RPE107 Presentation

Each group must choose one of the following papers (or excerpts of text) for their presentation/written work combo. There is enough choice for every group to do something different, so we will work on a “first tell Carl choice, first served” basis. Consult your group and make a choice, then email me quickly to ensure you get the topic you want.

Remember that you are being “examined” on your ability to draw out the central claims and conclusions, and the movement from claim to conclusion (i.e. the ARGUMENTS) in the text…you are then required to evaluate these arguments and to give supporting/counter arguments where appropriate. So you must clarify the stance being taken in the piece, and then take your own stance on it. This can be done, as previously discussed, any way you like (visual aids, drama etc) as long as it is clear what you are up to.

Aristotle - Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1, Chapters 1 – 7 (Internet Classics Archive text, NOT the ILT Digital Classics text) @ http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.1.i.html

David Hume – An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, “On the origin of ideas”, @ http://www.bartleby.com/37/3/2.html

William James – What Pragmatism Means @ http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/us/james.htm

John Stuart Mill – On Nature @ http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mill-john-stuart/1874/nature.htm [OR] On Liberty @ the Learning Centre

Bertrand Russell – In Praise of Idleness @ http://www.zpub.com/notes/idle.html [OR] Ideas That Have Harmed Mankind @ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2528/br_ideaharm.htm

Jean-Paul Sartre – Existentialism is a Humanism @ http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm

Peter Singer – All Animals Are Equal @ http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/singer02.htm


These are all interesting pieces that require thought and reflection. So get cracking.
CT