For this assignment, you will write a 1200-word critical analysis based on one of the following topics inspired by readings in our textbook, The McGraw-Hill Reader. The paper will include quoting the text, as well as additional research from the library database or another approved and reliable source documented correctly in proper APA format. This paper requires writing using Third Person Point of View and the persuasive mode. The abstract should be 100 words and the body (excluding the cover page and reference page) of the paper should be 1200 words. Be sure to use the template for a research paper that you create in Week One, and provide direct support from your sources. It would be best to use the readings from your textbook, but other reliable sources should also be used. At least four sources are required. Choose ONE of the following topics: TOPIC SELECTIONS Education: Is education a right or a privilege? History, Culture and Civilization: What can history teach us? Government, Politics and Social Justice: Is America on the right road? Business and Economics: Is the American Dream still alive? Philosophy, Ethics and Religion: What’s God Got to Do With it? These are general topics meant to inspire further exploration and discovery of a narrower subject for your paper. Your essay should be persuasive and explore a debatable idea. See Idea Generators below and how the general topic of education as a right or privilege is narrowed to an examination of integration. Should integration necessarily translate into concrete gains like greater achievement for all students? If so, is mixing students by race the most effective mechanism for attaining it? First steps for success: 1. Choose a topic 2. Read the essay with pen in hand 3. Underline or note an engaging quote or comment Now you are ready to begin! RECOMMENDED READINGS Education: Is education a right or a privilege? Overview: pp. 180-181 Essays: “The Next Kind of Integration,” Emily Bazelton, pp. 201-211 Two Cheers for Brown v. Board of Education,” Clayborne Carson, pp. 219-225 History, Culture and Civilization What can history teach us? Overview: p. 279 Essays: “America’s “Oh Sh*t” Moment,” Niall Fergeson pp. 291-295 “1776 and All That: America after September 11,” Edward Hoagland pp. 297-299 Government, Politics and Social Justice Is America on the right road? Read Overview and Declaration on Independence: p. 322-329 Essays: ‘The Right Road to America?,” Amy Chua pp. 335-339 “American Dreamer,” Bharati Mukherjeee pp. 355-360 Business and Economics Is the American Dream still alive? Overview: p. 372 Essays: “The Death of Horatio Alger,” Paul Krugman pp. 387-390 “Globalization: The Super-Story,” Thomas L. Friedman pp. 391-394 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion Are there still rules? Overview: p. 544 Essays: “What’s Gof Got to Do with It,” Karen Armstrong pp. 565- 568 “I Listen to My Parents and Wonder What They Believe,” Robert Coles pp. 560 -564 These essays are recommended, but you may choose relevant to your topic from other essays in the same chapter. SAMPLE IDEA GENERATORS Education In “The Next Kind of Integration,” Emily Bazelon asks, “Is the purpose of integration simply to mix students of different colors for the sake of equity or to foster greater familiarity and comfort among the races? Should integration necessarily translate into concrete gains like greater achievement for all students? If so, is mixing students by race the most effective mechanism for attaining it? After reading Emily Bazleon’s essay and Clayborne Carson’s “Two Cheers for Brown v. Board of Education” write a persuasive essay based on your position on the need for equality in race and socioeconomic factors in education. History, Culture and Civilization In “A World Not Neatly Divided,” Amartya Sin states that “the befuddling influence of a singular classification also traps those who dispute the thesis of clash: To talk about the “Islamic world” or “the Western world” is already to adopt an impoverished vision of humanity as unalterable divided.” In a persuasive essay, address the future of a diversified America. Can a nation maintain a strong sense of self and still remain open to outside influences? Is national identity crucial to a nation’s survival? How would you describe America’s national identity? REQUIREMENTS Persuasive Essay 1200 word minimum APA manuscript format Abstract and Title Page Resources (minimum four): At least one direct quote from chosen essay, two sources from the library databases. Other sources may be from your textbook, other books, or credible internet sources. Save the file in .doc, .docx, or .rtf College level academic writing in third person point of view is required

 

Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion

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Abstract

The essay focuses on philosophy, ethics, and religion. It reviews how different philosophers argue about philosophy, ethics, and religion. A discussion on basic themes is done in the essay. These include the reality, knowledge, faith, and science of religion, ethics, and religion.  Several theories and arguments are put forward about religion and ethics. The nature of intelligent minds will give the best solutions to the moral laws needed by God. Still, rules are seen in the people’s minds when good values are seen in the society. The essay points out the relations between various aspects of the community therefore, affecting ethics.

 

Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion

Philosophy, ethics, and religion are essential factors in the current multicultural world. Different people have different believes depending on their backgrounds. Many religions have shaped the peoples’ diversity. They are guided by the nature and the rules of their particular religion. Therefore, the morals instilled in the individuals are well set. They try to be perfect to meet specific ethical ways to have faith in their creator. For instance, Christians have faith in God’s existence and protection. They always adore Him. They give sacrifices to get His favors (Novak, 2018).

According to the researchers, philosophy is well built inside the people’s minds that have led to the best ethics within the societies.  The Philosophy of religion in the societies have encouraged different beliefs about God or other gods. Believers have different minds. Therefore, their conclusions are different. For instance, Christians believe that Jesus Christ died for them in the cross. On the other hand, Muslims believes in God and their prophet, Muhammad. All these are accepted because the thinking differs among individuals (Kimberly, 2013).

