final exam

4. What is your real name? Rebecca
. What is your "user" name? bec12foggy

5a. What was your midterm grade? Or, if you revised it, your revisedmidterm grade? Letter grade C Provide a LINK to your midterm.

6. What is your email address that you use for this class? bec12foggy@yahoo.com

7. Name and address for your website. Philosophy 5 Rebecca Fogg

8. Have you done all the reading for the entire class?

9. Have you watched each of the films that were required? YES

10. Please place here all of the postings you have done for thisclass (you can copy and paste them. ALL eight WEEKS OF POSTINGS.

11. Why does Steven Pinker believe that evolution is important inunderstanding human behavior? Steven believes that the brain evolves to better understand the world around it. The brain must learn things in order to evolve. Different environments call for different understandings.

12. In addition, why is the theory of evolution helpful in doingphilosophy? Philosophy consists of opinions in a wide variety of subjects. The understanding of how objects in this world evolve will allow one to form their opinion, idea or own theory. So much of science deals with evolution. We find answers of the beginning of time through the understanding of evolution.

13. Explain why Francis Crick does NOT believe in a soul. Crick states “man has no soul, no spiritual self which transcends his/her physical frame. What we take to be the soul is nothing more than a complex network of neurons.” I interpret that Crick only sees life through a scientific aspect. That is, we are only DNA and that neurons provide the meaning to our life.

14. What are some of the major issues behind a neuro-ethicalargument for vegetarianism? Pain. The article argues that we don’t eat humans because we can empathize with their pain. We are supposed to relate this to pain that animals go through during their slaughtering. It is believed that animals such as dolphins and apes are highly intelligent as compared to humans. These animals and others have a central nervous system that allows them to feel pain as do the human specie. One argues that we can’t eat something that is closely compared to us. What are its strengths? The article relays a significant amount of information regarding pain and intelligent levels of animals and reasons why animals should be left alone. What are its weaknesses? The only problem I found was one saying “is it possible to live a life eating things which do not have a brain and which, by extension, do not have the material complexity to centralize pain?” I feel that most consumption of meat is done by people because of advertisement. Or better yet, the lack of advertisement. Nowhere in an ad will someone find the make up of the animal being sold for consumption. Unless one does research, how are they supposed to know of an animals being.

15. How do John Searle's views differ from Ken Wilber's? Searle believes that we are conscious when we are awake and aware. When we sleep Searle believes that consciousness is not present. He sums this up by saying this is a biological phenomenon. One other point Searle makes is the aspect of familiarity. He says that when we look at a group of objects we do not see individual items, we the group. Wilber breaks down the brain into four different quadrants, Intentional, behavioral, cultural and social. Wilber’s work suggests that different factors in our life work together to provide a reason for consciousness in each of the four different areas mentioned above. Who do youfind more persuasive and why? I find that both men make good points. I agree with Searle’s idea of seeing things as a group. Plain and simple that’s how it is. I agree with Wilber because I do feel that our levels of consciousness differ and present different things to our life.

16. What is the theme behind the little movie, a GLORIOUS PIECE OFMEAT? How would a religious person argue against it? It is definite that A Glorious Piece of Meat refers to the brain. The film talks of consciousness, awareness, and neurons. Because of the belief of what we see triggers our brain to react, it is said or believed that awareness comes first. This film provides you not with answers but ideas of how the brain and for a more general term, humans, is able to direct thoughts, control the body, and yes consciousness.

17. Why is Sam Harris so critical of religion? Sam Harris does not disregard the belief of God, but the religions which MAN Created. Sam Harris argues that because people of certain religions are fanatics, they promote discrimination against others and present harmful situations towards other religions. If one has true faith in god, then they should be open-minded to other religions. Give his strongest arguments and where do you think his argument fails? Or, if it doesn't fail, where does it succeed? "Scripture spiting nut, who kill the innocent while cloaked in the guard of faith." This is what Sam Harris says in regards to religious fanatics. These people use their faith as an excuse to demean others. Because of this I believe Harris presents a strong argument.

18. Explain the essence of Nietzsche's genealogy of morals. You canoutline your answer here. Nietzsche talks about the good and the evil in a person. Good refers to god whereas evil refers to the devil or so people think. Nietzsche believes that god is the father of evil. We were indeed born with evil within. I believe it is up to us, individuals, to decide for ourselves what we perceive to be good or evil. It is all about what we learn and how we perceive it. Nietzsche still however argues that we are indeed ignorant.

19. Why does Gandhi believe in ahimsa? Ahimsa refers to nonviolence in all situations. In order to believe in this one must be a believer in faith. Two factors. Gandhi felt that people who also believed in nonviolence and were unarmed would have no chance against those who armed themselves and practiced violence. Secondly, he thought that violence did not solve anything, what it did was make the problem worse. Gandhi got little backing from colleagues because they felt violence was too big of a situation to rebel against. Relating nonviolence to vegetarianism, I feel that Gandhi’s mother had a hand in him ultimately choosing that path.

