Watch Film And Answer Question

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Due: Tuesday March 26th at 11:00pm

As an introduction to the importance of logic in our society, we would like you to watch the short documentary The Joy of Logic staring Professor Dave Cliff. The film is 1 hour long and freely available online (see links below).  After watching the film, you are to submit written response to ten of the following twelve questions. To qualify for the extra credit, your responses should be based on this documentary and not personal opinions, or what you have found on google (or other search engines). Each question is worth 10 points and only 10 questions (out of 12) will be graded. Make sure you submit answers to 10 questions only, otherwise we grade the first 10.

https://iucat.iu.edu/catalog/15698775

 

Question 1:

Referring to the story of three logicians in a bar, rewrite the story in your own words, and explain clearly why the first two logicians in the bar say “I don’t know,” while the third one says “yes.”

 

Question 2:

What is a syllogism? How many valid syllogisms did Aristotle find? What do we call the syllogisms that are not valid? Give an example of each type of syllogism that was used in the video. (One valid and one invalid)

 

Question 3:

How does the book Alice in Wonderland relate to field of logic?

 

Question 4:

What did George Boole consider the real purpose of logic? What are Boolean operators? What is the Calculus of Reasoning? What did Boole do that was transformative in logic?

 

Question 5:

What applications of logic are discussed in this video? Give 3-4 examples.

 

Question6:

In your own words describe the meaning of “paradox.” Explain one of the examples of a logical paradox and clearly describe why it is a paradox.

 

Question 7:

What was Frege’s contribution to logic? What did he add to the study of logic that revolutionized the power of logic? What contradiction did Russell pointed out in his letter to Frege (Russell’s paradox)?

 

Question 8:

What was the Vienna Circle? What was their original main goal (or initial first step)? Why and when did they have some shout “M”?

 

Question 9:

What is the name of the contradiction that Gdel had discovered in Russell’s Principia? Describe the contradiction in one short sentence.

 

Question 10:

What is the universal machine? Who created it?

 

Question 11:

Based on the information in this video, can computers develop human-like intelligence?

 

Question 12:

What is one surprising thing you learned about logic or computation from watching this film?

Define freedom in your own terms

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We looked at “Freedom” this week, but as the term ends, it is always a good idea to try to tie together different ideas in order to see the coherency.

While you are writing, please do not use the textbook or any outside materials. You can mention things in the textbook, but you will not have time to look them up. The paper you write is intended to give you the opportunity to express your philosophical viewpoints.

Please take a few minutes to read through the two choices for the first part, to choose one of them, to figure out your views, and to scribble down a skeleton outline for an argumentative essay. You will be trying to prove that your view is the best one.

Make sure you include:

  1. An introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement,
  2. At least two evidentiary paragraphs, each offering supporting points,
  3. A brief summary of the opposition’s main point and a refutation of it, and
  4. A summarizing conclusion.

Answered either Question A or Question B. In a well-developed short essay, address the prompts for one of the choices below:

Question A

Freedom and Morality. In Chapter 18 of The Prince, Machiavelli offers advice for future rulers: “Everyone admits how praiseworthy it is for a political leader to keep his word and to behave with integrity rather than cunning. Nevertheless, our experience has been that those leaders who have done great things have considered keeping their word of little account and have known how to beguile men’s minds by shrewdness and cunning. Occasionally, the words of leaders must serve to hide the facts. But the lies should be told in such a way that the general population does not become aware of them; or, if the lies are discovered, excuses must be ready at hand to be produced immediately. In the end, the leaders most likely to reach their goals and sway the people are those who have not relied on integrity or on keeping their word.”

Contrastingly, Aristotle said that we are not free if our actions are caused or influenced by external compulsion (including deceit or insufficient evidence).

The old joke asks, “How can you tell a politician is lying?” And, the classic answer is, “His lips are moving.” Americans have always suspected that their politicians leaders tell falsehoods, and recent national leaders have even admitted that they “misspoke” (i.e., lied) on numerous occasions to the American people.

Define freedom in your own terms, specifically outlining those aspects of yourself that you consider the basis of your own conception of “acting freely.” To what extent can people truly be free if they are living in a society where their leaders routinely lie to them in order to gain the common man’s compliance? To what extent is it possible or impossible for a person to be “acting freely” when he lacks the relevant (and truthful) information needed for his decision-making? Explain which type of government you believe provides the most individual freedoms and that you personally believe would be more preferable to live in—an immoral and powerful government that lies to the people or a weak but moral government in which the leaders always tells the truth. Defend your position for why your choice is more desirable than the alternative.

Question B

Freedom and Self. Define freedom in your own terms, specifically outlining those aspects of yourself that you consider the basis of your own conception of “acting freely.”

An idea we were left with from the textbook is that people are so largely influenced by both nature and nurture that it is difficult to make any sort of decision which has not already been affected by both internal and external influences; our “self identities” are not a creation of own but largely the product of biology and relationships. But, choosing to “act freely” implies that we are choosing freely, without influences affecting our choices.

Think back to our discussion of the “essential self” in Week 4 as you address the following questions. To what extent does your conception of “acting freely” include playing roles and interacting with other people? To what extent do other people limit your freedom? How can your “essential self” be free choose to “act freely” while living in a world in which you are bound by obligations to various kinds of other people? Under which conditions would you be confident to declare that you had freely chosen a “free act”?

How could those liabilities for the directors and officers be minimized?

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Scenario: You are a sole proprietor presenting to a group of investors, seeking 20 million dollars to raise capital for your solar panel manufacturing and installation company, Solar Co.

Prepare a 7- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Microsoft® Sway®, or Prezi® presentation with speaker notes for your potential investors, and address the following items:

  • Choose one type of business entity that you plan to use for Solar Co., and explain why you would choose this type of entity rather than the others. What risks and issues specific to this industry and Solar Co.’s business influenced your decision?
  • Assume that at least one investor will question whether Solar Co. should be organized as a corporation. Summarize, for the investors, what legal liabilities could arise for the directors or officers of that corporation. How could those liabilities for the directors and officers be minimized?

What is knowledge for Al –Ghazali?

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This discussion aligns with Learning Outcomes 1, 4 and 5.

What is knowledge for Al –Ghazali? How is it attained? Does he establish a proof for his position? What is it? Do you agree or disagree with his reasoning? (1)

Submission: Our discussions are a valuable opportunity to have thoughtful conversations regarding a specific topic. You are required to provide a comprehensive initial post with 2-3 well-developed paragraphs that include a topic sentence and at least 3-5 supporting sentences with additional details, explanations, and examples. In addition, you are required to respond substantively to the initial posts of at least two other classmates on at least two different days. All posts should be reflective and well written, meaning free of errors in grammar, sentence structure, and other mechanics.

Grading: This discussion is worth 40 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Discussion Rubric. Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this discussion.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Recognize the relationships between cultural expressions and their contexts.
  2. Recognize concepts in metaphysics, axiology, and epistemology and the context of their development.
  3. Comprehend the scope of philosophic inquiry and how beliefs are formed and justified especially within a particular cultural construct.

Readings and Resources

  • Ship of Theseus from Wikipedia
  • Meditations on First Philosophy/Meditation I from Wikisource
  • Meditations on First Philosophy/Meditation II from Wikisource
  • The Confessions of al-Ghazali by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, translated by Claud Field