Shelly-Kagan Psychology Discussion Paper
Assignment 3
Answer one of the following questions. (approximate word length, 1,200-1,500 words)
Submit as a Word or PDF Document on Moodle by 6 pm on April 15th. Late submissions receive a 5% penalty per day, unless there is a documented medical excuse.
In answering this assignment, do not use any sources except the textbook by Shelly Kagan, and my lecture notes and video recordings. I am looking for a careful examination of the assigned readings. Cite the textbook in text as (Kagan, p. ); cite the lecture notes or recordings as (Smolkin, lecture notes) or (Smolkin, video recording). Remember, do not use the internet or any other external sources in answering this material.
Answer the questions directly. Do not provide an introduction or conclusion. Each question should be answered in approximately, 10 – 12 paragraphs.
- According to Kagan, what makes death bad for the one who dies? Consider two major objections to this view that Kagan discusses. Explain how he responds to each of these objections. Raise one other challenge to his view of what makes death bad for the one who dies. According to Kagan, would immortality be desirable? Explain his argument for his view? Explain the memory loss/evolving personality argument for how immortality could be desirable. Explain Kagan’s response to that argument. Discuss one important problem for Kagan’s response. In the final analysis, do you think an immortal life under ideal conditions could be desirable? Why or why not?
Recommended structure
Para 1 According to Kagan, what makes death bad for the one who dies
Para 2 Consider one objection in the book to Kagan’s view of what makes death bad.
Para 3 Explain his response to that objection.
Para 4 Consider a second objection in the book to Kagan’s view of what makes death bad.
Para 5 Explain his response to that objection.
Para 6 According to Kagan, would immortality be desirable? Explain his argument for his view.
Para 7 Explain the memory loss/evolving personality argument for why immortality would be good.
Para 8 Explain Kagan’s response to the memory loss/evolving personality argument
Para 9 Discuss one important problem for Kagan’s response.
Para 10 In the final analysis, do you think an immortal life under ideal conditions could be desirable? Why or why not? What’s a problem for your view, and how do you answer it.
Paragraphs should be explained in your own words, supported by quotes from the text, and to a lesser extent from my lecture outlines and the video recordings.
- What is Kagan’s view on whether it is appropriate to fear death? Explain his argument for his view. Discuss an important problem for Kagan’s argument? How might Kagan best reply to that problem? What emotions does Kagan think are appropriate when thinking about one’s death? Explain. According to Kagan, how should the fact that you will die affect how you should lead your life? Do you agree with Kagan, if not, why not, and if so, how might you hope to implement those insights into your own life?
Recommended structure:
Para 1 Briefly explain the 4 conditions that Kagan things are needed for fear to be appropriate.
Para 2 Explain condition 1
Para 3 Explain condition 2
Para 4 Explain condition 3
Para 5 explain condition 4 (the proportionality condition)
Para 6 Apply Kagan’s view of when fear is appropriate to the topic of whether fearing death is appropriate. Why is it usually not appropriate to fear death? What about the timing of one’s death, does Kagan think it is appropriate to fear that, and if so, how much fear is appropriate for most of us? Etc.
Para 7 What emotion does Kagan think is appropriate when thinking about one’s death? Explain.
Para 8 According to Kagan, how should the fact that you will die affect how you should lead your life?
Para 9 Which of Kagan’s views discussed above do you agree with, and which do you disagree with? Explain.
Para 10 How might you hope to implement these insights about death, as you lead your?
Paragraphs should be explained in your own words, supported by quotes from the text, and to a lesser extent from my lecture outlines and the video recordin