Question

Assignment questions:

1. VALUES

A. Which values (if any) do you think have intrinsic or foundational worth? (If you think that there are no values with intrinsic or foundational worth, please briefly explain why.)

B. Do you think that moral values are objective, subjective, or relative to particular cultures? Or perhaps a combination of the three?

2. LOGIC and CRITICAL THINKING

A. In your own words, how would you define “critical thinking”?

B. How do you know when a conclusion actually follows from the reasons given to support it?

3. MORAL EVALUATION

A. What do you think makes an action morally right or wrong? (2 points)

B. What do you think makes a good person good? (2 points)

C. Do you think that we should focus our moral evaluation on what makes actions good or bad, or what makes people's characters good or bad?

D.In your own words, how would you briefly define one of the following concepts?

fairness

justice

equality

4. REFLECTION ON THIS CLASS

A.In what ways have your responses to any of the above questions changed or developed over the course of this semester? Please cite at least one specific example.

B. What has been your favorite aspect of this class this semester? Why was it your favorite aspect of the class? Please be as specific as possible in your answer. You may cite a reading, a video, an assignment, a discussion board, a reflection topic, or any other element of the class that you enjoyed.

C. What has been your least favorite aspect of this class this semester (besides time, location, modality, etc.)? Why was it your least favorite aspect of the class? In what specific way(s) do you think I can improve on this part of the course in future semesters?

Answer 1

1. VALUES

A. Which values (if any) do you think have intrinsic or foundational worth? (If you think that there are no values with intrinsic or foundational worth, please briefly explain why.)

Some values have intrinsic worth, such as love, truth, and freedom. These values are fundamental and foundational in nature.

B. Do you think that moral values are objective, subjective, or relative to particular cultures? Or perhaps a combination of the three?

Morality is subjective but can be thought of as objective with respect to values we hold. That is, it is meaningless to say that something is morally right or wrong without holding some underlying value that a morally wrong action violates.​​​​​​​

2. LOGIC and CRITICAL THINKING

A. In your own words, how would you define “critical thinking”?

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

B. How do you know when a conclusion actually follows from the reasons given to support it?

This can be known by considering what factors or facts have led to the conclusion. One can base deductive reasoning and critical thinking to check that if the conclusion has reasons or premises which can support it.