Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

Inspirational Perspectives

"Even one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." — Malala Yousafzai (Opening of Birmingham Library, September 3rd, 2013)

"But for each of us, isn't life about determining your own finish line? This journey has always been about reaching your own other shore no matter what it is, and that dream continues." — Diana Nyad (Swam from Hawaii to Miami)

Instructor Information

Ken Derry
Office: North Building 152
Office Hours:

• Tuesday: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM (Library)
• Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (NE152)

Course Concepts

Identify the qualities that the instructor suggests the following have in common with religion: Malala Yousafzai, “Royals,” the “Abused Goddesses” campaign, Diana Nyad, “Odyssey... Continue reading "Understanding Religion, Culture, and Power Dynamics" »

Description of Human Faculties

Primitive Christianity made a huge effort to absorb the essential elements of Greek philosophy. A basic element is reason. According to the Platonic model, there are two different meanings or types of reason.

Universal Reason (LOGOS)

It governs the order of the world. According to Plato, this one lies in a superior world. Its supreme essences are the ideas: good, truth, and beauty.

Individual, Partial, and Limited Reason in Each Man

It allows captivating the superior order. However, the ascendance of the sensible world to the intelligible world is never produced completely. It is always done with difficulties.

Classical Notion of Human Freedom

It is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, and so to... Continue reading "Understanding Human Faculties and Freedom in Christian Morality" »

Immune to Impresud with Inferior to
Indifferent to Jealous of Kind to keen on
Limited to Lucky at/with Mad at about Married to Nervous of/about Notorious for
Opposed to Optimistic about Patient with
Pessimistic about Pleased with Polite to
Popular with Presented with Proudof Punished for Puzzled by/about Qualified for
Ready for Related to Responsible for Sad about Sensitive to/about Serious about Sick of Similar to Shocked by Skillful at Slow at
Sorry for/about Successful at/in Suitable for Sure of/about Superior to Surprised at/by
Suspicious of Sympathetic with Talented at
Terrible at Terrified of Tired of Thankful to/for Typical of Upset about Used to. Nouns + prep ON Debate on Information on Hold on
Agreement on Ban on Congratulations on
Decision... Continue reading "Essential English Prepositions List" »

Understanding Common and Preferred Stock

Par Value Explained

Par Value: The stated value on a stock certificate.

• An accounting value, not market value.
• Represents the dedicated capital of a corporation, calculated as the total par value (number of shares * par value of each share).

Authorized vs. Issued Common Stock

• The articles of incorporation must state the number of shares of common stock the corporation is authorized to issue.
• The board of directors, after a vote of the shareholders, may amend the articles of incorporation to increase the number of shares.
• Authorizing a large number of shares may concern investors about dilution because authorized shares can be issued later with the approval of the board of directors but without a vote of the

Mastering OPCVL for Historical Document Analysis

Origin, Purpose, Content, Value, Limitation

OPCVL (Origin, Purpose, Content, Value, Limitation) is a technique for analyzing historical documents. It is used extensively in the International Baccalaureate curriculum and testing materials, and is incredibly helpful in teaching students to be critical observers and analytical thinkers.

Origin

Is this a primary or secondary source? What leads you to characterize it as one or the other?

• Who is the author?
• When and where was it created or published? Who published it?
• Is there anything we know about the author that is pertinent to our evaluation?

Purpose

• Why does this document exist?
• Why did the author create this piece of work? Consider intent, audience, and

The Roots of Political Participation

The ancient Greeks exemplified participation in democratic political life. Historically, concepts of power were often tied to religious institutions, where thought was submitted solely to God and His works. However, the arrival of the Renaissance and the Classical Age marked a significant break, giving birth to the first formal socio-political theories driven by the human need to relate to society.

Philosophy and the Organization of Society

Philosophy and politics have intersected for centuries, offering critical reflection on the organization of human society. Following the fall of Athenian democracy, Plato was deeply affected by political turmoil. He sought to define an ideal city—a society free from disorder... Continue reading "Political Philosophy: From Ancient Greece to the Enlightenment" »

Dividends

• Unless a dividend is declared by the board of directors of a corporation, it is not a liability of the corporation (A corporation cannot default on an undeclared dividend)
• The payment of dividends by the corporation is not a business expense. (Therefore, they are not tax-deductible)
• Dividends received by individual shareholders are, for the most part, considered ordinary income by the IRS and are fully taxable (There is an intra-corporate dividend exclusion)

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock represents equity of a corporation, but is different from common stock because it has preference over common in the payments of dividends and in the assets of the corporation in the event of bankruptcy. They have a stated liquidating value (usually $... Continue reading "Understanding Dividends, Preferred Stock, Debt, and Equity in Corporate Finance" »

Alternative Models of Behavior

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Money Matters

• Reductionist and simplistic model: “Everything and everyone has a price” – the “economic model” is richer and more subtle than this.
• The only component of a job is monetary compensation.
• Therefore, anyone can get anybody to do anything for sufficiently high compensation; the economic model cannot guarantee that! (Easy job life and poor results)

Happy-Is-Productive

• Employee satisfaction and happiness is not a means in itself but rather instrumental to firms’ goals.
• It is the view of managers who believe that “happy employees are more productive”.
• In this way of thinking, employees exert higher effort and dedication in the job not when they are better paid, but when they feel better treated.

• Even in this place where there is no competition for power (the king is absolute) nor for goods (they are common), there is still a place for malice (cf. XII.35).
• Rasselas's encounter with the aeronautical engineer (VI) provides a pattern that is repeated throughout the narrative.
• The engineer's project would have seemed futile to Johnson's contemporaries: The attempt at human flight, though rational, is doomed to failure; the engineer's fall into the lake is typical of all human aspirations.
• The story of Imlac also prefigures the rest of the narrative: Though his father aspires only to the increase of wealth, Imlac recognizes that his own desire for the increase of knowledge does not bring him happiness.
• The possession of knowledge cannot prevent