Debate: Epistemology

Question: Is objectivity the best way to know the truth about reality?

Positions FOR Objectivity:

Science (Rationalism + Empiricism + Skepticism)

Historical materialism / Ideology Critique

Positions AGAINST Objectivity:

Existential Perspectivism (Subjectivity)

Phenomenology (Inter-Subjectivity)

Write a one page essay in which you argue FOR or AGAINST the claim that objectivity is the best way to know the truth about reality.

• Select one position for objectivity and one position against objectivity for this debate, e.g. Empirical Science vs. Perspectivism, or Historical Materialism vs. Phenomenology.
• State your thesis clearly, for example, “I argue objectivity, not subjectivity, is the best way to know the truth about reality.
• Briefly define and contrast “objectivity” and the oppositional position you select.
• Develop only one example to illustrate & argue for your position. State the example in the form of a truth claim, e.g.
• Compare and contrast what can be known from the opposing epistemologies using the example to illustrate.
• Make an argument for your position based on the same example.
• Consider and refute your opposition’s best reply to your argument based on the same example.
• Show me what you can do making use of the arguments in the assigned texts to win the debate.
• Do not make reference to philosophical texts not assigned in this course.

“Humans are causing climate change.”

“Climate change is a hoax.”

“The inaugural crowd was at least a million.”

“Voter fraud accounts for the difference in the popular vote.”

[Your example here.]

• Compare and contrast what can be known from the opposing epistemologies using the example to illustrate.
• Make an argument for your position based on the same example.
• Consider and refute your opposition’s best reply to your argument based on the same example.
• Show me what you can do making use of the arguments in the assigned texts to win the debate.
• Do not make reference to philosophical texts not assigned in this course.

Land Shark

When is a shark just a shark? Consider the movie Jaws. What could the shark symbolize in our culture, society, or collective human mythology other than a man-eating fish? Why? Support your answer.

Next, think about a theatrical staging of Jaws. Describe the artistic choices you would make to bring Jaws, the movie, to Broadway. What genre would you choose? Describe at least three other elements of production and how you would approach them in your staging of Jaws as a stage play or musical.

Submit your assignment as a Word document using the Assignment Files tab:

• A 350- to 700-word paper (You are welcome to go over the word count if you wish.)

In this forum, post your thesis statement (a complete sentence) and a brief outline for the critical evaluation essay. For your critical evaluation essay, you will probably want to evaluate the same TED Talk that you chose and discussed in last week’s Forum. In fact, The Week 2 Forum was designed to allow you to get a head start on your critical evaluation essay by first analyzing your chosen speech within Forum 2, before developing it further here, in Forum 3.

Then, discuss how you plan to show how your chosen speaker uses ethos, pathos, logos, etc. Choose one original example of this support, and explain how it was effective in the speech’s argument. Cite this example correctly using MLA style documentation.

Finally, consider the following. During this section of the course you evaluated a speaker’s rhetorical skills. How can this sort of critical evaluation of another speaker’s methods of persuasion be used in future courses at APUS?

In your responses, find a classmate who chose a different argument than yours. Do you agree with your classmate’s discussion? See if you can find a different example of where support is used within that chosen speech (or point out a possible fallacy to your classmate). Continue this conversation over a few days. Also, if you find that your chosen classmate has misunderstood the critical evaluation essay instructions, please help that student get back on track.

write 500–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

Health care has evolved and changed over the years. You have been asked to speak to middle school students about how health care has changed over the past 50 years. In preparation for your presentation, you researched significant changes in the way health care is delivered in the United States, including changes in the business aspect of health care. Discuss and compare the following changes in your Discussion Board posting: 

• How has health care changed in the past 50 years?
• Describe how public relations influenced the direction of health care. In what capacity?
• Discuss how the business components of health have changed.
• What are some strategic goals that your organization can implement as it prepares for the next 25 years?  

Now you are going to engage in a discovery project based on the novel The Sweet Hereafter.

Search the novel for a detail that you know something about or some detail that you find intriguing. You may choose one of the topics from the list below or email an idea to your instructor for approval.

Possible topics to consider

Take your chosen detail as a separate idea from the novel and research it. Then, choose an angle from which you might share your information. You might research its usefulness in the world, its history, its superstitions, its modern-day meaning, its negative effect on the world, or any angle you can think of. Think: what most interests you about this topic? You will want to have a narrow focus that considers your audience(your peers), your purpose (to inform), and your tone (up to you).

Example

Keep track of the research sources that you find by using source cards. Use the Research Source Cards.

Keep track of your evidence in an Evidence Log, so that you can use the information to create your project.

Since this is a mini-discovery project, you must follow the rules for research and attribution (citing your sources), so you do not accidentally plagiarize. Watch the presentation below to review those practices. Then be sure to approach this project in order as the steps are presented in the Best Discovery Practices Presentation (or view the Text Version).

ou have completed your discovery process and you are ready to share your results.

Build a PowerPoint presentation (10-15 slides with audio) about your detail from the novel that teaches your peers about that detail.

Your presentation will include

Your presentation will also follow these general guidelines for best practices for presentations

Since you will be submitting your presentations for peer review, be sure to go over the Speak Up presentation (or view the Text Version) before reviewing your peer’s presentation.

Discussion: It’s All in the Details Writers and filmmakers carefully select the details of their stories to give the audience insight into the characters and themes of their works. The more we understand the details, the more we can understand the work, and there is no greater tool for learning this concept than to teach it. In this assignment, you are going to turn the tables and teach the details of The Sweet Hereafter. By now you have done the following Now, do the following: Post the PowerPoint file to the Discussion: It’s All in the Details link. View at least two of the PowerPoint files posted by your peers and write brief peer reviews that follow the 4 P’s of peer review (praise, probe, propose, be positive). Choose posts that have zero or one comment so that all students receive two reviews. Read the comments that peers provide for your presentation. To ensure success on this assignment, read the discussion rubric. Then, read the project rubric that your instructor will use to evaluate the revised version of this assignment (you will turn this in later). For insight and help with effective writing guidelines that your teacher is looking for, read the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.