« February 2008 | Main | April 2008 »
March 24, 2008
Presentation #5: Music Piracy
1. Have you ever downloaded music illegally?
2. What are the advantages or disadvantages of illegally downloading music (pirating)?
3. What is the distinction between legally and illegally downloading music?
4. Do you think downloading music illegally is stealing? If so, is it morally impermissible?
Posted by seschmid at 11:29 AM | Comments (22)
Presentation #6: Animal Rights
1. What makes humans the superior species? What are the reasons for animal testing? For eating meat?
2. Some argue that eating animal meat is harmful to the environment and our bodies. Could we ever change our eating habits completely in order to change these so-called bad effects?
3. What are some justifications for using animals to prolong the human race? (such as animal experimenting for medicines)
4. What is your stance on animal rights? What should or shouldn't be done in every aspect of animal rights? (animal testing, eating meat, hunting, etc)
Posted by seschmid at 11:26 AM | Comments (16)
March 16, 2008
Presentation #4: Capital Punishment
1.Should capital punishment be used in the United States?
2. Do you believe capital punishment is a better deterant than a lifetime prison sentence? Why, or why not?
3. In the following situations can you maintain your position or do you find it difficult to keep the same response on this topic...
a. You were forced to view a brutal torture, rape, killing of your spouse. The police arrive and apprehend the murderer before you are killed. If it were left up to you to sentence the individual.... would you push the prison sentence or death sentence?
b. A person close to you (could be spouse, child, best friend, etc) is on death row. You truly don't believe this person was capable of the crime and believe that the wrong individual has been convicted. Does this change the pro capital punishment person's confidence in the use of the death penalty?
c. Let's revist the first scenario... Imagine that the prison sentence was assigned to this murderer and thirty years have now gone by. You read a news article telling that your spouse's muderer has fulfilled his term and on good pardon is being released next week. Would you be okay with this, or would you be regretting not having opted for the death sentence knowing he may now go out and do this to someone else's family?
Posted by seschmid at 01:24 PM | Comments (22)
March 04, 2008
Presentation #3: Torture
1. Explain your answer to the following hypothetical question:
You work for the CIA. You have received word that there will be a terrorist strike in the next three days. It is known that the nature of the attack will be a nuclear detonation in one of the United State’s most heavily populated areas. A day prior to the attack, you receive word that the nuclear bomb is set to go off in either Los Angeles or New York. You have a suspect in custody believed to be one of the members of the terrorist group. You have tried a wide variety of interrogation methods against the suspect, but the suspect still won’t talk. There are now only twelve hours before the attack. You need to know where the bomb is going to go off very soon if there is to be any hope of stopping it. Another member of your investigation suggests the use of torture as a means of getting the information out of the suspect. Do you follow their advice?
1b. If you answered yes to the prior question, and the information you gained from the suspect turned out to be wrong and you were unable to prevent the attack, do you believe you are still justified in your prior use of torture as an interrogation method?
2. Do you believe the use of torture as an interrogation method produces accurate information?
3. Are there any circumstances where torture is permissible?
4. Explain why you agree/disagree with the following statements: “The ends always justify the means” and “The needs of the many always outweigh the needs of the few.”
Posted by seschmid at 06:44 AM | Comments (20)
March 02, 2008
The Happiness Machine
Imagine there is a machine that you could plug into and that would satisfy any desire you might have. Inside this machine, you are given any experience you desire. The scientists in control of this machine stimulate your brain into thinking you are the greatest athlete, the richest person on earth, the most famous celebrity, a wonderful novelist, or you are simply enjoying physical and psychological pleasures. Moreover, the scientists vary the pleasures so you don't get bored.
Even though you are inside the machine, it's as if you were living in the real world. On top of that, you are free to leave the machine at any time, although no one ever has.
Would you plug yourself into this Happiness Machine? Why or why not?
Posted by seschmid at 03:38 PM | Comments (9)