20. What is Nietzche's notion of the myth of eternal recurrence? Besure to use the film as your guide. The movie basically says live your life knowing that you’ll have to live it again and again. The film suggests that we should make truthful, right decisions because we will live the life we chose endlessly over and over. This myth says everything, our thoughts, our pain, our joys every little thing will return to us in the same form as we previously knew it.

21. What is the ironic theme in the movie Flame On? Hint: what isthe movie REALLY trying to say? Homosexuality was the major theme of the film. It does however go beyond being homosexual. The film is trying to relay to its viewers that great work can come from anyone. As we seen, philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and di Vinci, were of the homosexuality population. One’s sexual orientation is only a minor part of who that person is. Work that has evolved from these greats is practiced today and for the most part the name of the person is the highlight, not their orientation. It is not fair to put a label on someone and judge him or her, not by the quality of their work, but by the title of their label.

22. Why does Daniel Dennett favor calling himself a "bright"? A bright is a person or group who believe in the natural way opposed to supernatural or mystical. Dennett speaks about God and his inability to prove god’s existence or nonexistence. He said that he could not prove either or but feels strongly of god’s nonexistence. His views are strictly science driven.

23. Outline Bertrand Russell's a FREE MAN'S WORSHIP. Russell suggests power is the fuel running in MAN. Man wants total control of life and therefore Man has created the idea god to forgive the mistakes encountered. God in away can be a cleanser of the soul.

24. What is the overall theme of the movie INNER VISIONS AND RUNNINGTRAINS? Life after death is what I believe the film is referring to. Is there really life beyond death or do we make ourselves believe this so that we can feel satisfied with our lives.

25. What does Nicholas of Cusa mean by "learned ignorance"? What areits implications for your own life? Cusa states that once a person gains the knowledge in one area, they go on to believe that they are knowledgeable in all areas. But in fact they are not, they are ignorant to the fact that they no nothing. They are not able to acknowledge that they do not know everything. Personally, I fall into this category. There are times when I truly do not know something, but instead of admitting that I’ll try to reason somehow.

26. What does Gerald Edelman mean by Neural Darwinism and SecondNature? Neural Darwinism is a theory on brain functions. Mainly this theory argues, neurons control the aspects of our brain. Edelman says that there are no two alike neurons. We all function differently. This even goes for twins and clones. Second nature is in reference to neurons adapting to life’s situations.

27. Why turn vegetarian? ---According to the film you saw. Whatarguments are there against vegetarianism? You may need to do agoogle search here. Mainly, getting the proper balance of needed nutrients. It is feared that those who choose a vegetarian diet will lack nutrients such as protein. Although the body absorbs protein better from meat, the protein in veggies is well balanced. Another worry is the lack of calcium. Calcium however is found in veggies of many types especially greens. To conclude it is feared that children of vegetarians will lack the proper diet. However if a person is a true vegetarian, they will be knowledgeable enough to maintain a balanced diet and proper one for their children.

28. What was the turning point in Ramana Maharshi's life? The point in time when he experienced absorption is Ramana’s turning point. During his teenage life Ramana lost his father. He looked deep into death and tried to conclude why his father’s body stood but the “I” was gone. At 16 Ramana experienced death himself so to speak. He lay quietly on the floor thinking of death and what happens to body after death. He discovered that although the body dies the spirit within lives on.

29. What was Gandhi's double shame? During his teenage years Gandhi’s father was seriously ill. Gandhi took on the role of caring for his father. At one point a family member relieved Gandhi of his duty and during this time his father passed away. Gandhi felt guilt for this incident and could not forgive himself. If Gandhi lived during our era would he have a different view of that event? Why? Why not? I do not think Gandhi would feel different living in this era. There are many superstitious people living today feeling that their actions can have a traumatic outcome. However, I don’t feel as though he would practice celibate. I believe people turn to sexual encounters to take away the pain of another incident.

30. List Four distinct passages from Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and explain what you think they mean.

31. What was your favorite expert film lecture this term? The piece on extra dimensions by Lisa Randall for myself was the one that I understood the most. Her explanations were spoken well, and she provided examples, which I as a learner need to bring things together.

32. What was your favorite movie this term? Why turn vegetarian. Although it was one sided and probably didn’t show most of how animals are put to death, it did however leave you puzzled. By that I mean, is this how people treat animals or do these people want us to believe what they believe. You can flip flop on this topic endlessly, but at the end of the day you side with your conscious. I personally do not agree with the film.

33. What was your favorite reading? By far, naturally selected. It was easy to read and understand.

34. Most unusual thing you learned this term. It wasn’t as unusual as it was surprising. To see that so many philosophers were homosexual. This just goes to prove that anyone can be great at mind and that homosexuals aren’t a minority. It’s too bad those who are homosexual have to live in hiding due to the harassment others throw at them.