Leucippus and Democritus state that all things in nature are ruled by necessity (Presocratic handout). In contrast,
Question:
Leucippus and Democritus state that all things in nature are ruled by necessity (Presocratic handout). In contrast, the U.S. legal system presupposes that humans act out of freewill.These two positions (determinism and free will) frame a vexing debate in discussions of legal studies, ethics, philosophy, and theology.
Free will isto choose a course of action from among various alternatives; for example, one can choose to follow the law or violate the law?both are examples of free will.
Determinism is the claim that all actions are predetermined by prior causes; for example, a computer may seem intelligent but is predetermined by programming.
Answer the following questions as a trial attorney defending or prosecuting Aileen Wuornos on the charges of murder. Read the fact sheet attached to the presocratic reading handout for details about her life and crimes.
1. As a defense attorney, how might you defend Wuornos's innocence on the charge of murder by appealing to determinism? Explain all the factors in the defendant's life that prevented her from acting freely when committing the crime.
2. As a prosecutor, how would you appeal to "free will" to explain the defendant's guilt and responsibility for her actions? (You must address the arguments that you raised as a defense lawyer above.)
Part B-READING QUESTIONS
Rather than appealing to the gods to explain the natural world (muthos), the presocratics offer a scientific explanation through a rational account (logos). Using the presocratic handout, offer a defense for each of the following thinkers' theory about the ultimate principle (arche) underlying all nature. What evidence or experiments can you think of that the theorist might have used to prove his theory? Since the complete works of these theorists are lost, the answers here are based on your own logical analysis. There are three reading selections for this week, which can be found in the Week 4 folder on Blackboard: Presocratic handout; Nature Mythology; Socrates' Critique of 21st Century Neuroscience.
1. Thales proposed that water is the single substance that can explain all other things. Based on your own knowledge, what are the qualities of water? Why does this make it a good candidate as the primordial substance? (Cite any evidence or experiments to support this theory.)
2.Anaximander-Why would Anaximander argue that all things come from the boundless? What do you think the boundless is? Why might this be more compelling than naming a particular substance?
3. Heraclitus-Describe all the qualities and properties of fire. Why might Heraclitus think this is the primordial substance?
4. Pythagoras-How is Pythagoras' notion of harmony as the substance underlying all reality different from the other theorists? How might you explain the order of things (whether man-made or natural being) as a harmony? How might this concept be used to explain human behavior?
5. Anaxagoras-Read the selection from Plato's Phaedo about Socrates' on "his early studies." Why did Socrates think that Anaxagoras had the missing element that would explain how things come into being (97c-99c)? Why is the human scientist (e.g. historian, sociologist, psychologist, criminologist, etc.) better equipped to explain why Socrates is in prison better than the biologist (98b-99b; also check out Silvermintz's article Socrates' Critique of 21st-Century Neuroscience)? What does Socrates propose as an alternative to the various theories proposed by the natural scientists (99d-100c)?
6. Read the article "Nature (Mythology)" and explain how natural phenomena such as lightning and plagues are understood in mythology such as Homer's Iliad? In contrast, how are these things understood by the presocratic scientists? How does the mythological understanding of these phenomena promote ethics in Ancient Greek society?
7. Please watch Week 4 Spotlight Lecture and answer the following questions based on the lecture. What is Aristotle's bold claim about human nature? How does he prove this? What is the value and limit of street smarts?
These sources might help! Thank you!
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/socrates-critique-of-21st-century-neuroscience/
Income Tax Fundamentals 2013
ISBN: 9781285586618
31st Edition
Authors: Gerald E. Whittenburg, Martha Altus Buller, Steven L Gill