BQ PRESENTATIONS

The Big Questions Presentations

This project will allow students to explore several of the “big questions” posed in our study of philosophy. While the project’s aim won’t be to come up with definitive answers to the questions, it will be a way to:

1. examine our initial opinion about them
2. learn about some of the philosophers who have asked the same questions and how they have attempted to answer them
3. form a way to explain our own responses to them.

Select one question from the sixteen posed in Chapter One of The Big Questions and prepare a presentation to the class that does three things:

1. Explains the question and your own initial opinion of the answer to it.
2. Introduces the ideas from at least three philosophers who have offered views about the question. Cite primary and secondary resources and rely heavily on the philosophers’ own words.
3. Examines how what you have learned has either altered your view of the question or reinforced your view of it.
4. For ideas about how to put your presentation together, check out this list of tools and ideas.
5. Do the Abstract today.

Presentations begin on Thursday, Oct. 31st.

Is there anything you’re willing to die for? What? (Nick and Stephen)

Do you believe that it is wrong to take a life under any circumstances? (JR and Cubby)

Is a good person necessarily happy? Is life fair? (Matt J)

Is freedom always a good thing? (Piotr)

If you had a few minutes to live, what would you do? A few days? Twenty years? (Alisha)

What is the purpose of life? Is human life more valuable than other animals? (Tom)

Do you believe in God? What is God like? How can you prove that God is real? If not, why not? Do you have a different belief? (Dom)

What is real? The physical chair, the molecules, or the sensations and images you have of the chair. (Pat)

How can you prove you have a mind? (Vincent)

How can you prove that the Earth is in fact in motion? Is it possible to that you are the only one who knows the truth and everyone else is wrong? (Curtis)

Is life just a dream? How can you prove that it isn’t? (Victor)

Describe yourself. Do you like yourself in the way you described you? (Katie)

Explain who (what) you are to a visitor from another planet. (Katie)

Do you want to have children? If so, Why? (Emily and Matt R)

Would you like to step into the happiness box? Why or why not? (Paige and Karina)