There are many arguments about the existence and non-existence of God. The following are the arguments for the existence of god. First, morality instilled n the believers. The people will always stick to the biblical teachings to meet their needs. They will live with one another in the society peacefully according to the teachings. Therefore, morality is always the best if an individual fear the creator of the universe. Secondly, there are various religious experiences. These experiences cover great deals in ethics.  Youngsters are always instilled with the skills in their adulthood (Morreall, 2013). They will ever believe what they are taught. For instance, Christians always believe in one God, Monotheism. Christian children are always instilled with the belief. They will always experience a lot with the belief due to their daily understanding of God. Thirdly, there is an argument of ontology. The Christians believe in the unseen God. Therefore, what they believe in the mind is always put into reality. What is thought in mind about God is more than what God is in reality? Finally, the cosmological argument shows the way God caused changes in the world. According to the biblical teachings, Christians believe that God created the whole universe. Everything in it has a purpose.

Arguments against the existence of God are put forward by the atheists and the sceptics. Therefore, the following are the arguments for nonexistence for God. First, there is the presence of the evil one. There are a lot of problems that arise from the evil doing. The relations between God and the evil raise questions from different views. There are relative terms which include: omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent (Kimberly, 2013). God and the evil possess these qualities. Thus, the existence of God is argued against. Secondly, the atheists and the skeptics argue that there are inconsistent revelations. Revelations said about one thing varies with time. For instance, there is a belief that the world is about to end. There have been many controversies about the issue for an extended period. Different prophets and prophetesses have different believes. Therefore, the interpretations differ according to their faith. Finally, there is an argument of non-belief. Christians believe in a God who is not seen.

On the contrary, the atheists and skeptics do not believe in a hidden god. Therefore, they always believe that god is seen. They always have their gods in the form of images or statues.

There are knowledge and belief about philosophy, ethics, and religion. Knowledge and belief argue for meeting the demand in the religious practice and the solutions to the challenges in the human life. Arguments have to be given proof or evidence to decide on the belief in God. For instance, religious truths have o be argued based on non-religious evidence. William wrote in his book that ‘it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.’ (Williams, 2013).

On the other hand, other philosophers do not need to have the evidence to proof. These people are called non-evidentialist. They will always use perception, memory, or a basic sensation. Morrell argues that there is no need of evidence to believe in God. Instead, the human mind is naturally aware that there is a divine God (Morreall, 2013).

Religious disagreements arise when different views are made. Clever and intelligent individuals will put forward their arguments, and they expect to be accepted within the society. Faith and the reasons within the individual’s minds will lead them to an answer. Faith makes one be committed and trust God (Morreall, 2013). It brings a sense of believing who is not seen and how miracles can work within an individual and his or her undertakings. Therefore, faith brings about religious truths within the mind of an individual. However, the ethics will build up, and the morals are changed to suit the environment of growth (Morreall, 2013).

Science has had interactions and conflicts with philosophy, ethics, and religion. Science comes in with theories of evolution which do not exist in religion. Man is thought to have evolved as stated by scientists. On the other hand, the biblical teachings put across how God created a man. In this case, ethics are not well established if God is put aside. People will tend to create a fellow man or genetically modified organisms. These creatures can be hazardous to the environment, and they can create an uncomfortable environment for other organisms and the man (Morreall, 2013).

Ethics require religion for it to exist. All religions have values and ideas that go for good morals. Moral laws are instilled in someone if she or he has the concept of the law holder, God. Therefore, an individual becomes religious. Although there are some opposing facts about ethics and religion, they go hand in hand with what many philosophers put across based on the multicultural communities (Novak, 2018).  Most religions have well-established teachings that cultivate the morals of believers. There have been facts about the occurrences seen in the world. For instance, is morals are rotten in the society or a state, a natural force occur that seem to be a result of immorality. These natural forces can be in the form of earthquakes, flooding, pandemic and endemic diseases (Novak, 2018).

In conclusion, getting the right thoughts about ethics and religion leads to success. Many philosophers have their ideas about ethics and approaches to religion. Faith enables one t decides a way to follow (Williams, 2013). Education in the current world has led to innovativeness and more research in the field of science. It has contradicted a lot with many religious values and ideas. Therefore, knowledge and the best reasons enable on to overcome contradiction. There are still rules in ethics, philosophy, and religion. It only depends on the arguments on some individuals and the evidence they have. Therefore, correct and concise conclusions are made when judgments are made right (Novak, 2018).

 

References

Kimberly, G. & Kaag, J. (2013). Classical American philosophy and modern medical Ethics: the case of Richard Cabot. Transactions of the Charles S. Pierce Society, 49(4) 553- 574.

Morreall, J. & Sonn, T. (2013). “Myth 1: All Societies Have Religions”. 50 Great Myths of Religion. Wiley-Blackwell. 12–17.

Novak, M. F. (2018). Brian Harding and Michael R. Kelly: Early Phenomenology: Metaphysics, Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion. International Journal for Philosophy of Religion. 84(1) 149-152.

Williams, J. R. (2013). Placing Nature on the Borders of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics/ Turning Images in Philosophy, Science, & Religion: A New Book of Nature/ The Singing Heart of the world: Creation, Evolution and Faith. Heythrop Journal. 54(4) 706-708.