Philosophy and Science
Humanities
Assessment Instructions
Write an essay in which you express and defend your views on the following issues:
- Consider the rise of modern science during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
- How did Enlightenment philosophers both defend and contribute to this cultural development?
- How did elements of scientific reasoning alter conceptions of the origin and limits of human knowledge?
- Explain the difference between intrinsic and instrumental goods and how modern science embodies an instrumental approach to the relationship between human beings and the natural world.
- Is recognition of our proper place in the context of a vast and ancient universe an essential insight?
- How does it affect our understanding of ourselves?
- Consider how philosophical and scientific reasoning make a difference to our daily lives. (Of course we all benefit from technological advances that came from these ways of thinking, but that is not the point here.)
- In what situations or circumstances of ordinary life is it appropriate to apply philosophical or scientific thinking to seek a solution, resolve a conflict, or make a decision? Imagine you are invited to contribute a post on this topic to a blog about philosophy, like those that appear in The New York Times blog The Stone, the What Is it Like to be a Woman in Philosophy? blog from WordPress, or Philosophy Now magazine.
- How would you argue for (or against) the use of philosophical reasoning in everyday life?
Additional Requirements
- Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Your paper should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
- Length: 4–6 typed and double-spaced pages.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Suggested Resources
The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.
Capella Resources
Click the links provided to view the following resources:
The following interactive helps you to become familiar with the central features of modern scientific method and its continuing utility in our experience of the world.
Capella Multimedia
Click the link provided below to view the following multimedia piece:
Library Resources
The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:
- Deligiorgi, K. (2005). Kant and the culture of enlightenment. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Course Library Guide
A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the HUM-FP1000 – Introduction to Humanities Library Guide to help direct your research.
Bookstore Resources
The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the Capella University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.
- Fiero, G. K. (2016). Landmarks in humanities (4th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
- Chapters 9–11.
