Framing the Question 200 words Briefly analyze the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases. What issues are at stake here? Which are historical/social scientific? Which are ethical and philosophical? Which are strategic and political? What resources might we use to help us address each of these sets of questions? Hellenism200 words Explain briefly Aristotle’s position on slavery. What does Aristotle believe makes people happy? Why? Outline Aristotle’s argument for the Unmoved mover. What does this have to do with ethics? Explain each of the four levels of knowledge, including the object known. What does this have to do with ethics and the Good? Explain the Allegory of the Cave. What is Plato trying to tell us about knowledge, reality, and freedom? Buddhism and Hinduism200 words Explain the four legitimate goals of human life, the four paths to liberation, and the concept of varnashramadharma. Do these ideas represent a step forward or backward from Buddhism? Why? How does Tsung-mi’s presentation of the advanced Mahayana path differ from what we found in the Dharmachakrapravartanasutra? How are the various teachings which are discussed in the selection related to eachother? Explain the four noble truths. Why does the Buddha believe life is suffering? What can we do about it? The Way of Harmony200 words What basic concepts and concerns to the Taoist and Confucian traditions share? On what questions do they differ? Judaism200 words What makes Rabbinic Judaism distinct as a response to the destruction of the Second Temple? What has it contributed to ethical discourse in the West? Discuss the three theories advanced by scholars regarding the origins of Israel. Why is this debate important? Christianity200 words Explain Thomas Aquinas’ doctrine of Law. What is a law? What are the types of law? How do they differ and how are they related? Please summarize our discussion of the origins of Christianity. What is the current consensus regarding what the historic Jesus of Nazareth did and taught? How do his probably teachings differ from the Christianity which developed in the Hellenistic cities after his death? Islam200 words Explain the significance of the zakat as both a way of fulfilling the Muslim commitment to actually building a just society and as a factor in rapid expansion of Islam in its first few centuries. Explain what makes Islam distinctive in its approach to the problem of justice by comparison with Judaism and Christianity.