developing our own methods and skill sets to answer new types of questions related to daily life in Arkansas. However different the scope of questions we began to ask ourselves are from the questions early philosophers asked, we share in learning from and building on the methods and teachings of men before us. Some of the earliest philosophers, such as Plato incorporated similar questions about reality and truth as the pre-Socratics collective, however, based their inquiries within the natural world and used reason as the methodological vehicle. Because this type of thinking was contextualized outside of supernatural forces and myth and magic, the pre-Socratics collective are often times considered the first scientists of Western culture who laid the earliest foundations shaping the study of metaphysics and epistemology (Chaffee 230). This way of thinking sought to answer similar questions as those based in religion and myth, but sought answers through observations and analytical reasoning within the natural world. Generally, this way of thinking embodied the nature and scope of knowledge, theories of knowledge...
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...basis for Western philosophy. Plato, the writer of The Apology, significantly respects Socrates and his dialogues act as a framework for our understanding in the passages. Our only record of his life comes from his associates, as Socrates never documented his opinions. A clear expression of Socrates’ philosophy is represented in The Apology. The purpose of this paper is to establish a clear demonstration of Socrates’ philosophy using The Apology as reference, and also explain my personal view on philosophy. In the first section of this paper, the famous statement from Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living”, will be connected when explaining three principle components of his philosophy: Irony, Method and Ethos. The second section of this paper will reveal my personal view on philosophy. Rahut’s claim on philosophy being the study of “open questions” will be supported by examples and descriptions. In the case that a question cannot be accurately answered or proven with our existing knowledge, I demonstrate that it should be classified as an ‘open question’. Throughout section 17-18 of The Apology, Socratic irony is apparent. He clearly presents himself as a man whom is delivering words of truth. Although, while Socrates states that he is not a clever speaker, it shows that he actually is clever. By doing this, he is engaging some very effective use of his language. After Socrates has proven to degrade his rivals, he changes his tone of conversation back to ordinary...
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...Abstract This paper explores critical thinking skills and teaching them in an educational setting. Teaching critical thinking is highly debatable. Many feel as though it is not a necessary skill that needs to be learned and others feel as though it is not a skill that can be taught. In this paper I will discuss what critical thinking is and ways it can be taught in an educational setting. Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in Schools For many years critical thinking has been an important issue in education. Following the 1948 Convention of the American Psychological Association, Benjamin Bloom, an American educational psychologist, took control over the development of the goals of the educational process. The goals of the educational process included knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Ever since, the debate over critical thinking has been a hot one (Schneider, 2002). What is critical thinking? Well throughout the past decade the definition of critical thinking has somewhat changed and there are numerous definitions to define it. According to Paul Chance, “critical thinking is the ability to analyze facts, generate and organize ideas, defend opinions, make comparisons, draw inferences, evaluate arguments and solve problems” (Chance, 1986). According to Tama Carrol critical thinking is, “a way of reasoning that demands adequate support for one’s beliefs and an unwillingness to be persuaded unless support is forthcoming”...
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...Slice of Life A Synthesis Paper on Philosophy and Logic Jonn Denzel V. Ramos BSGE-1E Does God exist? How to build an attractive city? Does life is real or just an imagination? An average person fails to answer these questions objectively, but philosophers have this will on solving these problems. Philosophy and logic are the fundamentals in search for meaning. Philosophers have these skill set which makes them think different from others, which leads and guides them to real and unbiased answer, it is a slice of life where they embrace every single moment they put up time and effort in their search for answer. Long time ago, Ancient Greeks invented philosophy as the way of thinking and asking questions about all things through its ultimate causes. Pre-Socratic Pythagoras coined the word philosophia which means “love of wisdom” or people who are faithful to wisdom as St. Thomas Aquinas called as wise man. Philosophy began to spread throughout the rest of the world, as the knowledge and discipline that engages and sharpens our reasons. There are three components of philosophy, the material object, formal object and natural scope. The material object refers to the subject being observed and finding the root cause on how it exist is its formal object. The natural scope is simply defined as natural reason which philosophers use in search for explanations. Ordinary and profound are two types of knowledge in philosophy. Ordinary knowledge is the foundation or the simplest form...
