1. King Vikram & the Vampire: Story # 6: The Girl who transposed the heads of her Husband and Brother. Which combination of head and body is her husband?

 

But while she was arranging the rope about her neck, a voice from heaven cried: “Do nothing rash, my daughter. Leave the rope alone. Though you are young, I am pleased with your unusual goodness. Place the two heads on the two bodies and they shall rise up again and live through my favour.”

 

So Lovely left the rope alone and joyfully went to the bodies. But in her great hurry and confusion she made a mistake. She put her husband’s head on her brother’s body and her brother’s head on her husband’s body. Then they arose, sound and well, like men awaking from a dream. And they were all delighted to hear one another’s adventures, worshipped the goddess, and went on their way.

 

Now as she walked along, Lovely noticed that she had made a mistake in their heads. And she was troubled and did not know what to do.

 

When the vampire had told this story, he asked the king: “O King, when they were mingled in this way, which should be her husband? If you know and do not tell, then the curse I spoke of will be fulfilled.”

 

King Vikram’s Answer:

 

“The body with the husband’s head on it is her husband. For the head is the most important member. It is by the head that we recognize people.”

 

Task:

 

Probe Vikram’s answer with essential questions. Don’t forget to ask essential questions on his assumptions! Note that “assumption” is used in a specific sense in critical thinking module # 4. It is an unstated reason. So, neither Vikram’s stated reasons nor his conclusion or answer is an “assumption” in this technical sense in critical thinking.

 

You must identify Vikram’s answer and reasons before you can identify his unstated reasons or assumptions.) and answer them in light of the story. Quote relevant details from the story in your answers.

 

 

 

2. In the story “Silver Blaze”, identify an important clue and a deduction based on it by Sherlock Holmes. State the clue and the deduction each in one concise and clear sentence. Formulate Holmes’ reasoning in terms of Modus ponens or Modus tollens or Disjunctive or Hypothetical forms of deduction.

 

Clarification:

 

Make sure not to switch your clue and deduction when you analyze Holmes’ reasoning. Remember, the clue is the premise or reason or the observation and the deduction is the conclusion Holmes draws from the premise, reason, or observation.

 

Modus Ponens (proving mode):

 

If you do modus ponens for Holmes’ deductions, then the clue must go into the “if…” part and the deduction or conclusion must go into the “then…” part. You then affirm the clue in the second premise and then affirm the deduction in the conclusion.

 

For example, “If Helen Stoner had a railway return ticket in her hand (clue), then she arrived by train (deduction or conlusion).” Helen Stoner had a railway return ticket in her hand. So, she arrived by train.

 

 

 

Modus Tollens (disproving mode):

 

If you do modus tollens for Holmes’ deductions, then the deduction or conclusion which is disproved goes into the “if…” part and the clue which would support that deduction or conclusion goes into the “then….” part. You then deny the clue in the second premise and then deny the deduction in the conclusion.

 

For example, “If the gypsies had killed Julia Stoner (deduction or conlcusion to be disproved), then they would have been able to enter her room through the window or the door (clue which would support the deduction or conclusion).” They could not have entered her room through the window or the door. So, the gypsies had not killed Julia Stoner.

 

 

 

Disjunctive syllogism format:

1) Either Drebber died voluntarily or he was murdered.

2) Drebber did not die voluntarily.

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C: Drebber was murdered.

 

 

 

Hypothetical syllogism format:

 

1. If the US launches attacks in Libya and Somalia (X), it will increase the risk of terrorist retaliation against US citizens (Y).

 

2. If the risk of terrorist retaliation against US citizens increases (Y), their security is undermined (Z).

 

Therefore, if the US launches attacks in Libya and Somalia (X), it will undermine the security of US citizens (Z).

 

 

 

3. Two-move Checkmate Problem: Black: K-e4; N-f4; pawn b4; R-h1; White: K-c1; R-d1; N-c2; pawn a2;

 

Black to move and checkmate white in two moves. What are these two moves?

 

Note that the second move must be a check move resulting in checkmate for white, but black’s first critical move may or may not be a check move. Also, you have to think about how white can respond to black’s first move. If you identify the correct first move black must make, then no matter how white responds, it will face a checkmate in the second move by black. However, depending on how white responds to black’s first move, the second and final move by black which delivers the checkmate will differ. You should identify these alternative responses by white and the second and final checkmate moves by black in your answer, e.g., “Black’s first move is ___________If white responds by doing x, then black’s second and checkmate move is ____________. If white responds by doing y, then black’s second and checkmate move is __________.”

 

 

 

 

 

4 . Module 12: Critical Thinking And Mass Media Propaganda: Watch the video on “The Myth of American Democracy” by Prof. Jerry Kroth in the module page on “AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: MYTH OR REALITY?”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZzvKXZUyQs&list=UUTHZbk9nPwc3RmPl2izhChA&index=19

 

 

What are his main reasons and examples for his claim that “American democracy” is a myth? Probe his reasons and examples with questions before justifying your agreement or disagreement with his argument.

