Overview
Assignment Overview:
This week’s assignment consists of three essays. Each essay should be approximately 1.5 pages long (double-spaced).
- Essays 1 and 2: Based on Part 4 of Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow, these essays focus on prospect theory, risk aversion, and the disconnect between subjective and objective values in decision-making and relationships.
- Essay 3: A response to John Corvino’s argument about the “unnaturalness” of homosexuality, including a presentation and critique of a “trumped-up” version of the argument. Corvino’s argument can be found in his essay A Defense of Homosexuality, which appears in Lewis Vaughn’s textbook.
- https://philosophyintrocourse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/john-corvino-why-shouldnt-tom-and-jim-have-sex.pdf
Point Breakdown:
- Essay 1: 3.5 points
- Essay 2: 3.5 points
- Essay 3: 3 points
- Total: 10 points
Essay 1: Prospect Theory and Risk Aversion (3.5 points)
- Explain prospect theory:
- Summarize its key insights, including how people value gains and losses differently and why this leads to risk aversion.
- Discuss the concept of loss aversion and its impact on decision-making.
- Use a sports betting example:
- Consider a hypothetical Super Bowl scenario between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Explain expected value and expected return in the context of a $100 bet on the Eagles.
- If the expected return is over 100%, why would it make objective sense to wager?
- Explain the hesitation to wager:
- Discuss risk aversion and why people are reluctant to bet even when the numbers favor them.
- Highlight the evolutionary explanation: why losing feels more painful than gaining feels good, and how this ties to survival instincts.
Essay 2: Subjective and Objective Values in Relationships (3.5 points)
- Generalize the pattern from Essay 1:
- Just as people hesitate to make bets despite favorable odds, people in relationships often experience a disconnect between subjective emotional reactions and objective assessments.
- Objective value: The relationship may be generally positive and stable.
- Subjective value: Negative events—arguments, misunderstandings—can feel more significant than the positive ones.
- Explain how subjective values affect relationships:
- Discuss how bad events (like disagreements) weigh more heavily than the good events (like compliments or shared experiences).
- Explain how this imbalance can lead to a perception that the relationship is failing, even if it’s overall beneficial.
- Why relationships fail despite overall positive value:
- Over time, if the emotional weight of the negatives surpasses the perceived positives, people may conclude that the relationship isn’t worthwhile.
- This pattern mirrors how subjective values and objective values come apart in other domains, such as risk aversion in financial decisions.
Essay 3: Corvino’s Argument and the “Trumped-Up” Version (3 points)
- Read Corvino’s paper:
- Corvino’s argument can be found in his essay A Defense of Homosexuality, which appears in Lewis Vaughn’s textbook.
- Identify what Corvino takes to be the common “homosexuality is unnatural” argument.
- Summarize how he interprets and critiques this argument.
- Present the “trumped-up” argument:
- Frame this stronger version of the argument as clearly and forcefully as possible.
- The argument should claim that homosexuality is not preferable and that people, as much as possible, should be dissuaded from acting on homosexual urges because they are “unnatural.”
- Explain the analogy: just as it’s unnatural and inadvisable to misuse one’s eyes (going against their evolved purpose), so too is it unnatural and inadvisable to act on homosexual desires.
- Respond critically to the trumped-up argument:
- Offer thoughtful objections or counterpoints to the idea that homosexuality is comparable to the misuse of an evolved biological function.
- Use insights from Corvino’s critique and your own reasoning to challenge the analogy and the conclusion that people should be dissuaded from acting on homosexual urges.
- Consider whether the concept of “naturalness” provides a sufficient basis for discouraging certain behaviors.
Submission Details:
- Length: Each essay should be approximately 1.5 pages double-spaced.
- Format: Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or similar).
- Citations: Use informal in-text citations for Kahneman’s book and Corvino’s essay.
- Total Assignment Length: Approximately 4.5 pages, double-spaced.
Grading Criteria:
- Clarity and Structure: Well-organized essays that clearly present the arguments.
- Critical Engagement: Thoughtful and insightful analysis, especially when responding to the trumped-up argument.
- Use of Examples: Relevant, concrete examples that illustrate key points.
- Depth of Analysis: Demonstration of understanding of Kahneman’s theories and Corvino’s points, as well as the ability to respond critically to challenging arguments.