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...IB Assessment Preparation Packet World Lit Paper 1 = 10% Purpose for World Literature Paper 1: You will write a comparative study of at least two of the works in Part I. The aspect selected must focus on some pertinent link between the chosen works and may reflect the interest of the candidate. The paper must be at least 1000 and no more than 1500 words. It should be appropriately documented. Everyone in a given class will have a different topic. Text Choices for World Lit paper: You may choose two of the following: Siddhartha, Hesse Candide, Voltaire A Doll’s House, Ibsen (if you don’t use it for the presentation) The Stranger, Camus General Types of Topic Choices for Essay: Topics may be based on any aspect(s) of the work(s) studied: • cultural setting of the work and how it and related issues are reflected • thematic focus as reflected in craft • characterization techniques • technique and style • author's attitude to particular elements of the work(s) such as character, subject, form, setting, narrative technique • international perspectives on common human problem (essay) • cross-cultural perspectives on the artist’s role in society • interpretation of particular elements from different perspective Focus for Paper: Your focus will depend on the nature and scope of your topic. The sophistication of literary criticism expected in elaborated in your rubrics. You will be expected to show: • thorough knowledge...
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...Philosophy Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Discussed in this paper will be the most prominent individuals in each time period and their ideas, starting with the “Pre-Socratic” philosophers and ending in the era of post modernism. The time period in ancient Greece between the end of the seventh century B.C. and the middle of the fourth century B.C. is what is known as the “Pre-Socratic Era”. The thinkers known as the “Pre-Socratic Philosophers” used the four basic elements (water, earth, fire, and air) as their foundations for their ideas. Thales and most of the other Pre-Socratic philosophers limited themselves mostly to inquiring the nature of existence, being, and the world. They were mostly Materialists, believing that all things are composed of material and nothing else, and were mainly concerned with trying to establish the single underlying substance of which the world is made up. They used this idea of “Monism” without resorting to supernatural or mythological explanations. To these men even the commonest of phenomena like lightning, water freezing to ice, and natural disasters would have appeared miraculous. Empedocles, first of the pluralists, who proposed that reality, is composed of an irreducible plurality of elements. He also documented the first theory of evolution. Democritus developed the extremely influential idea of Atomism (that all of reality is actually...
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...Research Paper on a Philosopher Plato Valerie Jenter Centenary College April 24, 2012 Abstract Many Philosophers made a difference in society but Plato is perhaps recognized as the most famous. His writings have had a profound effect on people, politics, and the philosophy throughout the centuries. He was a public figure and he made major contributions to society. Plato helped to lay the philosophical foundations of modern culture through his ideas and writings. One of the most philosophical thinkers of Western civilization, Plato is the only author from ancient Greek times whose writings survive intact. His collection consists of thirty-five dialogues and thirteen letters, though the authorship of some is contested. Plato was born in Athens, into a prosperous aristocratic family. His Father’s name was Ariston and his Mother’s name was Perictione. His relative named Glaucon was one of the best-known members of the Athenian nobility. Plato's name was Aristocles, his nickname Plato originates from wrestling circles, Plato means broad, and it probably refers either to his physical appearance or his wrestling style. “Plato is, by any reckoning, one of the most dazzling writers in the Western literary tradition and one of the most penetrating, wide-ranging, and influential authors in the history of philosophy,” (Kraut, 2009). Plato was born during the Golden Age of Athens’s...
