PHIL 1301 Brookhaven College Philosophical Concepts and Science Discussion

In our own time there are many people who disturst science when it comes to making important decisions. The fact that science is based on inductive reasoning and therefore theories change when new data using the scientific method changes after reviews indicatet that change is needed. Many see this as a weakness of science and therefore many skeptics see science as a religion. How can one address this issue?

Note: writing essay

#1: Describe, identify and explain two or more different philosophical positions and the relevant philosophical concepts.

As I grade, I will ask myself, “How well did you describe and explain both positions (either two different positions or an argument and counterargument)?How clear and accurate are your explanations and the use of the relevant philosophical terms/concepts?”

• Provides clear, accurate and full explanations of each philosophical position.

• Provides mostly clear, accurate and full explanations of each philosophical position.
• Gives coherent and consistent reasoning throughout the essay and a clear and comprehensive explanation of the issue to be considered.Also provides a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue.

• (a) Provides a clear and accurate explanation of one position and a poor explanation of the second position or (b) provides explanations for both positions that are unclear and/or incomplete and/or inaccurate.
• Uses generally coherent and consistent reasoning throughout the essay and a clear, but not necessarily comprehensive, explanation of the issue to be considered.Also provides a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue.
• Provides a coherent and well-thought out personal position that is fully defended against a rational, but opposing, position.The assumptions behind your view, and the opposing view, are recognized and analyzed.The impact of your position on your personal life and on your society is explored.

2(a) Fails to provide an explanation for one of the two theories or (b) provides poor explanations of both positions.

1(a) Fails to provide an explanation for one of the two theories and (b) provides a poor explanation for the other position.

• The essay was not on the topic or there was no essay at all

#2: Apply critical thinking skills by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of philosophical positions or theories and by writing a clear and coherent essay.As I grade, I will ask myself, “Did you explain the issue to be considered? How well do you analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the theories or positions? And how clear and coherent is your overall presentation?”

• Uses some coherent and consistent reasoning that either contains clear weakness in reasoning or fails to explain the issue to be considered.Also fails to provide a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue.
• Provides a personal position that is coherent and has some support, but needs a little more thought and is mostly defended against a rational, but opposing, position.The assumptions behind your position, and that of the opposing position, are identified but not analyzed.The impact of one’s position on your personal life and on society is explored.
• Demonstrates graceful use of language by being free from most errors in grammar and mechanics.The essay is well organized and focused.The student uses credible sources to support and inform the content.

• Uses some coherent and consistent reasoning that contains clear weakness in reasoning and fails to explain the issue to be considered.Also, fails to provide a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue.
• Provides a personal position that is coherent but has very little support and needs a lot more depth and is not adequately defended against a rational, but opposing, position.The assumptions behind both views are be identified, but there is no analysis of these assumptions.There is very little attempt to explore the impact of one’s position on one’s life and society.

• Uses incoherent and inconsistent reasoning that also fails to explain the issue to be considered.Also fails to provide the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue.

0The essay was not on the topic or there was no essay at all

#3:Create an informed personal response to a philosophical issue by developing and defending a personal opinion to the selected philosophical problem.As I grade, I will ask myself, “Did you develop a personal opinion? How well did you defend why you believe what you believe? Have you explained a rational, but opposing view?Have you explained the assumptions behind your position (and that of the opposing view)?And how your position impacts your life and society?”

2Provides a personal position that is (a) incoherent or has no support and is not defended against a rational, but opposing, position; or (b) does not identify assumptions behind the position or opposing position; or (c) there is no attempt to explore the impact of one’s position on one’s life and society.

• Provides a personal position that has no support, is not defended against a rational, but opposing view, does not identify the assumptions behind the position, and does not make an attempt to explore the impact of one’s position on one’s own life and society.
• Demonstrates limited facility in the use of language by containing problems with vocabulary and several errors in grammar and mechanics which do impede understanding.The essay is not organized and contains lapses in focus.Additionally, the student did not use credible sources to support and inform the content.

