A Matter of Time
College Course 2
Winter 1999
Dwight Lahr and Beatriz Pastor
Friday Discussion: Week 4
This week's discussion focuses on the topic of the Mid-Term Exam, due on Monday:
How do the class presentations and the texts we have read so far address the issue of eternity? How does the mathematical concept of infinity relate to immortality and to history in the readings?
After the questions, be sure to look at the more explicit guidance given about the expected Content of your Mid-Term paper.
______________________________________________
Question 1: What are some of the mathematical relationships between the finite and the infinite we have discussed?
Related Issues
(a) Zeno's Paradox [cf. Lahr notes #3]
(b) Lönnrot's labyrinth vs. Scharlach's labyrinth
(c) Mathematical resolution of the paradox [cf. Lahr notes #3]
Question 2: What different concepts of eternity can you come up with based on the readings and class notes?
Related Issues
(a) Plato's Timaeus
(b) Aristotle's Physics
(c) Enuma Elish
(d) Maya
Question 3: What different concepts of immortality can you come up with based on the readings and class notes?
Related Issues
(a) Genesis
(b) Hesiod's Theogony
(c) Christianity
(d) Renaissance
______________________________________________
The Mid-Term Exam has three clear parts that we have addressed in the questions for today's discussion. Here is how we expect you to incorporate the readings and class notes in your paper. (This is an expansion of the Content section taken from the Guidelines for Written Exercises you have already received.)
Content (40%)
• Answer the question fully by selecting the best combination and number of central ideas. In developing your argument, draw on the concepts with specific quotes and citations as they appear in (put a check-mark if present):
Infinity (must use 2 out of 3):
- Zeno's paradox ____
- Lönnrot ____
- Resolution of the paradox ____
Eternity (must use 3 out of 4):
- Plato ____
- Aristotle ____
- Enuma Elish ____
- Maya ____
Immortality (must use 3 out of 4):
- Genesis ____
- Hesiod's Theogony ____
- Christianity ____
- Renaissance ____
__________________________________________________
Academic Honor Principle
On written assignments, including exams: Feel free to brainstorm with fellow students, Teaching Assistants, or your instructors. However, when you sit down to write your responses or your paper, you must do so on your own and in your own words. The end result is that we expect written responses and papers to be unique pieces of writing. No exchanges of electronic files are permitted.