 

Compare his argument with the arguments made by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn in the video “Is There Hope in This Desperate Time?”. Watch also the video clip “Noam Chomsky & Abby Martin: Electing The President of an Empire” on the same module page. What are the views of Zinn and Chomsky on the issue of democracy in America?

 

How does Bob Marley’s song (on the same module page) “Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights” complement the suggestions by Chomsky and Zinn to initiate and /or develop democratic struggles in the US?

 

A review of Thomas Ferguson’s book “Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money-Driven Political Systems” states that “To discover who rules, follow the gold.” This is the argument of Golden Rule, a provocative, pungent history of modern American politics. Although the role big money plays in defining political outcomes has long been obvious to ordinary Americans, most pundits and scholars have virtually dismissed this assumption. Even in light of skyrocketing campaign costs, the belief that major financial interests primarily determine who parties nominate and where they stand on the issues—that, in effect, Democrats and Republicans are merely the left and right wings of the “Property Party”—has been ignored by most political scientists. Offering evidence ranging from the nineteenth century to the 1994 mid-term elections, Golden Rule shows that voters are “right on the money.”

 

Thomas Ferguson breaks completely with traditional voter centered accounts of party politics. In its place he outlines an “investment approach,” in which powerful investors, not unorganized voters, dominate campaigns and elections. Because businesses “invest” in political parties and their candidates, changes in industrial structures—between large firms and sectors—can alter the agenda of party politics and the shape of public policy.”

 

Does the “investment approach” of Thomas Ferguson help to make sense of what has gone wrong with “democracy” in America? Explain.

 

 

 

5. Watch the video clips “The Worst Slaughter Of Indian Peoples In United States History: Indians in California” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR2IgSIvjCk

and “American Holocaust: The Destruction of America’s Native Peoples” by noted American historian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qra6pcn4AOE David Stannard in “Racism, Militarism, and Violence” in the Module on “Critical Thinking and Current Issues”. State three central facts presented in each of these two video clips and the main deductions we should draw based those facts. (Try to think like Sherlock Holmes and focus on the clues (facts) and the deductions or conclusions you can draw based on them.)

 

In “Racism, Militarism, and Violence” in the Module on “Critical Thinking and Current Issues”, read the interview “Was America Great When It Burned Native American Babies?”with Benjamin Madley, UCLA history professor, and author of “An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873” on the campaign of extermination against Native Americans in California. Read also on the same module page Madley’s Op-Ed piece in the LA Times “It’s time to acknowledge the genocide of California’s Indians”. What are some of his central claims and supporting reasons? What essential questions do you have on his views? (Take a look also at the notes on George Washington’s orders to destroy the Iroquois nation and the horrifying eye-witness descriptions of the Sand Creek Massacre of Native Americans in Colorado.)

 

Watch the video clip of the song “My country ’tis of thy people you’re dying” by Buffy Sainte-Marie in the module on “Critical Thinking and Song”. How does her song capture and convey the truths on the slaughter of Native Americans in California and elsewhere and the history of their oppression and marginalization in the course of US history? What are your essential questions on her song?

 

 

 

 

 

 

This assignment is worth 100 pts. The assignment questions are (altogether) worth 75 pts and the two feedback posts are worth 25 pts.

 

 

 

Important Note: There is no “Edit” option available. Pl. complete your assignment in a file on your computer and then copy and paste it by clicking on “Reply” to this assignment at the bottom of this page. Verify that your initial assignment is complete and in order before clicking on “submit”!

 

 

 

There are three important conditions for grading your discussion submissions. Your discussion submission will receive a “0” if these conditions are not met. There are no exceptions to this requirement. The objective is to get you to practice completing all assigned tasks conscientiously.

 

1. You must first post your discussion assignment before you can read discussion posts by other students. Your first posting must be your completed discussion assignment. Any incomplete or fragmentary or irrelevant first posting will be interpreted as an attempt to see the answers of other students and will receive a “0”.

 

Pl. complete your discussion assignment in a file on your computer and then copy and paste it by clicking on “Reply” to this assignment at the bottom of this page. Verify that your discussion assignment is complete before clicking on “submit”!

 

 

 

2. You must complete All questions and tasks. Incomplete submissions will receive a “0”. Copy and paste each question with the correct numbering before answering it. Points are lost for not doing this since it makes it difficult to see which question you are answering.

 

 

 

3. You must submit a substantial feedback (Min: three paragraphs for each feedback and addressing specific points and examples, raising questions, and offering constructive criticisms.) on the discussion assignment submissions by at least Two students. You will earn a “0” on feedback if you do not submit your substantial feedback on the discussion assignment submissions by Two students.

 

To submit a feedback, click on the student’s discussion submission and then click on “reply” to type your feedback.

 

Late submissions are not allowed and you must not send late submissions to me by e-mail. They will not be accepted or graded. Only discussion assignments submitted in the discussion tab are graded.

 

Unless specified in the question, there are no limits on the answers to the discussion questions. A reasonable answer will likely take a few paragraphs depending on the question and the related tasks.