• The essay was not on the topic, there was no personal position or there was no essay at all
• Demonstrates little or no facility in the use of language by containing problems with vocabulary and an unacceptable number of errors in grammar and mechanics. The errors are clearly an impediment to understanding the essay This essay is poorly organized and demonstrates little or no focus and does not utilize credible sources to support and inform the content.

#4:Grammar.As I grade, I will ask myself, “How good is the grammar?”

• Demonstrates reasonable facility in the use of language by being free from most errors in grammar and mechanics, however the errors do not impede understanding of the content.The essay is mostly organized and focused.The student uses credible sources to support and inform the content.

3Demonstrates adequate facility in the use of language by containing some errors in grammar and/or mechanics, some of which may be serious enough to impede meaning.Also the essay is generally organized and focused with some lapses or the student does not use credible sources to support and inform the content.

• The essay was not on the topic or there was no essay at all#1: Describe, identify andexplain two or more different philosophical positions and the relevantphilosophical concepts.As I grade, I will askmyself, “How well did you describe and explain both positions (either twodifferent positions or an argument and counterargument)? How clear and accurate are your explanationsand the use of the relevant philosophical terms/concepts?” 5Provides clear, accurate and full explanationsof each philosophical position. 4Provides mostly clear, accurate and fullexplanations of each philosophical position. 3(a) Provides a clear and accurate explanation of oneposition and a poor explanation of the second position or (b) providesexplanations for both positions that are unclear and/or incomplete and/orinaccurate. 2 (a) Fails to provide an explanation for oneof the two theories or (b) provides poor explanations of both positions. 1 (a) Fails to provide an explanation for oneof the two theories and (b) provides a poor explanation for the other position. 0Theessay was not on the topic or there was no essay at all #2: Apply critical thinkingskills by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of philosophical positions ortheories and by writing a clear and coherent essay. As I grade, Iwill ask myself, “Did you explain the issue to be considered? How well do youanalyze the strengths and weaknesses of the theories or positions? And howclear and coherent is your overall presentation?” 5Gives coherent and consistent reasoning throughoutthe essay and a clear and comprehensive explanation of the issue to beconsidered. Also provides a coherentanalysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue. 4Uses generally coherent and consistent reasoningthroughout the essay and a clear, but not necessarily comprehensive,explanation of the issue to be considered.Also provides a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of thepositions at issue. 3Uses some coherent and consistent reasoning thateither contains clear weakness in reasoning or fails to explain theissue to be considered. Also fails toprovide a coherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions atissue. 2Uses some coherent and consistent reasoning thatcontains clear weakness in reasoning and fails to explain the issue tobe considered. Also, fails to provide acoherent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the positions at issue. 1Uses incoherent and inconsistent reasoning that alsofails to explain the issue to be considered.Also fails to provide the strengths and weaknesses of the positions atissue. 0 The essay was not onthe topic or there was no essay at all #3: Create an informed personal response to aphilosophical issue by developing and defending a personal opinion to theselected philosophical problem. As I grade, I will ask myself, “Did youdevelop a personal opinion? How well did you defend why you believe whatyou believe? Have you explained a rational, but opposing view? Have you explained the assumptions behindyour position (and that of the opposing view)?And how your position impacts your life and society?” 5Provides a coherent and well-thought outpersonal position that is fully defended against a rational, but opposing,position. The assumptions behind yourview, and the opposing view, are recognized and analyzed. The impact of your position on your personallife and on your society is explored. 4Provides a personal position that is coherentand has some support, but needs a little more thought and is mostly defendedagainst a rational, but opposing, position.The assumptions behind your position, and that of the opposing position,are identified but not analyzed. Theimpact of one’s position on your personal life and on society is explored. 3Provides a personal position that is coherentbut has very little support and needs a lot more depth and is not adequatelydefended against a rational, but opposing, position. The assumptions behind both views are beidentified, but there is no analysis of these assumptions. There is very little attempt to explore theimpact of one’s position on one’s life and society. 2 Provides a personal position that is (a)incoherent or has no support and is not defended against a rational, butopposing, position; or (b) does not identify assumptions behind the position oropposing position; or (c) there is no attempt to explore the impact of one’sposition on one’s life and society. 1Providesa personal position that has no support, is not defended against a rational,but opposing view, does not identify the assumptions behind the position, anddoes not make an attempt to explore the impact of one’s position on one’s ownlife and society. 0Theessay was not on the topic, there was no personal position or there was noessay at all #4: Grammar. As I grade, I will ask myself, “How goodis the grammar?” 5Demonstratesgraceful use of language by being free from most errors in grammar andmechanics. The essay is well organizedand focused. The student uses crediblesources to support and inform the content. 4Demonstratesreasonable facility in the use of language by being free from most errors ingrammar and mechanics, however the errors do not impede understanding of thecontent. The essay is mostly organizedand focused. The student uses crediblesources to support and inform the content. 3 Demonstratesadequate facility in the use of language by containing some errors ingrammar and/or mechanics, some of which may be serious enough to impedemeaning. Also the essay is generallyorganized and focused with some lapses or the student does not use crediblesources to support and inform the content. 2Demonstrateslimited facility in the use of language by containing problems withvocabulary and several errors in grammar and mechanics which do impedeunderstanding. The essay is notorganized and contains lapses in focus.Additionally, the student did not use credible sources to support andinform the content. 1Demonstrateslittle or no facility in the use of language by containing problems withvocabulary and an unacceptable number of errors in grammar and mechanics. Theerrors are clearly an impediment to understanding the essay This essay ispoorly organized and demonstrates little or no focus and does not utilizecredible sources to support and inform the content. 0Theessay was not on the topic or there was no essay at all

