(1) How would Plato respond to Woody Allen’s film Crimes and Misdemeanors? What would be his response? Do you believe that Plato’s faith in his own theories would be shaken by Woody Allen’s fictional presentation? (Hints: Think about the characters, their “well-being” from Plato’s point of view. Consider his theory of Justice, as discussed in our text….etc.)
(2) Consider the film Boomerang!, (1947) by Elia Kazan. How does this film argue in favor of Kantianism and radically against Utilitarianism? Consider the readings in our text. Use your own mind to formulate a response.(Hints: Think about Kant’s view of persons and the respect that we owe them as members of the moral community. Think of the accused man and the district attorney’s decision to defend him. What possible consequences might the district attorney face by defending the innocence of the accused? Why would Kant recommend such a defense? Why would Utilitarian recommend against such a defense.)
(3) What theory of the meaning of life, as presented in our text (chapter 7) do you find most compelling. Why? (Hint: Think about any of the figures discussed, Tolstoy, Stace, Russell, Camus, Nagel, as well as the film Amelie (2001) by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. How would the theory of meaning in life that you support respond to Schopenhauer’s pessimism, as discussed in chapter 4 of Questions of Value?