M. Kagan, Le Moyne College, PHL 201, Open Format Quiz #3, November 11, 2002

This is an "open-format" quiz. It can be taken as an "open-book," in-class or take-home, group, individual, or oral [with the following instructions]. Written exams should not exceed one page per answer. (Oral exams will involve follow-up questions, but will not last longer than 30 minutes.)
If taken in class OR as a take home as an individual effort, answer 1 of the following. All take-homes are to be typed, double-spaced, with citations for sources and assistance).
The exam may be done by a group containing up to 5 members. The group needs to answer as many questions as there are members in the group. Group take-homes are to be typed, double spaced. If you wish to take this exam as an oral, please make an appointment as soon as possible.

The take-home versions of this exam are DUE Friday, November 15, 2002, in RH436 before 2:30 p.m.


 

1. What does Becker think a genuinely religious person would be like? Why? Do You think Becker's right? Why or why not?

2. What problem is bothering Becker in Birth and Death of Meaning? What is Becker's response to this problem?

3. Briefly give what you take to be the best arguments offered for either Confucius' or Becker's responses.

4. Do Becker or Confucius offer important insights into the human situation? If not, where did they go wrong? If so, how could someone apply those insights? If you [or any member of your group if you are doing this as a group exercise] have done so ( or tried to do so) already, please explain how it went.

5. Is there an example of human nature as an ideal in Becker's Birth and Death of Meaning? If so, what is it? Is Becker's approach consistent with that of Confucius? Why or why not?

6. If you tried to live according to the teaching of Becker's Birth and Death of Meaning what would you have to do?

7. If you lived according to Confucius' teaching, what would you have to do?

8. Is Confucius' or Le Moyne College's required curriculum consistent with the educational implications of Becker's Birth and Death of Meaning? Why or why not?

9. Locate the general reading questions on the syllabus. Answer them for Huston Smith's chapter on Confucianism OR for Becker's Birth and Death of Meaning.



Back to Kagan's homepage at Le Moyne College <http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/index.html>
Back to other materials for PHL 201 <http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/201INDX97.html>