1. Explain how Richard Rorty thinks that “outsiders” (nonphilosophers, amateurs,

1.
Explain how Richard Rorty
thinks that “outsiders” (nonphilosophers, amateurs, ideologues,
educational bureaucrats, academic specialists in other disciplines, etc.) are often mistaken about
what philosophers do and what philosophy is concerned with doing. Emphasize one or two
particular aspects of Rorty’s approach (art versus science, visionary versus technical research,
creativity versus logic, questions versus answers, the history of the philosophical dialogue,
methods and progress in philosophy, etc.) as well as the ways in which these fit into Rorty’soverall
thesis of what it is that philosophers really do.
2.
From the Jonathan Sacks reading (and to a lesser extent the William Barrett reading),
summarize the narrative of the modern age that begins with Copernicus and ends in what can be
called “scientific materialism.” Do this by listing some of the most important figures/events that
have led to the current view of human beings as “nothing but” a “gene’s way of making another
gene” or of human life having “no more meaning than
that of slime mold.” Your account doesnot need to be exhaustive but should carefully select
from the reading(s) what you understand
can best portray the overarching picture drawn by the author(s). At the end of your summary,
briefly comment on at least one of the ways in which Sacks believes that incorrect conclusions
about human dignity have been seen as unarguably conclusive by certain contemporary
authors/scientists/intellectuals.