Waht are some of the things that we can do to help each other be successful in this class?

Respond to the article: "The Dea(r)th of Student Responsibility” (Unit Readings). Comment on a particular excerpt that was enlightening or interesting in some way to you. What did you think about what the article had to say about students today. Do you agree? disagree? Why?

Click the Leave a Comment link below to add your journal.

This is my practice journal.

Libertarianism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Libertarianism is a political philosophy advocating that individuals should be free to do whatever they wish with their person or property, as long as they do not infringe on the same liberty of others. There are two types of libertarians. One type holds as a fundamental maxim that all human interaction should be voluntary and consensual. They maintain that the initiation of force against another person or his property, with "force" meaning the use of physical force, the threat of it, or the commission of fraud against someone who has not initiated physical force, threat, or fraud, is a violation of that principle (many of these are individualist anarchists or anarcho-capitalists). The other type comes from a consequentialist or utilitarian standpoint. Instead of having moral prohibitions against initiation of force, these support a limited government that engages in the minimum amount of initiatory force (such as levying taxes to provide some public goods such as defense and roads, as well as some minimal regulation), because they believe it to be necessary to ensure maximum individual freedom (these are minarchists). Libertarians do not oppose force used in response to initiatory aggressions such as violence, fraud or trespassing. Libertarians favor an ethic of self-responsibility and strongly oppose the welfare state, because they believe forcing someone to provide aid to others is ethically wrong, ultimately counter-productive, or both. Libertarians also strongly oppose conscription because they believe no one should be forced to fight a war they don't support (and, ideally, many would like it to be left to individual decision as to which war, if any, to fund).

Do you agree or disagree with the political philosophy of libertarianism? If you agree, which type of libertarianism do you agree with? Explain your answer.

Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse:

Science, Religion, and the Slippery Slope

Read the above article by Mark E. Pietrzyk (Click blue text) and then answer one of the following questions:

1. What is the writer's stance, or attitude toward the subject?
2. What is the writer's voice?
3. What assumptions does the writer seem to be making about the audience?
4. What is the writer's primary purpose?
5. How does the writer develop ideas?
6. Does the text appeal to emotions?
7. Is the text fair?
8. Is the evidence strong?
9. Is the text effective?

No more than 5 people can answer any one questions, so be sure to read the responses before you comment. Also, be sure to make it clear which question you are answering. Elaborate on your response and give your own evidence.

Read the two definition articles on alternative lifestyles in the Week 9 folder in Blackboard. In your own words define alternative lifestyles and give a few examples. If you disagree with someones definition or examples, respond to that telling why you disagree.

We will watch some of the following movie, An Inconvenient Truth, in class. After you have watched the movie, comment here on what your thoughts are concerning the issues that former Vice-President Gore points out. Do you think there is a real danger here?

From Wikipedia: "Environmentalism is the philosophical concern that humans are damaging the natural environment, and that this damage may adversely impact people and the natural environment. In modern times, environmentalism has spawned the environmental movement, which stresses issues such as industrial and other pollution, species extinction, preservation of biodiversity, waste management and recycling, global climate change, ozone depletion, and genetically engineered organisms."

For your response, list one environmental concern that you are aware of in our society. How does this concern adversely impact people and the natural environment. Is the concern warranted? Why? Explain. If you cannot think of a new concern that has not already been mentioned, try to add to the discussion by giving more insights about a concern previously mentioned. Don't just repeat what someone else has already said.

This semester will be showcase a brand new ENG101 for students at South Mountain Community College. With a new books comes a new curriculum with new themes and assignments. The themes for this semester include:

• Educational Issues
• Environmental Concerns
• Alternative Lifestyles
• Personal Freedoms