Hello, welcome...
From reading these questions, it sounds like your teacher and class could do with some Biology and Cosmology courses.
1. What is prime reality? (What is real)?
Linguistically, reality is all that actually exists in the Universe(s).
Philosophically, reality is what humans perceive it to be, there is no empirical evidence that you are not a figment of my imagination if we want to go down that rabbit hole.
2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
The nature of reality? That it is simply what it is, reality doesn't respond to questions of "why me", it is indifferent, without feeling, and is all that we know to exist.
3. What is a human being?
One of the billions of living organisms in our universe. It is a proud and arrogant specimen. Many humans think that there is a god who cares whether or not it masturbates or prays or gives money to Churches.
4. What happens to a person at death?
Depends on the cause of death. An infant born to a heroin addict mother may suffocate and have irregular heart beat which is not able to sustain life for long.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/hu...rocess.htm
5. Why is it possible to know anything at all?
"I think, therefore I am."
If you weren't alive or capable of thinking, you wouldn't be able to think you know anything.
But since we can think, and use logic, we use logic to determine that our thoughts are accurate based on the scientific method.
Place finger over fire, fire burns finger, remove finger from fire, finger does not burn... Do not place finger over fire.
If you disagree with this thought process, you may continue placing your body parts over fire until you think it is a bad idea to do so any longer.
6. How do we know what is right and wrong?
How did cavemen know what is right and wrong?
How do monkeys know what is right and wrong?
It is relative.
Animals do what benefits them and their families the best for survival, unless there is a malfunction.
Humans have evolved into large groups, civilizations, requiring ethics to satisfy the needs of the many over the few.
Right is a consensus. Sticking a knife in my stomach hurts, so we don't do it. I bet if stabbing felt good and didn't result in any bodily harm then it would not be wrong to stab people. But since it infringes on my right to exist, and causes me pain, I consider it "wrong", or more accurately, undesirable.
Right = desirable, least amount of harm/backlash
Wrong = undesirable, potential for large amount of harm/backlash
7. What is the meaning of human history?
Human history means the past events that have taken place as concerns the homo-sapiens... this question seems ridiculously vague and rhetorical.
8. What personal, life orienting core commitments are consistent with this world view? (What do you do for your religion).
Consistent with what world view?
My world view is based on my knowledge and understanding of the world.
God has never spoken to me, nor anyone I've met. Until then, I'll presume he doesn't have anything to say.
From reading these questions, it sounds like your teacher and class could do with some Biology and Cosmology courses.
1. What is prime reality? (What is real)?
Linguistically, reality is all that actually exists in the Universe(s).
Philosophically, reality is what humans perceive it to be, there is no empirical evidence that you are not a figment of my imagination if we want to go down that rabbit hole.
2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
The nature of reality? That it is simply what it is, reality doesn't respond to questions of "why me", it is indifferent, without feeling, and is all that we know to exist.
3. What is a human being?
One of the billions of living organisms in our universe. It is a proud and arrogant specimen. Many humans think that there is a god who cares whether or not it masturbates or prays or gives money to Churches.
4. What happens to a person at death?
Depends on the cause of death. An infant born to a heroin addict mother may suffocate and have irregular heart beat which is not able to sustain life for long.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/hu...rocess.htm
5. Why is it possible to know anything at all?
"I think, therefore I am."
If you weren't alive or capable of thinking, you wouldn't be able to think you know anything.
But since we can think, and use logic, we use logic to determine that our thoughts are accurate based on the scientific method.
Place finger over fire, fire burns finger, remove finger from fire, finger does not burn... Do not place finger over fire.
If you disagree with this thought process, you may continue placing your body parts over fire until you think it is a bad idea to do so any longer.
6. How do we know what is right and wrong?
How did cavemen know what is right and wrong?
How do monkeys know what is right and wrong?
It is relative.
Animals do what benefits them and their families the best for survival, unless there is a malfunction.
Humans have evolved into large groups, civilizations, requiring ethics to satisfy the needs of the many over the few.
Right is a consensus. Sticking a knife in my stomach hurts, so we don't do it. I bet if stabbing felt good and didn't result in any bodily harm then it would not be wrong to stab people. But since it infringes on my right to exist, and causes me pain, I consider it "wrong", or more accurately, undesirable.
Right = desirable, least amount of harm/backlash
Wrong = undesirable, potential for large amount of harm/backlash
7. What is the meaning of human history?
Human history means the past events that have taken place as concerns the homo-sapiens... this question seems ridiculously vague and rhetorical.
8. What personal, life orienting core commitments are consistent with this world view? (What do you do for your religion).
Consistent with what world view?
My world view is based on my knowledge and understanding of the world.
God has never spoken to me, nor anyone I've met. Until then, I'll presume he doesn't have anything to say.
“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.” - Marcus Aurelius
