Week 8

Philosophy can make someone reaffirm his/her religious convictions. Does Santa Clause exist? The general public agrees he don’t but how can we prove it? These kind of questions can be applied to religion the existence of a higher being, God. How do we know it exist? Philosophy raises these kinds of issues. According to the argument of “principle of sufficient reason, everything that exists must have a reason that explains why it exists and why it has the properties that it does” (Lawhead 315). This principle justifies the existence of God, people can argue that there is reason for God’s existence therefore he exists.

Week 6: Artificial Intelligence

There are close similarities between programming of computers and programming of humans. Much like installation of software for a computer, when humans go to school they are being "programmed". They are learning a set of instructions. In the case of a college student enrolled in a major. This student will take courses geared toward the major, he/she will learn how to process information and perform tasks related to the subject he/she is studying.
However the differences is that a human may have conscious or subconscious conflict with what they are learning ("program"). For example a student may elect to study business as a major, but prefers to be an artist, thus ignoring the teaching of business related course. Verses computers will take in the software or programs it is told and not change its mind. Humans have the ability to reject what they are told.

Week 5: Dualism and Physicalism

I do agree with Descartes’s argument that we are made of two different substances. According to textbook Descartes says “your mind is the real you” The reason behind our closely linked relationship with the brain is because according to science the brain controls and stores our bodily functions and memories. These functions typically control emotions, analytical skills, and critical thinking.

In my opinion this is what a mind and soul are made of. The brain is just a biological-physically medium that makes up the “mind (which is identical to your soul and your consciousness)” (Descartes)