Presentations

Presentations will be done in a debate format. One student or set of students will take the pro position on a question and defend it and the other will defend the con position.  If only one person signs up for a presentation, they will defend their position with the class playing the other role.

The presentations will have two sections:

I. Introductory summary of problem and defense of position: (500 words (2 typed pages) maximum; about 3 minutes reading time). This must have this form:

 (1) Explanation of Issue(s):  
(A) Explain the crucial issue(s), the issue which causes the disagreement between the two sides and which, if resolved, would resolve the disagreement. This should not just be a restatement of the question.
(B) Explain the answer your side gives to this crucial question. This is your main assumption.
(C) Explain the answer the other side gives to this crucial question. This is their main assumption.

 (2) Opening Defense of position: Briefly summarize the main reason why you find the arguments for your side more convincing.

II. Argument and Response and Discussion: Here you consider the arguments in more detail and defend or attack specific premises. Each side will have the opportunity to address two or more arguments to her or his opponent. Each side will get a chance to respond. Each argument should be about 100-250 words. Each argument will have this form:

1. Statement of assumptions or starting points of arguments. These should be numbered if there are more than one.

2. Explanation of why the other side accepts these premises. (At this point the other side will have the opportunity to reject a premise, if they wish to.  Their silence will imply consent. )

3. Explanation of how these premises lead to the conclusion

The presenters ought to plan responses to the other position’s arguments and try to anticipate their response to your arguments. After each argument and response, the class will have an opportunity to ask questions or discuss the issues as well.

               You should have prepared at least 3 arguments for your position. While you are not required to use the arguments given in class, your arguments must be relevant: You must also address the crucial issues discussed on class. You must hand in a written version of your notes at the beginning of the presentation, so remember to make an extra copy.

In cases where there are more than one presenter on each side, a team works together and gives only one introduction. In these cases, both students on the team will receive the same grade.

Three types of considerations will be looked at in grading presentations:

1. Grasp of the issue and the basic assumptions. (C)

2. Ability to spell out your arguments and respond to opposing arguments without begging the question. (B)

3. Ability to defend your position by anticipating and responding to objections. (A)

Summary of Requirements

      Sign up for a presentation and show up to give it.  It is your responsibility to sign up for a presentation slot. If you wait too long there may not be a slot available. Failing to show up for a presentation or failing to sign up for one is like skipping an exam.

      Prepare an Introduction and at least three arguments. This must be written, at least in outline form.

      Make an extra copy of your presentation notes or outline and hand it in at the beginning of your presentation. This should include your Introduction and your arguments or objections to the other side. This need not be typed.

      Try to anticipate and prepare responses to the arguments the other side will ask.

       You are strongly encouraged to meet with me prior to your presentation to make sure you understand the basic issues and arguments involved.

General Structure of Presentations:

I. Introductory Statements

               Pro side                                                             Con Side
II. Argument, Rely, and Discussion

A1    1. Pro Side: Assumptions and why they are accepted                  2. Con Side: Opportunity to respond (optional)
          3.  Pro: Explanation of how assumptions lead to conclusion.     4. Con: Response to argument

          5. Pro: Follow up (if necessary)                                                       6. Class Discussion

A1    1. Con Side: Assumptions and why they are accepted                 2. Pro Side: Opportunity to respond (optional)
          3.  Con: Explanation of how assumptions lead to conclusion.    4. Pro: Response to argument

          5. Con: Follow up (if necessary)                                                      6. Class Discussion

These steps will be repeated at lest one more time.

Presentation Topics

Topic 1:

Question: Is it possible to think that you are happy and really not be happy?

Basic Issue: Is happiness an objective state or a subjective feeling?

Topic 2:

Question: If death is the end of all consciousness and there is no afterlife, is death a bad thing? (You should only consider whether death is bad for the person who dies not the people left behind, and you should assume for the sake of argument that death is the end of all consciousness. You should also consider only those cases where a person's life has been relatively good.)

Basic Issue:  Is badness a feeling or a state? Can something be bad for you if you never feel it?

Topic 2:

Question: is Plato correct in claiming hat all real objects and values must be objective and that none of the objects and values in this world are real

Basic Issues: (1) Can a value be real if it is not permanent? Are all values in this world like itches or hunger? (2) Why do our senses deceive us? Where do we get our abstract ideas from?

Topic 4:

Can the existence of God be proven?

Basic Issues: (1) Is a scientific account of nature adequate to explain the character and existence of the world or is God, as creator, necessary to explain the world?

(2) Does the idea of a necessarily existing being make sense?

Topic 5:

Question: Is the existence of evil in the world and in humans compatible with the

existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful and completely good God?

Basic Issues:  (1) Is God responsible for natural evil? Is all natural evil necessary for some greater good? (2) Is free will a good thing, given the evil it produces? Can we accept the good that comes from free will knowing that its price is suffering? Can evil be transformed into good?

Topic 6:

Question: Could you tell if you were dreaming or in the Matrix, and would it matter?

Basic issues: (1) Is the content of our perceptions affected by our connection with the external world or is its source purely internal? (2) Does the value we get from our experiences depend on their being connected to an external reality?

Topic 7:

Question: Are you more than your brain?

Basic issues: (1) Is there a part of us that cannot be affected by processes in our brain and body?

(2) If not, can your behaviour be independent of processes in the brain?

Topic 8:

Question: Does Life have a meaning?

Basic issues: (1) Does essence precede existence? Is there some source of meaning outside of us? (2) If there is no source of meaning outside of us, can we give our lives meaning ourselves?

Topic 9:

Question: Is love possible, or are all relationships doomed to failure?

Basic Issues:  (1) Are we islands of subjectivity? (2) Is the master-slave relationship inevitable, if we are islands of subjectivity?  (3) If we are not islands of subjectivity, then how do we retain our individuality in a relationship?