What is the distinction between Rhetoric vs. Reality?.
Pick One question out of these and Answer it QUESTION 1: What is the distinction between Rhetoric vs. Reality? (A) Define all major terms. (B) Compare the “Cave Allegory,” the World of Forms, the World of Ideas (Plato), the Four Causes (Aristotle) and William Paley’s Theory of Design. (C) Explain the significance of Aristotle’s three pillars of rhetoric and how it applies to contemporary debates and publications. (D) How might one’s understanding of reality change because of the way information is presented? QUESTION 2: Is there such thing as an objective perspective? (A) Define all major terms. (B) How does empirical experience affect one’s perspective? (C) How is one’s judgement affected by one’s perspective? (D) What moral and social conflicts arise in most (if not all) attempts to make ethical decisions that are objective (not subjective)? QUESTION 3: What is virtue? (A) Define all major terms. (B) Explain the significance tabula rasa and draw a comparison between Plato’s and Aristotle’s views on whether virtue is inborn (a priori) or acquired (a posteriori). (C) Does Aristotle’s vision for “the good life” truly exist and (if so) why is it important to seek out? (D) How is virtue discovered in others? QUESTION 4: What is duty vs. obligation? (A) Define all major terms. (B) By what process does one come to know, value and take responsibility for things? (C) What are a person’s individual positive and negative rights as citizens – and how are conflicts of interest identified? (D) According to Plato’s Republic (on the personal vs. public), are all human beings bound to the same duties and obligations? If so, what are they ethically bound to do? If not, what is the correct standard of measure? QUESTION 5: Does a “Leap of Faith” lead to logical fallacy? (A) Define all major terms. (B) What are the differences between common sense, reasonable assumption, and a Leap of Faith (and why are they commonly used in the absence of concrete information/evidence)? (C) What type (and how much) information is needed to generate a well-informed decision? (D) Drawing connections between Kierkegaard, Kant, Socrates and at least one example from popular history/literature, explain the benefits and risks of the “Leap of Faith” mentality.