CIE-100 with Rein, Fall 2009

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Final paper assignment for Rein's CIE sections (CIE100.V and .ZC), Fall 2009.pdf (59 KB)

Hello CIE students --

Here's your final paper assignment for CIE. You can also always find it online at http://j.mp/cie-blog-09 .

For next class, please bring both Galileo and Descartes with you to class. I'd like you to read through part two of Descartes. In addition, please review the discussion questions I sent around on Monday (also available online at http://j.mp/cie-blog-09 ).

Your grades will be arriving soon in a separate email, in the form of an attached audio file. If you handed in your paper late, I'll need another day or two to get your grade to you. If you have any trouble opening the mp3 and listening to my comments, let me know.

Nathan

____
Nathan Rein
Dept. of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Ursinus College
610-409-3000 x2571
nrein at ursinus dot edu

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Dear CIE students -- just a reminder that tonight is the final Common
Hour for the semester. 7 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope, 4:30pm if you can't
make that one. I'm attaching a set of discussion questions from the
presenter, Mark Ellison (below). Hang on to these -- we still have one
more day on Galileo (do the readings listed on the syllabus) but we'll
be looking at Descartes next.

Nathan

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Discussion Questions to Accompany the Descartes Common Hour Presentation

In Part 1, Descartes writes, "Moreover, fables make us imagine many
events as possible when they are not." How does this quote apply to the
iPod exercise? List some examples of fables (you may use ancient fables
or instances from modern popular culture) that make people believe
things that aren't actually possible. How do you think these "fables"
affect attitudes toward science?

In Part 1, Descartes writes, "As for the sciences, in so far as they
borrow their principles from philosophy I decided that nothing solid
could have been built upon such shaky foundations." Is Descartes
correct-was science built on a shaky foundation? Descartes was writing
in the 1630s. Are things different now? Why or why not?

In Part 2, Descartes writes, "...never to accept anything as true if I
did not have evident knowledge of its truth: that is, carefully to avoid
precipitate conclusions and preconceptions, and to include nothing more
in my judgments than what presented itself to my mind so clearly and so
distinctly that I had no occasion to doubt it." Is it possible to live
one's life by such a creed? Is it necessary to rely on the judgments of
others? If so, how does one decide whose judgments to trust?
In Part 3, Descartes describes the moral code he has set for himself.
Is it humanly possible to follow a code such as the one Descartes
describes. Would it be possible to follow any code? In general, do you
think it is a good idea to construct a moral code to follow? Why or why
not?

At the end of Part 4, Descartes writes, "...we can distinctly imagine a
lion's head on a goat's body without having to conclude from this that a
chimera exists in the world. For reason does not insist that what we
thus see or imagine is true. But is does insist that all our ideas or
notions must have some foundation of truth..." Is Descartes
contradicting himself here? What elements of a goat-lion chimera could
be "true" even though such a creature does not exist? More importantly,
how can we discern what is true and what is like the chimera, a "figment
of the imagination"? Give some examples from the Common Hour
presentation of things that are "figments of the imagination." How was
it determined that they are not "true"?
In Part 6, Descartes repeatedly references the "truth" as determined by
scientific inquiry. ("Those who gradually discover the truth in the
sciences...", "...when I discover its truth...", etc.) Given that
scientific knowledge can change, does science discover the "truth"? Are
there different kinds of truth? If you think there are different kinds
of truth, can science discover any of them?

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CIE -- Gallileo readings packet (Nov. 2009).pdf (529 KB)

Dear CIE students:

Okay, this time I'm including the attachment.

Please read the attached packet of readings for Tuesday's class. Also, remember that papers are due Tuesday. I'd like you to email them to me instead of turning them in. Also, please remember to save your paper with a filename like this: [Your last name] - CIE100 [section] - Montaigne.doc -- in other words, if I were in the 10 a.m. section, I would save my paper as Rein - CIE100V - Montaigne.doc (CIE100ZC for the afternoon section). This will help me keep track the files. Remember that you can find these readings (as well as all previous handouts) on the class website, http://j.mp/cie-blog-09 .

Thanks.