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...Psychology October 7, 2013 Abstract Philosophy has been said to be the mother of all disciplines. Philosophy is the oldest disciplines studied and has influenced modern science. Natural and social science have their roots in philosophy. Modern sciences are influenced by philosophy and are similar to philosophical questions. Understanding the way problems are addressed by philosophers is essential to understanding the science of psychology. Philosophers paved the way for modern psychology. Aristotle was a very famous philosopher and was called the father of psychology. Aristotle created idealism which believes that the mind and reasoning cannot exist without the body. Plato was also a philosopher. He taught theories based on the behaviors of humans like impulses and reasoning. Rene Descartes, another philosopher determined that psychology is an actual discipline. There are several philosophers that have influenced 19th Century philosophy. Edward Hitzig and John Locke are respected 19th Century philosophers, just to name a few. These philosophers have had an impact on 19th Century philosophy like no other. Their discoveries provide a different perspective on modern psychology. ("Understanding Learners", n.d.). Psychology as a Discipline According to "Understanding Learners" (n.d.), “Psychology as a discipline aims to describe behavior, explain behavior, predict behavior and control or modify some behavior”. (2). Rene Descartes...
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...Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 The Origin of the Skeptical Philosophy in Ancient Greece ............... 1 Academic Skepticism ............................................................................ 3 3.1 Arcesilaus .......................................................................................... 3 3.2 Carneades .......................................................................................... 4 Pyrrhonian Skepticism ......................................................................... 4 4.1 Pyrrho and Timon.............................................................................. 5 4.2 Aenesidemus ..................................................................................... 5 Critical Evaluation of Ancient Skepticism.......................................... 6 List of references ...................................................................................ii Ancient Skepticism i  1 Introduction Ancient skepticism is a wide and important topic in the ancient Greek philosophical schools of thought and has been further developed in contemporary philosophy. It describes the attitude to be doubtful about any claim of knowledge and certainty. The term derives from the Greek skepsis meaning "enquiry", and hence already alludes to the situation in which individuals should question their own beliefs of knowledge claims. Even if knowledge...
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...Socrates the Greek Philosopher December 14, 2014 PHI/105 In the beautiful city of Athens, Greece, there was a philosopher Socrates, and his "Socratic method," was laid on the groundwork for the Western systems of logic and philosophy. Socrates did believe that he didn't know anything, and It was because of this that the Oracle told Socrates that he was wise and that he should seek out the 'wise men' to hear what they had to say. So Socrates began to travel to different parts of Greece to question the suppose 'wise’ men to see if they really knew all the answers to life. The youth laid their eyes on Socrates since he possessed a different way of thinking and living. His unique method of questioning and insulting was believed that he was out of line, and was corrupting the youth. Socrates was willing to die for his belief and was soon sentence to death by the people of Athens. Once the political climate of Greece turned, Socrates was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning in 399 BC. He accepted this judgment rather than fleeing into exile. It is through this that Socrates did not give up philosophy. For Socrates, he is portrayed in the early dialogues written by Plato, and he “does Philosophy” by going out into the world and talking with people. For him, Socrates wanted to talk to the supposed “wise” men and to show that they really do not know anything. As the Oracle said about Socrates, he is the wisest men in the world. In the Apology, Socrates believed that and stated...
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...UI400 Philosophy Paper Methodology. The method of argumentation and (sometimes) proof used in philosophy is derived from and is essentially a refinement of the so-called Socratic Method, also known as Platonic dialectic (derived from Plato’s dialogues & refined over the centuries). It consists not merely in reporting on what others have said or argued, but in examining their claims to test them for validity, truth, soundness, and reliability of generalization and so on. It involves deductive methods, reductio ad absurdum or the selective application of relevant counterexamples, analogical and inductive procedures. It requires the examination of ideas, reasons, arguments and experience, and evidence drawn from various sources. It even involves experimental reasoning in the form of thought experiments. The overall format is that of the hypothetical-deductive method of developing a thesis by proposing a hypothesis, deducing the consequences that logically follow from that hypothesis and then testing them against other well-established beliefs, experience, data, and the results of the analyses and interpretations of a thesis by other scholars (secondary sources). Below follows a brief outline of some key steps to follow in executing a genuine philosophical analysis of a thesis and it argument(s). First a flow chart: 1. Thesis statement – a brief statement of the problem, why you think it’s a problem, & how you plan to approach it (these elements...
