Writing Homework Help

STAR TREK-THE MEASURE OF MAN

A. Read the following Resources:

1. Supplement reading from Kessler, what is really real?

2. Human beings vs Machine, http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-human-and-machine/ (Links to an external site.).

3. Human being vs Robot, http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-human-and-robot/ (Links to an external site.)

4. Robot vs Humanoid, http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-humanoid-and-robot/ (Links to an external site.)

5. Substance vs Essence by Aristotle no. 7, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-metaphysics/ (Links to an external site.)

Watch the video episode on Star-Trek, the measure of manWatch the video episode on Star-Trek, the measure of man

B. Instruction:

Please read the resources above to answer the following questions below for your posting. Your post must develop 4 paragraphs to get full credit. The best practice is: Develop your answers outside the textbox and copy to be pasted in the discussion textbox.

1. From the reading of What is really real by Kessler, discuss the meaning of “metaphysics” compared with “ontology”. What is an ontology? What are the kinds of beings? and What are the three major metaphysical theories that can be constructed from the kinds of being in the study of ontology? Judging your own perception, what is your metaphysical position based on the three theories, and why?

2. By watching the video episode: What is the story about, what is the main issue discussed in the video episode? The JAG officer at the end of the video says, this is the problem of “Metaphysics” which is to be explained by philosophers. What makes this episode/video a problem of metaphysics which examine the nature of reality?

3. Analyze the nature of the robot named Data. In the case of the “Data,” what is the true nature of humanoid/android “data”, which appears human? Is he human because he appears human?

a. If he is just a machine or a robot or a humanoid, then, ask yourself, WHAT THEN MAKES HUMAN? ARE THERE MARKS OF HUMANITY? (Use the resources above to answer the nature of human vs machine, robot, humanoid).

b. Can appearance affect the way we judge a thing or person? Can I judge the identity of a thing based on what it appears to us? In metaphysics, appearance is the enemy of true reality, what does that mean? Plato is not happy with “appearance”, it (a thing that appears to us) is just a “copy” or a “replica” of truth (the form, the essence, the idea). But using “common sense”, what do our senses tell us about reality or a thing?

c. Do you think “robots” have freedom, like human-freedom? Data, the android, refuse to undergo procedures to be examined, to be dismantled, and to be reproduced? If you are to judge, can a machine have the right to refuse? In the end, the JAG officer made a ruling granting Data the right to choose. Is the ruling right granting Data his right to choose? Discuss your answer.

4. From the point of view of Aristotle (Substance and Essence, no. 7 https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-metaphysics/ (Links to an external site.)): What does it mean by “essence” of a thing (substance)? Why do we need to know the essence of a thing? Is appearance not enough to identify the thing? What will happen if we just judge something by its appearance? Explain.