1 HCOM 301 Ways of Knowing Closure thru Summary

2 Course Web Site

3 The Big Picture HCOM 301 MLO 4 Philosophical Analysis Philosophical analysis enables us to understand and assess human ways of knowing, being, and valuing. Our assumptions and beliefs about what counts as knowledge, the nature and purposes of life, right and wrong, good and bad profoundly affect how we choose to live our lives. Philosophical analysis provides the tools to identify, understand, and evaluate these assumptions and beliefs.

4 301 = Intro to Philosophy Core Fields Ontology Epistemology Ethics Aesthetics Logic Applied Fields Phil of Education Phil of Medicine Phil of Art Phil of Business Phil of Politics Cultural Studies Etc.

5 Basic Human Questions

6 HCOM 301

7 Ontology What really Exists? ghosts consciousness god karma chair black holes

8 A Challenging Ontological Exercise Creating Categories of Like Things

9 The field of philosophy offers many different theories or points of view on the nature of these categories of reality, and on the relationships between them. NaturalMentalSpiritual

10 Ontological Theories Naturalism: Only Physical Matter Idealism: Only Mental Constructs Spiritualism: Integrated Physical/Mental/Spiritual Whole Skepticism: We Can’t Really Know Existentialism: Whatever Each Individual Thinks It Is

11 Epistemology What is knowledge? How do we acquire knowledge? What serves as evidence or justification that something is true?

Knowledge is Things you believe that you can justify that are true Statements that you believe that you can justify within some system of justification to the satisfaction of most people who operate within that system.

13 Epistemological Theories Rationalism justifies claims by offering clear, logical, and persuasive reasoning. Empiricism justifies claims by citing sensory experience, life experience, or scientific evidence. Religious Faith justifies claims by citing revelation, special teachers, important texts, or insights from personal prayer or meditation. Occultism justifies claims by citing lessons or insights gained from some type of supernatural force or agency. Mysticism justifies claims by citing realizations derived from deep or transcendental meditation.

14 Other Common Epistemologies Intuition (immediate knowledge) justifies claims by pointing to deep feelings or emotions or to ‘common sense’. Expertism justifies claims by simply citing and accepting the opinion of some authority or expert as sufficient in itself. Social Consensus justifies claims by citing public opinion or social group opinion as sufficient in itself.

15 Morality & Ethics Concerned with “right” and “wrong” behavior How should people behave?

Three Branches of Ethics Meta-EthicsNormative EthicsApplied Ethics 16

17 The “sense of morality” is built into the human brain The human brain has the built-in capacity … to laugh and cry to use language to make music and art to imagine to remember to intuit to moralize (Conscience)

Does it matter? Option I Develop a considered and conscious ethical code to live by. Option II Just do what you think or feel is right when a decision or dilemma presents itself. 18

19 Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the sick…. Who are we talking about?

How Far Do Ethical Responsibilities Reach? All Matter All Life All Animals All People People in US Family & Friends Eco-Ethics Vitalism Animism Humanism Nationalism Tribalism 20

Who Should be Bound by an Ethical Code? Each individual should have her own ethical code. Ethical Subjectivism Each society or cultural group should have its own ethical code. Ethical Relativism There should be one ethical code for all people on the planet. Ethical Universalism 21

Types of Ethical Reasoning I.The Pleasure/Pain Principle II.Conformity with Social Norms III.Normative Ethics A.Consequentialist Ethics B.Duty Ethics C.Virtue Ethics 22

Alternative Approaches to Ethical Reasoning I. Pleasure Principle What will give me the greatest pleasure? II. Conformity to Social Norms How does society expect me to act? How do those around me behave? III. Consequentialist Ethics What behavior will lead to the best results or consequences? IV. Duty Ethics What do the laws or teachings command me to do? V. Virtue Ethics How would I best apply my virtues in this situation? 23

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We then explored some Applied Philosophy Ideology (Political Philosophy) Worldviews (Cultural Studies) 25

Political Ideology An Example of Applied Philosophy 26

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28 Worldviews

Western Worldview 29

Indigenous Worldview Relationship (Kinship Obligation) Responsibility (Community Obligation) Reciprocity (Cyclical Obligation) Redistribution (Sharing Obligation) 30 LaDonna Harris

Western and Islamic Perspectives UN’s Human RightsIslamic Human Rights 31

The Worldview Project I.Form a 4 or 5-person team II.Select a group to explore III. Conduct research IV. Prepare a multimedia PowerPoint presentation V.Deliver the presentation to the class

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HCOM 301 Ways of Knowing So, what’s the takeaway? What did we learn? 34

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36 Assessment Deliverables 1.Active Engagement 2.Homework Prep. 3.Ontology Paper 4.Epistemology Paper 5.Ethics Analysis 6.Worldview Presentation

37 A Sample Student Active EngagementB Homework PrepB+ Ontology PaperA Epistemology PaperB- Ethics AnalysisC Worldview PresentationA- AA-B+BB-C+CC-D+DD-F+F x.20 =.60 x.15 =.50 x.05 =.20 x.20 =.53 x.20 =.40 x.20 = = B Course Grade

38 Thanks ! I have genuinely enjoyed our time together! Joe