Nathan

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paper assignment on montaigne.doc (34 KB)

Hello -- here's the next writing assignment for CIE. I'll bring copies
to hand out, but in case you're paranoid about germs (I have a cough),
you can just print this out for yourself. Nathan

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Dear CIE students

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The Jesuit Relations.doc (35 KB)

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Montaigne (Of Cannibals).doc (56 KB)

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Hello, CIE students, I hope you enjoyed your short break. Don't forget -- we have an evening event tonight at 7 pm in Lenfest theater. If you can't make the 7 pm event, there's one at 4:30 pm. If neither of those works for you, please let me know (I've already heard from several people). I'll be at the 7 pm event.

I'm attaching our next set of readings -- two texts and one slideshow of images. Please go over the slideshow for tomorrow's classes.

Nathan

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Vasari - Preface.pdf (4344 KB)

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Vasari - Life of Leonardo.pdf (5129 KB)

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Ren Art 2008.ppt (5934 KB)

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Hello CIE students --

Remember, we're on for the Matrix in Olin Auditorium tonight at 7:00 p.m. A couple of you have contacted me about going to the 4:30 show (i.e. now), and that's fine. Looks like I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. A film studies professor is going to say a few words before the movie begins and I want someone to fill me in on what she says, and that someone is going to be YOU. Yes, you, reading this email. So pay attention. Thank you very much in advance.

Also, consider this question: how does the scenario in The Matrix compare to the ideas presented in the Allegory of the Cave reading from our first discussion? And by the way: why, oh why, would ANYONE take the red pill?

Nathan

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Dear CIE students -- here are the questions on Euthyphro I promised you. As I said in class, please read the entire text, but give special attention (in other words, reread multiple times) the first half, up to p. 54. Please attempt to answer as many of these questions as possible. I will not be collecting your responses, but I strongly encourage you to post them to your blog.

Nathan

Euthyphro preparation questions for CIE-100.V and .ZC (Rein's CIE I sections)

Note: when referring to specific passages in the Euthyphro, use a page number and the so-called "Stephanus numbers" in the margin. Thus, to refer to the passage on p. 44, where Socrates says, "What then? Are you prosecuting someone who flies?," you would use the number 4a along with the page number.

1. Where are Socrates and Euthyphro, and why (specifically and in detail) are they there?

2. Based on the first five pages of the dialogue (through p. 46), how would you describe Euthyphro -- what kind of person is he?

3. Who is Meletus?

4. What does Socrates ask Euthyphro to teach him? Why does he claim he wants to learn this?

5. What is "piety," from the perspective of this dialogue? (In other words, what are they actually talking about?)

6. Identify the four attempts Euthyphro makes to answer Socrates' central question, and explain why each attempt fails.

7. On p. 48, at 6d, find the paragraph that begins, "Do you remember that I didn't bid you..." This is a key objection to one of Euthyphro's statements. Rephrase it in your own words.

8. At one point, Euthyphro defines piety as "what is dear to the gods" (p. 48, 7a). What does Socrates ultimately find to be the problem with this definition?

9. What is the main point of the exchange on pp. 53-54? How does it end?

10. What is "tendance" (p. 57, 12e and after)? Look it up if necessary -- keep in mind that "tendence of" something is similar to the idea of "tending to" something. Make sure you're clear on this.

11. Paraphrase Euthyphro's statement on p. 59, 14b, which begins: "I also told you a little while ago, Socrates..." What is Euthyphro saying in this short paragraph? What's your reaction -- does his point seem reasonable to you or not?

12. Socrates returns to the idea of "dear to the gods" at 15b (p. 60). What is the context this time? How did Socrates get back to this point, and how does it affect the dialogue here?

13. What happens at the very end of the dialogue, and why?

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20090716_tv_blog_bsg_128.mp3 (956 KB)

Hello, CIE students...

Just in case there's any confusion, the next reading assignment is Plato's Euthyphro (that's pp. 41-61 in the paperback book, "Four Texts on Socrates"). It's difficult. Read the whole thing, and then read it again. Sorry I haven't completed the reading questions yet, but I will try to get those out to you tomorrow (and they'll also be posted on the course blog).

For your amusement, I'm attaching a short audio clip from season four of Battlestar Galactica. See if it reminds you of Gilgamesh.

And finally -- don't forget that we are going to be watching The Matrix before our next class meeting -- that's Monday night (9/21). It's in Olin Auditorium and we are all scheduled to be there at seven p.m. Let me know if this is going to be a problem for you.

Nathan

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