week 12

I agree with St. Augustine that an unjust law is no law at all because people need some type of rules to follow. I f there wasn't any law to keep people from doing all sorts of things, there would be total chaos. However, I still believe that the people have the right to participate in civil disobedience because throughout history there has been laws that have marginalized and disenfranchised certain groups of people. Sometimes those who make the laws don't necessarily have everyone's best interest in mind. So any unjust law would be one that helps a few and deprives many.

week 11

I agree with Mills that certainly some people will engage in self destructive behavior, it is best to let these people live their life as best as they want to. The only way to truly be free is by not being coerced or forced to do something by the state. When it comes to money most people don't have the freedom to do as they please, simply because the money distribution in this country is heavily concentrated at the top. Therefore, most people don't have freedom to invest their money of doing something else with it. 

week 9

It isn't impossible to follow a lifestyle as the Buddhist do in the United States but I highly doubt it. This capitalist society that we live in leaves no more for Buddhism. This isn't a free world but a free market, which consist of people who consume more than they should because this society has produced it. Greed is one main concept of capitalism which conflicts with Buddhism and detaching from our narrow concern with ourselves and our own desires. Even for times like now when the holidays are coming up, instead of celebrating Christmas for the birth of Jesus we just mass produce toys and make it about gifts.

week 8

From a philosophical perspective, the Cosmological argument and the Design argument contribute to religion. These arguments not only serve in favor of some religious beliefs but they also bring another perspective to them. For example Hume's criticism of William Paley's design argument. It not only challenges ones belief but it challenges how we think about our specific religion. It even allows us to notice what other elements such as faith which are closely related to religion are missing. 

week6

I've never thought of our society nor ever thought of comparing it a computer but there are stunning similarities. Iv'e always thought of our society like the human body made up of different organisms that help maintain balance. Besides the obvious differences between computers and society there are many figurative similarities. Ever since I could remember, taking a shower and brushing my teeth were demanded from me. It was something that was implanted in me and ever since iv'e produced exactly that. I also agree with this comparison because we are programmed to act a certain way in certain places. For example in school we play the role of students and the instructor as the teacher and from kindergarten to college we have learned the norms and the guidelines to play that role. Just like computers we are programmed to follow the rules, in order for the classroom to function. 

week 3

I agree with empiricism myself and consider myself an empiricist in fact. In order to have knowledge of an apple we have had to experience seeing it feeling and tasting it. Knowing that an apple is round and is red or green and has a sweet taste to it we must've experienced it before. A type of knowledge that I believe is a problem for this theory is that our experiences tell us about the nature of reality as John Locke argued. However, could we ever know if Locke’s belief is true, since we cannot jump outside our experience to compare it with reality. This evaluation places somewhat of a gap for empiricist like Locke and others.

week 2

Methodological skepticism is a way of using the process of doubting in order to arrive at certainty. I believe this process can only serve as good for people. This refers back to my first post where I talk about how important it is to question everything. Doubt is the way that we examine something, for the reason of wanting to get to the root of a socially accepted truth or fact in order to classify it as an unshakable truth.
I think we follow this procedure and sometimes we don't. Depending on the situation I think we selectively use this procedure to our advantage. If someone randomly gives a stranger money lets say a $20 dollar bill we might tend to question its validity and question this random act of kindness. Other times we just accept things and don't bother questioning them. Methodological skepticism is a very effect strategy because it helps us distinguish the difference between what can be considered certain and what is still up for doubt.