This week, we continued exploring the debate between Clifford and James concerning the ethics of belief, particularly how this debate has evolved with new technology and in our contemporary context. For this Critical Assessment, you will be asked to use your knowledge from the past two weeks to answer the following question:
“Is one of the heuristics from the Clifford/James debate that we explored in week 1–avoid falsehoods or acquire truths–a better heuristic to use, assuming you want to avoid echo chambers?”
In total, your paper should be about 800 words. You should address the following over the course of your paper:
a. Using an example, explain what the distinguishing features of echo chambers are and why one might want to avoid echo chambers when possible, given the reading for this week. (This should be about 3-5 sentences).
b. Explain what these two heuristics are and how they are generated from James’s/Clifford’s views (i.e., why do the core features of Clifford’s view yield this rule for how we should approach new beliefs/evidence? why do the core features of James’s view yield this rule for how we should think about risk/reward with respect to beliefs?). (This should be about 4-5 sentences).
c. Defend a position concerning the bolded question above and explain your answer. Notice that your answer may take on one of three claims: (1) avoid falsehoods is a better heuristic for avoiding echo chambers, (2) acquire truths is a better heuristic for avoiding echo chambers, or (3) neither heuristic will help one avoid echo chambers. (This should be the majority of your paper). In defending your argument, you should use the podcast to support your argument (and think about what advice you’d give Caleb in writing your argument). Here’s some things to consider that you may want to address, or at least think about before writing this Critical Assessment: How did Caleb see himself when he went down the far-right rabbit hole and when he then went down the far-left one? How did Caleb think about the beliefs/evidence of others compared to his own? Do you think Caleb is any less susceptible to echo chambers at the end of the story?
Your paper should include a brief (~3 sentence) introduction and conclusion. You can use quotes from either of the papers to support your interpretation, but you must try to explain these concepts mainly in your own words. If you do use quotes or say something like “Clifford argues that…” you should include an in-text citation that identifies the author and the page number associated with the argument. Be sure to spend some time looking through the rubric before you begin writing the CA.
(you only need to use the sources I have provided. Including two reading packets and two podcasts(these sources must be included.
This paper doesn’t require a reference page, but in-text citations are needed.
This paper requires a large portion of original thoughts and understandings rather than3 paraphrasing the philosophy and ethical theories for a large amount.
This paper requires specific and correct explanation of the examples you choose to include from the podcast or reading.Thank you!)
The podcast links:
1.
2.
