Question Set 1: Unit 3 (answer one question from this set)
a. People often state that they simply “don’t care about politics”. Herman suggests that we should all care about politics. Why does she think this? Explain her argument. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
b. Climate change is one of the biggest, most pressing issues of our times. What exactly is climate change and why is it occurring? What will happen if it is not addressed? Do you think there is there a way to balance the economy and the environment? Explain your answers.
c. Explain the arguments for why globalization can be a good thing and why it can be a bad thing. Do you think it is good, bad, both good and bad, or neither good or bad? Explain your answer.
Question Set 2: Unit 4 (answer one question from this set)
d. According to Gertner in The Futile Pursuit of Happiness, we tend to overestimate the intensity and duration of our future emotional states. What does this do to our ability to find happiness? Do you agree? Why or why not? Be sure to provide examples in you answer.
e. According to Epicurus, we only need three things to achieve happiness and money is not one of them. In fact, according to him money can hinder our ability to be happy. Explain the three things and why he thinks they are enough to be happy. Do you agree that these three things are enough to achieve happiness? Why or why not? Be sure to provide examples.
f. According to Leutwyler, there seem to be universal characteristics of music that appear throughout the animal kingdom and music stimulates emotional responses in humans. Explain the science behind these claims. What might this tell us about emotions and the evolutionary role of music? Be sure to provide examples.
