The Freudian View of Pueblo Native American Religion
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A 5 page overview of the views of Sigmond Freud on organized religion. Illustrates the complex ceremonial and religious life of the Pueblo people using the Hopi ceremony and belief extensively in examples. Suggests that Freud would view these beliefs not only as an illusion but also as a delusion, that the Pueblo were a misguided people who were in serious error regarding their separation of the real world from that of the spiritual world. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPnaFreu.wps

Free Will / Calvin, Descartes & Hegel
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A 6 page paper that considers what the response of these philosophers would be to the question: 'does it make any difference whether or not people have free will ?' Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: Freew.wps

Free Will versus Determinism
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5 pages. Critics have long questioned the theory of free will, arguing that it is difficult to realistically determine if people exhibit certain behaviors out of fear of consequence or because they have the power to take control of their own lives. On the other hand, determinism contends that all of our acts are pre-determined. This paper discusses both sides of these philosophical questions in view of the books Free Will by Gary Watson and Essays on Actions and Events by Donald Davidson. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: JGAfwill.wps

National Philosophy Day: Plato, Descartes and Wittgenstein on Proving God
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A 6 page paper developed around the hypothetical declaration of ‘National Philosophy Day' -- relating the arguments of Plato, Descartes, and Wittgenstein, all brought to the present by a time machine, and their considerations regarding the existence of God. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: Natphild.wps

Problems of Religion
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A 9 page paper discussing the views of Karl Marx, Frederick Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud regarding the role of religion in the lives of individuals and assessing the success of each in dismissing its perceived worth. Marx forbade it; Nietzsche ridiculed it as outside the realm of reality for the true thinker; Freud accused it of burdening the human race with the guilt with which we all, according to him, struggle. While each of these philosophers believed themselves to be quite successful in making religion disappear for their own purposes, neither could continually keep it at bay. Bibliography lists 11 sources.
Filename: Reliprob.wps

Faith & Skepticism - The Dueling Ideas Behind the Reformation
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A 2 page paper that examines the two fundamental issues of philosophy and theology that were involved in the Reformation Period, the issues of faith and skepticism. Discussed are the introduction of Martin Luther's Protestant beliefs in 1517 and the era of new philosophical and theological thinking that followed. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: LCReform.doc

Rousseau and the Origins of Inequality
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5 pages in length. According to Jean Jacques Rousseau and Karl Marx, human history involves the progressive actualization of human nature, and social, political, economical racial and sexual oppression are contrary to the true nature of humanity. This paper focuses on this insight. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: JGArsseu.wps

John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
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This 5 page paper provides an overview of the John Locke's views on substance and essence related in his An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. This paper outlines the views of Locke relating to the primary text. No additional sources cited.
Filename: MHLocke3.wps

Spinoza's Conception of God
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This 5 page paper assesses Spinoza's position as it explores different ideas about God. Descartes and Leibniz are also discussed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: SA017Spn.rtf