Writing Assignments

There will be four short papers assigned during the course. You will be asked to write a short paper on one of the three posted questions (the chosen question will be announced the day you write the paper). The papers will be a maximum of one page in length. All points of view are welcome, but I will be looking for some arguments or evidence in favor of your position. I also will be looking for you to interact with the ideas and opinions that we have discussed in class.

September 19

1) Does quantum mechanics prove our common sense to be wrong?

2) Would you agree that science is a basic human activity, or (for example) do you see it as something only for experts?

3) What do you think is the most important assumption required (if any) in order to do science?

October 17

1) What distinction(s) can be made, if any, between materialism and science.

2) Distinguish between New-Age materialism and Epicurian materialism.

3) Can physics and philosophy ever be totally separated?

November7

1) Distinguish between Einstein's relativity and the philosophy of relativism.

2) What does "invariance" mean for physics?

3) Two observers move past each other quickly wearing identical watches. Each claims to observe that the watch of the other person is ticking more slowly than their own. In what sense are they both right? In what sense are they both wrong?

December 12

1) What do you think is the most important assumption required (if any) in order to do science?

2) Does the force of gravity really become infinite in a black-hole singularity?

3) Since Einstein's theory of gravity supercedes Newton's theory of gravity, is it fair to say that Einstein's theory is correct and Newton's theory is wrong?