Intro Philosophy Topic

Question

I have to choose one of the following topics for my final project in 8 weeks. I hated the 1st week of the class so far and really am having issues grasping the concepts. I study hard and am doing well in the class however. I wondered if anyone with a background in philosopht could help me choose a topic that will not be one that will be "over my head". They all sound fairly interesting, it is just that I do not know what the next 8 weeks will bring as far as interest in the subject. The list I am to choose my topic from is:

Final Project Topics

• Does the universe have a purpose? Does life have a purpose?

• Is there order in the cosmos independent of what the mind puts there? Could the universe be radically different from how we perceive it?

• Is a person more than a physical body? What is the mind? What is thought?

• Do people really have free will?

• Is there a God?

• Does it make a difference if there is or isn’t a God?

• What is art? What is beauty?

• What is truth?

• Is it possible to know anything with absolute certainty?

• What is moral obligation? What is the extent of our moral obligation to other people and other living things?

• What kind of person should I be?

• What are the ethically legitimate functions and scope of the state? What is its proper organization?

Looking for anyone who can help me make this decision. All information is appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

Read my favorite Philosopher, Rodan of Alexandria then you will be able to decide which is best for you.

PAPER 160 - RODAN OF ALEXANDRIA

http://www.urantia.org/papers/paper160.h...

Human life consists in three great drives--urges, desires, and lures. Strong character, commanding personality, is only acquired by converting the natural urge of life into the social art of living,

PAPER 161 - FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH RODAN

http://www.urantia.org/papers/paper161.h...

Said Rodan: "In order to be a person, God must have symbols of spirit communication which would enable him to become fully understood by those who make contact with him. But since God is infinite and eternal, the Creator of all other beings, it follows that,

Answer 2

When I look into the eye of the ant , I can see my reflection looking back at me. I see myself as one with the ant.

Both inhabitants of Planet Earth.

We strive to survive each day we are alive!

  

There will always be huge questions about life.

Most have no answer.

Enjoy each second as it may be your last.

This is a beautiful moment.

  

Answer 3

You're doing really well.  It takes a while, and some good reading, for the subject to become natural to you.  The more you acquaint yourself with it and become familiar, the easier this way of thinking will become.

I think the one about free will might be a good one to get your teeth into.  The problem is a clear cut one about the apparent contradiction between the necessary connection we make between cause and effect in the world, which might imply that everything is pre-determined (a la the mechanical Newtonian universe), and our natural feeling we possess free will.  I like tackling questions which include the thing about determinism.  It's a very clear cut problem.

If you like music or something like that, you could ask "what actually makes this pleasing?" as a springboard for the art question.

I personally like the question "Is there order in the cosmos independent of what the mind puts there?"  It's assumes that there might not be, which is an interesting starting point.  It's not necessarily solipsism.  (Hume and Kant are both good on this, especially in regard to causation, but don't rush into it.  Berkeley said "to exist is to be perceived".  You might also be able to bring in quantum physics??)

The one about truth is interesting in that it's a fashionable view to say that truth is all "relative", so that the practices of some tribe we might consider abhorrent is considered ok, because it's "true for them".  But you could argue if the word "truth" doesn't imply "correspondence with the facts", then it's a rather useless word to have (we would then need another word for that).  And that would make relativism wrong, because there can be only one set of consistent - non-contradictory - facts that can be true.   This is an interesting one because of the dramatic (and harmful) consequences of believing in relativism, and the fact that belief in it is so widespread these days.

I hope some of this helps.