<div class="xblock xblock-public_view xblock-public_view-vertical" data-has-score="False" data-runtime-class="LmsRuntime" data-graded="True" data-request-token="408096eeea6f11efbdc212d4917dea95" data-runtime-version="1" data-block-type="vertical" data-course-id="course-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020" data-init="VerticalStudentView" data-usage-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@vertical+block@33ff30edc6fa4790811e0a5ef5629df3">
<h2 class="hd hd-2 unit-title">Written Assessment 1</h2>
<div class="vert-mod">
<div class="vert vert-0" data-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@c7393438c54744f28c80f49e1608e303">
<div class="xblock xblock-public_view xblock-public_view-html xmodule_display xmodule_HtmlBlock" data-has-score="False" data-runtime-class="LmsRuntime" data-graded="True" data-request-token="408096eeea6f11efbdc212d4917dea95" data-runtime-version="1" data-block-type="html" data-course-id="course-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020" data-init="XBlockToXModuleShim" data-usage-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@c7393438c54744f28c80f49e1608e303">
<script type="json/xblock-args" class="xblock-json-init-args">
{"xmodule-type": "HTMLModule"}
</script>
<h3>Two Notes About Timing</h3>
<p></p>
<p>1. Written Assessment 1 is <strong>released at the beginning of Part 1</strong>. Some questions in the assessment relate to lectures which aren't released until later in Part 1. So no need to worry if you're confused by the questions initially: we will cover all the relevant material in due course. We release the assessment at the beginning of Part 1 for several reasons: (a) to let you see what the assessment will involve; (b) to let you view the lectures with the questions in mind; (c) to minimize overlap between different parts of the course, so that you can focus on one part at a time.</p>
<p style="font-size: 16px;">2. <strong>N</strong><strong>o extensions will be granted for the written assessments. </strong>In a course with so many learners, granting individual extensions just isn't feasible. Please plan accordingly.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="vert vert-1" data-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@ccfcc4170c2247a5b55e6f2062ce7855">
<div class="xblock xblock-public_view xblock-public_view-html xmodule_display xmodule_HtmlBlock" data-has-score="False" data-runtime-class="LmsRuntime" data-graded="True" data-request-token="408096eeea6f11efbdc212d4917dea95" data-runtime-version="1" data-block-type="html" data-course-id="course-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020" data-init="XBlockToXModuleShim" data-usage-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@ccfcc4170c2247a5b55e6f2062ce7855">
<script type="json/xblock-args" class="xblock-json-init-args">
{"xmodule-type": "HTMLModule"}
</script>
<h3>Instructions for Audit Learners</h3>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Write an essay to answer one of the questions below. You will be given several questions to choose from. Please choose only <strong>one.</strong> Your essay should be <strong>800–1200 words.</strong></p>
<p>It's not easy to write a good philosophy essay. If you're new to it, we recommend Jim Pryor's <a href="http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html">Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper</a>.<strong></strong></p>
<p>You are enrolled as an Audit Learner. This means that your essay will only be seen and assessed by you. If you'd like to have your paper graded and commented on by a philosophy instructor, upgrade to become a Verified Learner.</p>
<p>After you write your essay, you should assess it yourself using the rubric we've provided.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="vert vert-2" data-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@df8a0c0317a848b18525ad5198207266">
<div class="xblock xblock-public_view xblock-public_view-html xmodule_display xmodule_HtmlBlock" data-has-score="False" data-runtime-class="LmsRuntime" data-graded="True" data-request-token="408096eeea6f11efbdc212d4917dea95" data-runtime-version="1" data-block-type="html" data-course-id="course-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020" data-init="XBlockToXModuleShim" data-usage-id="block-v1:MITx+24.02x+2T2020+type@html+block@df8a0c0317a848b18525ad5198207266">
<script type="json/xblock-args" class="xblock-json-init-args">
{"xmodule-type": "HTMLModule"}
</script>
<h3>Questions</h3>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Remember: choose only <strong>one</strong> of the following questions.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Question 1: Hedonism and Kinds of Pleasures and Pains</strong></p>
<p>According to Hedonism, your life goes better to the extent that it contains more pleasure, worse to the extent that it contains more pain. Things other than pleasure and pain are at most indirectly good for you—by increasing your pleasure or diminishing your pain. But pleasures and pains seem to come in very different kinds. What sorts of pleasures are the best for you? What sorts of pains are the worst for you? (In answering this question may wish to discuss Bentham v. Mill on the quality of pleasure and pain, and/or the spectrum argument for thinking that long very low intensity pain can be worse than short very high intensity pain.)</p>
<p><strong>Question 2: Hedonism and the Experience Machine</strong></p>
<p>According to Hedonism, your life goes better to the extent that it contains more pleasure, worse to the extent that it contains more pain. Things other than pleasure and pain are at most indirectly good for you—by increasing your pleasure or diminishing your pain.The "Experience Machine" argument purports to show that Hedonism is wrong. Describe the argument. Does it work? Would you get in the Experience Machine? Why or why not? What does this tell us about Hedonism?</p>
<p><strong>Question 3: Desire-Satisfaction Theory</strong></p>
<p>Can the Desire-Satisfaction Theory of well-being be successfully defended? Explain and motivate this theory, then discuss what you take to be the strongest objection to it. Is there a compelling response to this objection or does it refute the theory?</p>
<p><strong>Question 4: Theories of Well-Being</strong></p>
<p>Which theory of well-being is closest to the truth? Pick the theory you find most plausible and say what you think is right about it. Then consider a problem for the theory, explaining how the theory can respond, or how it can be modified in light of the problem.</p>
<p><strong>Question 5: Death</strong></p>
<p>Epicurus and his followers were keen to show that we should not worry much about dying. They offered us three arguments: the "No Subject" Argument, the "Eternity Dead Either Way" Argument, and the Symmetry Argument. Choose one of them, describe it and assess it. Is it valid? Are the premises all true? If not, which of them is false, and why? What do we learn from the argument about the way in which death is bad?</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
© All Rights Reserved