According to David Foster Wallace, the real purpose of education is to

Multiple Choice: Select the best answer.

1. According to David Foster Wallace, the real purpose of education is to:

a) Decide what to think about

b) Escape our “default” settings to become less self-centered

c) Learn how to control our thoughts and, sometimes, fictionalize others

d) All of the above

2. According to Sean Kelly, the real purpose of education is to:

a) Contribute to the possibility of a meaningful life

b) Prepare to get a job

c) Learn transferable skills in a competitive society

d) Both (b) and (c)

3. The two principles which support market reasoning are:

a) The principles of fairness and integrity

b) The principles of autonomy and utility

c) The principles of liberty and utility

d) The principles of democracy and responsibility

4. According to Sandel, the Era of Market Triumphalism is:

a) A positive triumph of free market reasoning in economic life

b) A historical shift from having a market economy to being a market society

c) Attributable solely to Republican politicians since the 1980’s

d) Both (b) and (c)

Argument Evaluation:. Evaluate the arguments. If the argument is deductive, identify whether it is valid/invalid and sound/unsound. If the argument is inductive, identify whether the argument is strong/weak and cogent/uncogent.

5. If John F. Kennedy was beheaded, then John F. Kennedy died. John F. Kennedy died. Therefore, John F. Kennedy was beheaded.

6. Every map of the United States shows that New York is situated on the west coast. Therefore, New York must be a western state.

7. Since Washington, D.C. is south of Atlanta and north of New York City, it follows that Atlanta is north of New York City.

Linguistic Connotation: Explain the differences in connotation for these words/phrases:

8. Sniper versus Sharpshooter

9. Enhanced Interrogation Techniques versus Torture

10. Should we raise taxes at the top? versus Should we take more from the wealthy?

Fallacy Identification: Identify the most accurate fallacy in the passage. If there is a sub-type, identify it. Then briefly explain your answer.

11. Senator Monroe advocates for increased gun control in our country. But the real issue here is that psychopaths are committing all these terrible crimes. If they just got better treatment for their conditions, and if we identified their afflictions sooner, everything would be fine. So, we really just need to fix our broken mental healthcare system.

12. Erica Evans, who takes orders at the local Taco Bell, argues persuasively in favor of increasing the minimum wage. But this is exactly what you would expect. Erica is paid the minimum wage, and if the minimum wage is increased, then her own salary will go up. Obviously Erica’s arguments are worthless.

13. Mr. Prime Minister, I am certain you will want to release the members of our National Liberation Group whom you currently hold in prison. After all, I’m sure you will want to avoid having car bombs go off in the centers of your most heavily populated cities.

Short Answer:

14. Watch two short clips. The first is a selection from one ofPresident Obama’s speeches during the 2012 campaign season. The second is anattack advertisement against the President from the conservative organization American Crossroads. Regardless of the merits or demerits of Obama’s argument(s), the attack ad commits a logical fallacy. Identify the fallacy and explain it.

15. While discussing the case of Shakespeare in the Park, Sandel writes the following:

Free-market advocates might reply as follows: If the theater really wants to fill its seats with people eager to see the play and to maximize the pleasure its performances give, then it should want tickets to go to those who value them most highly. And those are the people who will pay most for a ticket. So the best way to pack the house with an audience that will derive the greatest pleasure from the play is to let the free market operate – either by selling tickets for whatever price the market will bear, or by allowing line standers and scalpers to sell to the highest bidders. Getting tickets to those willing to pay the highest price for them is the best way of determining who most values a Shakespeare performance (Sandel 31).

How does Sandel respond to this criticism? Explain.

Long Answer:

16. If you are not familiar with the issue of Net Neutrality – and even if you are – read these three short articles on the matter.

1. Supporting net neutrality (ACLU)

2. Against net neutrality (Forbes)

3. Internet as a public utility (CNN on Chattanooga, TN)

Write a short essay (2-4 paragraphs) answering two questions. First, given what we learned from Sandel’s introduction and especially first chapter, explain the principles supporting these different positions on net neutrality and the relation to jumping the queue. Second, write your own argument about net neutrality with reference to one or more of the articles.