Discussion Grading Rubric

I am evaluating 3 elements in your discussion posts/replies: Critical Thought, Knowledge of philosophical theories and concepts, and grammar/spelling/length.

1. CRITICAL THOUGHT: What I mean by “critical thought” is the depth and consistency of your explanations.When you make a claim about something, do you explain why you believe that?Do you examine the assumptions that one must make to reach that conclusion?Should those assumptions be made?Is your position consistent with other claims you make? (This criterion is worth 3 of the 8 points for your post.)

For example, the second discussion board asks you to consider the possibility of someone who claims to have a device that destroys peoples’ souls.You are supposed to then discuss how you would go about evaluating such a claim.One student wrote, “I believe that we each have a soul and that it rises to Heaven when our physical bodies cease to exist.”She also writes about how ridiculous the person is who claims he has a device that destroys souls, because there is no way to evaluate his claim, and no reason to believe him.She seems completely unaware that HER OWN BELIEF is just as impossible to evaluate as his.Thus, if we can reject this man’s claim, she should reject hers.This shows me an inconsistent position that lacks depth.She never tries to explain WHY she believes what she believes, nor does she seem to recognize the obvious contradiction in her argument.

2. KNOWLEDGE OF PHILOSOPHICAL THEORIES AND CONCEPTS: For each discussion board, I indicate what sections of the text you should study BEFORE making your posting.In that section (and the preceding sections) are the concepts and theories that pertain to that discussion board.I am NOT asking you to fill your posting with philosophical jargon.If you read the text carefully, then your posting WILL reflect your knowledge of the relevant concepts.If you make a claim that reflects a particular position discussed in the text, you will naturally use language that reflects your new knowledge.On the other hand, if you give me an opinion that has several objections to it, that were explained in the text, but you seem unaware of these objections, that would show me a lack of knowledge of the theories and concepts. (This criterion is worth 3 of the 8 points for your post.)

3. GRAMMAR, SPELLING AND LENGTH: This is not an English course.However, I expect the grammar, spelling and tone of your discussions to be college level.This is not “Twitter.”Write in clear and complete sentences.Check your spelling (minor spelling mistakes are not a big deal, but obvious and repeated mistakes are big deals).Keep your tone professional and academic.Lastly, make sure you have the appropriate length.Posts should be 300 words (approximately) and your reply should be 100 words (approximately).I will not even check unless it is obviously too short, or well over the required length.Part of the assignment is learning how to give sufficient and efficient explanations. (This criterion is worth 2 of the 8 points for your post.)

REPLY

Your reply to another student will be evaluated using all three of these criteria, but will only be worth 2 points.So, you could lose 1, or both, of the 2 points for any of the above issues.