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...Abstract In this paper I will analyze the case study of Mattel Inc. and their Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP) and applying it to three different virtue ethics; fairness, honesty and justice. Then I will apply deontology, “always act in such a way that you can also will that the maxim of your action should become a universal law. Public concerns about worker exploitation and environmental degradation arose with the expansion of outsourcing and production in emerging economies where poverty, abundant labor, and need for job creation provided unprecedented opportunities for large multinational corporation (MNCs) to shift production from high-wage countries to low-wage countries. Starting with isolated complaints from civil society organizations, human rights groups, and organized labor in the mid-eighties, the anti-sweatshop movement became a major force by early nineties in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other industrially advanced countries. Global companies were under fire for operating factories with working conditions that violated basic human rights and labor laws in terms of wages and working conditions. Instances of worker exploitation and employment of underage workers were widespread. Mattel was in the middle of all of this and had also taken steps to respond to public concerns with regard to sweatshop-like conditions and worker exploitation in toy manufacturing factories in China and other developing countries. These efforts were quite similar...
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...Part 1 1. What is Philosophy? Quite literally, the term "philosophy" means, "love of wisdom." In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. As an academic discipline philosophy is much the same. Those who study philosophy are perpetually engaged in asking, answering, and arguing for their answers to life’s most basic questions. To make such a pursuit more systematic academic philosophy is traditionally divided into major areas of study. Source: http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/36588 2. What are the benefits of Studying Philosophy? Studying philosophy improves reasoning and critical skills. Skills gained by philosophy majors are useful in almost any career. * The ability to think logically * The ability to analyze and solve problems * The ability to assess proposed solutions * The ability to write and speak clearly, attending to details Students learn about questions. How to ask good questions and distinguish the worthwhile from the worthless questions. How to divide, prioritize, and simplify questions. Students are affected by learning about questions. * Studying questions liberates us from prejudice * It helps us to think independently, thus, promoting autonomy, self-government, and individuation * It broadens our perspective on life The study of philosophy benefits students intellectually...
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...------------------------------------------------- Course Syllabus PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy Course Start Date: 08/15/2011 Course End Date: 10/16/2011 Please print a copy of this syllabus for handy reference. Whenever there is a question about what assignments are due or when they are due, please remember this syllabus is considered the ruling document. Copyright Copyright ©2010 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. University of Phoenix© is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft©, Windows©, and Windows NT© are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix© editorial standards and practices. Facilitator Information Larry Waggle, Ph. D. larrywaggle@email.phoenix.edu (University of Phoenix) Unclelahr@live.com (Alternate) 480-330-0953 (MST) Facilitator Availability I am available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Arizona Time on most days, but I attempt to reserve Sunday for my family. On Saturdays, I tend to be online in the morning only. If these times are not...
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...A Classroom Plan DeWanna McIntyre ECE332: Child Development Professor Jessica Lindquist-Karci February 14, 2016 A Classroom Plan “A preschool classroom, based on Piaget’s Stage Theory” Today many preschoolers from 3-5 are learning new things in the world of education; it is up to parents and teachers to assure a quality education. When we think of a quality education we first look at the one that started it off. Jean William Fritz Piaget was a pioneer in child development who studies were influenced by the observations of his own children. This gave him an interest to study the thought processes of young children. Although his study is criticized by many, Piaget’s theories are used in many classrooms throughout the world. It is Piaget’s belief that people move through stages of development which allow them to think in new and more complex ways. He states that every interaction affects the cognition in every child. He developed a theory of cognitive development that corresponds to his hope for the educational process. He states that each child moves biologically through four stages of development. The first stage is Sensory-motor which is discovered at birth to two; According to Piaget, all humans are born with an innate (inborn, existing from birth) tendency to organize their thinking into structures. These mental structures are known as schemas. Piaget (1952) believed that these stages are universal - i.e. that the same sequence of development occurs...
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