Choose only one of the two following prompts to build your essay around. Each prompt will be associ ...
Choose only one of the two following prompts to build your essay around. Each prompt will be associated with one of the chapters we have studied. Make sure to address every aspect of the prompt to receive a high grade. 1) [Chapter 3: God/Religion]: This prompt has two parts!!!! [You must use sources from Fyodor Dostoevsky, Hegel, and Blaise Pascal] Which type of God discussed in this chapter is most compelling to you? Even if you do not believe in God, choose the one that is most likely to appeal to you, as this is a good practice to figure out what kind of person you are. [For example: a Deist perspective would show that you might be intrigued by scientific solutions]. After deciding which one to choose from, present at least two reasons why this is a compelling version of God. Try to be both analytical and communicable. Make your reasons clear and presentable. Each reason should have enough details to take up at least one paragraph. [You Use examples to further clarify your reasons. Have at least two external sources for your research. Here is a list of options you may choose from: [You must use sources from Fyodor Dostoevsky, Hegel, and Blaise Pascal] a) Orthodox Christian Tradition of God: Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnibenevolent; Trinity of “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” b) Anthropomorphic God: One that is similar to humans, but instead has the best version of our qualities; for example, God is the most compassionate, most loving, most powerful, wisest intellect, etc. c) God as an Impersonal Creator (Deist perspective): Started up the universe but leaves it alone after that, similar to having a Big Bang role d) God as Transcendent: Being beyond our world, but could be knowable through either reason or mystical experiences (personal, immediate ones) e) God as present through our relationships with other people. Our way of knowing God is through our positive interactions with others. (View of Karl Rahner and Gustavo Gutiérrez) f) God as Immanent (maybe even Pantheism): God is present within our world and even within us. God is heavily involved with the current fabric of our universe. G) God as Spirit: Not a static entity, but more of an ever-present force that keeps developing. This is God as a process of becoming h) God as Object of Faith: One cannot know God, but it is through ever-persistent faith that we encounter God’s presence I) God as Moral Being: God’s existence is evident through the moral order established in this world Then after presenting your two reasons, choose one of the following arguments about knowing God that is most appealing to you. When describing this argument, make sure to explain what the argument is and why it is appealing. Here is a list of options: A) Cosmological Argument B) Argument from Design C) Ontological Argument D) Rational Faith E) Pascal’s Wager F) Irrational Faith BASIC FORMAT FOR THIS PROMPT: 1) Introduction with a thesis statement that includes your position and how you will argue for it. 2) Two body paragraphs, each centered on one major reason why the version of God you have chosen is compelling. Your reason is clear: you have examples to support them. 3) One or two body paragraphs detailing which argument from the list above is most compelling to you. You explain the argument while also expressing why it is important. 4) Conclusion- This can be short; just a short wrap up of the essay. 2) [Chapter Four: The Nature of Reality]: Explain and defend what you consider to be most real. Are you a materialist by believing physical or material components to be most real (atoms, the physical elements, electrons, electromagnetic forces, etc.) or are you an immaterialist that believes that the immaterial is most real (spirit, mind, Plato’s forms, ideas, etc.). Or are you a dualist who believes that both are equally real? Use the following two principles to make your case: 1) Whatever is most real is that which does not depend upon anything else to make it what it is; 2) Whatever is most real is resistant to change, in that it does not get destroyed or created. I highly recommend looking at some of the philosophers in this chapter to help guide your thought process. [You must use sources from Hume, Schelling, and Nietzsche] For instance, consider: a) Materialism: Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heraclitus, Democritus, or any modern scientific view b) Immaterialism: Pythagoras, Parmenides, Zeno of Elea, Plato (Plato’s Forms), Idealism, Berkeley, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Leibniz c) Both are equal: Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza (both are the same substance), This essay must be at least 600 words. When arguing for your position, explain what immaterialism/materialism means. Use the two principles above to serve as reasons for your choice. Then utilize components of the philosophers in this chapter to guide your ideas and to perhaps serve as examples. Have at least two external sources for your research, as sources can be one of the best ways to generate reasons and creative ideas. BASIC FORMAT: [You must use sources from Hume, Schelling, and Nietzsche] 1) Introduction: Includes your thesis statement, in which you clearly state your position 2) Within your body paragraphs you explain what materialism/immaterialism is. Give examples to clarify your explanation. Then demonstrate your position by appealing to the two principles above. 3) Within your body paragraphs, you appeal to another philosopher(s) as to what their position is on the matter to provide support for your own position. This may be a good spot to appeal to external sources here if you wish. 4) Conclusion: short wrap of the main points of the essay.
