M. Kagan, Philosophical Perspectives (PHL 201) Fall 1997
Group Work on Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower, Chs. 1- 6.

Break up into small groups (of 3-5). Then discuss the following. Delegateone or more members of your group to prepare an oral and written summaryof your group's discussion. The written summary is for the members of yourgroup. (I suggest using a chart format for question #2.)

1. Who is the narrator? What is important about her? What particularproblem is bothering her?

2. Make a list of the other characters in the first six chapters. Whatis important about them? What problem(s), if any, is/are bothering eachof them?

3. Which of their problems do people share today? Which people sharethem?

4. Review the concept of parable. What is this parable about? Are anyin your group familiar with another "parable of the sower?" Ifso, have them remind you of it; if not, ask around the other groups.

5. Briefly summarize the narrator's theory of the human person. Howis it related to her religious views?

6. What do you think the narrator thinks is the purpose of a community?What do you think of her opinion?

M. Kagan, PHL 201, Fall 1997
Study Questions for Quiz 2

Break up into small groups (of 3-5). Then discuss the following. Delegateone or more members of your group to prepare an oral and written summaryof your group's discussion. The written summary is for the members of yourgroup.

1. What problem is bothering Confucius, according to Smith? What isConfucius' response to this problem?

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 eitherConfucius' or Becker's responses. Explain why you think they are the bestoffered.

4. Briefly describe non-dualist Vedanta and classical Buddhism as responsesto the confilct of finitude. Which do you find most plausible? Why?

5. According to Freud's definition, is classical Buddhism a religion?Why or why not?