Notes on Analyzing Philosophical Arguments

Analyzing Philosophical Arguments Using Non-Philosophical Stimuli

Love and Relationships

Using a song about a man's insecurities in a relationship to analyze philosophical arguments.
The song depicts a man who marries a woman he perceives as superior, leading to doubt and jealousy.
This jealousy creates negativity and destruction within their relationship.
The song also touches on the personas people adopt in loving relationships.

Murdoch's Perspective on Love

Murdoch wouldn't classify the relationship in the song as true love.
She would argue that the man doesn't see his partner as an independent self, but rather as a reflection of himself and is driven by ego false love.
Actual love involves seeing a partner as someone other than oneself.

Philosophical Issues in Relationships

Doubt: How can someone doubt something they are sure of?
Exploring our knowledge of others.
Connection to mind and body, possibly Descartes.
Knowledge of other minds and what defines a person.

Practical Application

Creating a shared document (Google Doc or slides) for people to post non-philosophical texts and philosophical issues.
Background information is needed to interpret the text which serves as the stimulus properly.

Group Activity: Identifying Philosophical Issues

Pair up to identify philosophical issues in various non-philosophical texts.
Philosophical issues should be relevant to "being human" and specific, referencing philosophers, concepts, or arguments.
Example: Instead of "What is the nature of love?" ask, "How plausible is Murdoch's linking of love to a clear knowledge of reality?"

Example Discussion: The Movie WALL-E

Premise: Humans have abandoned Earth due to climate change and live on a self-sufficient spaceship.
The captain realizes that they are merely surviving, not truly living.
Philosophical Question: What is the difference between surviving and living?
How does this relate to being human?

Example Discussion: Mickey 17

Central Idea: The extent to which memories define identity.
Movie Detail: Mickey keeps dying and coming back to life to accomplish tasks. Eventually there are two of him with transferred consciousness.
Philosophical connections: Relate to John Locke's theories on identity and transfer of consciousness.

Example Discussion: The Truman Show

Premise: Truman lives in a fabricated world, unaware that his life is a TV show.
Philosophical Issue: How can we be certain that our experiences reflect reality?
Connection to René Descartes and Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
Super personal identity and the role of memory in shaping one's sense of self.

Example Discussion: Inside Out

Premise: An aspect of Riley's personality falls into the abyss.
Philosophical Issue: If one aspect of personality vanishes, are you still the same person?

Example Discussion: Virtual Insanity

Exploring the lyrics and the broad philosophical issues that are relevant to it such as identity.
Possible philosophical issues: If everything's fake and virtual, then what makes you you?
How to know your memories are real. And then if your memories aren't real, can you have a real self?

Linking to Core Themes

For Section A, link the analysis to the core theme of "being human."
Connect to themes of self, other, and identity.