Intellectual Heritage B (Spring 2008) - Midterm

Answer one question from 1-2.

1. Why does Locke think that people would want to leave the state of nature and give up the "executive right of nature"?

2. Locke thinks that consent is what makes the government formed by the social contract legitimate. But neither you nor I signed that contract. What does Locke think makes a government legitimate for future generations? That is, why and when are we bound by the laws of a government that our ancestors founded?

Answer one question from 3-5.

3. Provide an interpretation of Dickinson's poem "I felt a funeral." What's it about? What or whom is the funeral for? Support your answer with textual evidence.

4. Provide an interpretation of Blake's poem "The Garden of Love." What's it about? Why is about a garden? Support your answer with textual evidence.

5. What does Wordsworth think that we can learn from nature? Why doesn't he come right out and tell us? Support your answer with evidence from at least two poems.

Answer one question from 6-7.

6. Explain the importance of what Darwin calls the "geometrical ratio of increase." What does it create? Why is it important for evolution?

7. Why does Darwin talk about dog embyos in the last chapter of The Descent of Man?

Due Date

Thursday 3/27

Length

The complete midterm should be no more than 1,200 words. This is approximately 4 pages double-spaced with Arial 12 point font.

Format

The midterm must be typed. It should be double spaced. It should have one inch margins. You should use a 12 point font. I prefer Arial, since it is easy to read. Please follow the general paper and exam instructions under the "course documents / writing" section on Blackboard.

Procedure

You are required to hand in a paper copy at the start of class on the due date. In addition you must submit the midterm through TurnItIn via Blackboard by 11:59 pm on the due date. TurnItIn is a plagiarism detection tool. It will compare your paper against others available online, in journals, submitted in this class, Temple, and from all other universities that use the software.

Note: Plagiarism will result in a failing grade in the class, not just on this assignment.