1. Why
does Mill think that “It is better … to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool
satisfied” (123)? Is that claim compatible with his hedonism? Do you agree with
him? Why or why not?
2. Kant
thinks that it is more important to be worthy of happiness than to be happy.
Why does he think so? Be sure to say something about the good will. Is
he correct?
3. Mill
pretty clearly thinks that each of us ought to act to bring about the most
happiness possible. Discuss how he attempts to secure that conclusion. Do you
agree with him? Why or why not?
Submit your assignment as
a Word or .pdf document (12-point font, double-spaced.)
Paper 2
Write a roughly 700-900-word paper addressing one of the following topics:
1. Discuss either Schopenhauer’s or Nietzsche’s views on the role and
value of suffering in human life. Do you agree with that assessment? Why or why
not?
2. In §261 of Beyond Good and Evil (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4363/4363-h/4363-h.htm#link2HCH0009),
Nietzsche discusses why a noble person could not understand vanity. Explain why
he says so, and whether you agree or not.
Submit your assignment as
a Word or .pdf document (12-point font, double-spaced.)
Paper 3
Write a roughly 700-900-word paper addressing one of the following topics:
1. How do
you think Socrates/Plato, Aristotle, Mill, Kant, Epicurus, Nagel, Rosenbaum, Schopenhauer,
or Nietzsche (pick just one) would respond to the invitation to permanently
enter Nozick’s “Experience Machine?” Why would that philosopher respond in that
way? Do you agree with that answer? Why or why not?
2. Assuming
that death is annihilation, what would Socrates/Plato, Aristotle, Mill, Kant,
Schopenhauer, or Nietzsche (pick just one) say in response to the question of
whether death is a misfortune for the one who dies? Why would that philosopher
respond in that way? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Submit your
assignment as a Word or .pdf document (12-point font, double-spaced
Paper 4
Write a roughly 700-900-word paper
addressing one of the following
topics:
1.
Suppose that life is absurd for
the reasons that Camus claims. If that were the case, do you think Camus’s
response is appropriate? If you agree with Camus, discuss at least one
objection to his proposed response and reply to it. If you do not agree, say
why, and briefly describe what you think might be a more fitting response.
2.
How might Nietzsche or Sartre
(pick one) respond to Camus’s argument that human life is absurd? Do you agree
with that response? Why or why not?
3.
Discuss what Sartre means by
“abandonment.” Do you agree that we are abandoned in the way he
describes? Why or why not?
