Choose ONE and only one of the following questions. Answer it in a complete and thoughtful essay. Your essay should be a well-developed, clear, logical and complete idea developed from a definite thesis statement. Use the texts where appropriate to support your answer. You need not consult secondary sources for this paper, but if you do, give credit for the information you use. Do not forget to cite any Internet information you use as well.

Use specifics from the texts to support your answers, but do not merely summarize the material. The more references you can make to the philosophers and their ideas, the stronger your essay will be; the philosophers are there to support your points–use them!

Essays should be typed (double-spaced) and approximately 4-6 pages in length. No fewer than 4 full pages will suffice, and more than that is undoubtedly necessary to answer the questions with any kind of depth. This paper is due on Wednesday, October 15. Papers must be submitted on time. Papers handed in late will receive a one grade deduction for each class late. I will be happy to look at drafts ahead of time; in fact, I encourage it! Parts three and four in The Philosophy Student Writer’s Manual are especially relevant in writing this paper. You will need to understand the rules of writing arguments for a philosophy paper. If you did not buy the manual, I suggest you do so or consult the copy on reserve for the course.

You must, by noon of the day the paper is due, upload a copy of the paper to turnitin.com, following the proper procedure. You have not completed the assignment until you have handed in a hard copy and uploaded a digital copy of your paper. 

Read the questions carefully. Proofread your work.

1) Think about how we have explained and discussed the relationship between soul and body. If the soul is some part of you, are some of those parts more closely attached to the physical body than others? If so, is my sense of who I am dependent on all or any of the parts? For example, is my soul more closely related or attached to my heart? If so, does that mean if I have a heart transplant, my identity and sense of self have changed? Discuss the mind-body/soul-body issue in relationship to the texts we have studied; you might also use "The Sixth Sense" or some other relevant film in your discussion.

2) If Pascal is right, then it makes more sense (it is more "prudent") to bet on God’s existence rather than his nonexistence. If, as most Christian believers do, you accept Pascal’s Wager, how do you respond to those atheists (including many philosophers) who ask, "if God exists and I should believe in him, then why do evil and suffering occur in the world?" In your essay, you should not only briefly outline Pascal’s Wager, but you should construct a logical and convincing argument to respond to the opposition. We are basically assuming that an atheist does not believe in the Judeo-Christian God, so you cannot use the Bible as "evidence" in your response.

3) Given your reading–in this class and others–discuss what philosophers call "the problem of evil." Why is it a problem? Can you "justify" and explain the existence of evil without needing the existence of God? Why or why not? Be sure to use some of our readings for support. Again, avoid using the Bible as "evidence" since we are doing philosophy, not theology.