Take-Home Exam Instructions
PHILO225-24A
The Take-Home Exam will open by 11:00am Wednesday the 29th of May. At this time, you’ll be able to see the 5 specific prompts (from which you will pick three to answer).
You should respond to 3 of the 5 prompts by writing along answer of up to 500 words (approximately 3 short paragraphs) for each.
Use only the materials provided in this course and your own ideas to answer the prompts. Write proper sentences and paragraphs and use proper referencing.
Submit your answers in one document via the Take-Home Exam linkin Moodle (in the Assessments
block). Use Word or PDF. Your answers will go through Turnitin and be checked for AI text generation.
The Take-Home Exam is due before 11:00pm Sunday the 9th of June.
Possible Prompts
The 5 actual Take-Home Test prompts will be chosen from these possible prompts:
Your theory of wellbeing
• Explain your personal theory of wellbeing and a strong objection to it. Defend your theory
from the objection (THIS PROMPT WILL DEFINITELY BE ONE OF THE FIVE ON THE TEST)
Theories of wellbeing
• Explain Aristippus’s theory of wellbeing. Outline a policy that a government might
implement based on Aristippus’s theory of wellbeing. Say why the policy would be good or bad for citizen’s wellbeing in your view.
• Explain Intrinsic Attitudinal Hedonism. Outline a policy that a government might implement based on Aristippus’s theory of wellbeing. Say why the policy would be good or bad for
citizen’s wellbeing in your view.
The science of happiness
• Explain and critique Richard Layard’s argument about how neuroscience proves happiness is an objective phenomenon (as discussed in his reading: “What is happiness?”).
• Is Mathieu Ricard (discussed in the lectures on the science of happiness) the happiest person alive? Clearly explain what it would take to be sure of your answer to the question and what you think the answer is.
• Should subjective well-being surveys be used to inform policymaking? Why/why not? If so, how? Be sure to discuss the Richard Layard reading.
The science of happiness and you
• Imagine that friend told you that “studies show that you will be happier in lockdown if you use video chat rather than audio-only chat with your friends” . Explain how you would check whether the claim is true. Include a brief discussion of what elements would be present in a reliable study on this claim.
• Is it possible to create a measure of wellbeing that works cross-culturally (such that, for example, a 7 out of 10 means the same in New Zealand as it does in China and France). Why/why not?
• Explain a gratitude intervention and critically discuss a potential risk of increasing someone’s trait gratitude by a large amount.
Happiness in the future
• Critically assess the impact on society of a pill that made people experience 50% more
pleasure and 50% less pain (assume it has no side-effects, that the effect never exceeds the 50% change regardless of dose, and that a constant dose costs $50 per week).
• Assuming pre-implantation genetic diagnosis advances and it becomes possible to select embryos that are more likely to be happy humans, what should we do? Should we fund it, permit it (but not fund it), or ban it? Justify your answer.
Happiness puzzles, traps, and myths
• Explain the paradox of happiness and critically discuss whether it works as an objection to prudential hedonism.
• Ed Diener and colleagues present data they say supports the “James Dean Effect” (as
discussed in “End effects of rated life quality”). Explain and critique the James Dean Effect.
The dark side of happiness
• Explain and critique Clive Hamilton’s argument that advertising makes us unhappy (discussed in his: “ Identity”).
• Explain and critique Clive Hamilton’s argument that advertising fails to make us happy (discussed in his: “Identity”).
FAQ
Can I use my notes for the take-home exam?
Yes. You should use your notes and look at key readings again to help you answer the take-home exam prompts.
Do I have to use proper references in the take-home exam?
Yes. Just like the essay, you should use a proper referencing system, including using quotation marks and page numbers for direct quotes. But, you will likely only use 1-3 sources per answer
Can Ireference the lectures?
Yes. Just like the essay, you should reference every source of ideas and/or text. You can reference
the lecture slides or the lecture videos. I’m not too fussy about how you do it, but you should do it if you have used words or ideas from the lectures in your answer.
Can I use the Internet to research answers for the take-home exam?
No. Iam interested in your opinions and arguments about the material I have set. Your take-home exams will be run through Turnitin, which can identify when material has been taken from an online source.
Can I discuss the take-home exam prompts with other students?
Yes and no. You can discuss the prompts in general with and get feedback on your ideas from other students. You cannot share written notes, plans, or drafts with other students. The take-home exam is an individual assignment designed to test the knowledge and skills you have developed during the paper.
Is the take-home exam timed?
Kind of. You have several days to complete it. Note the release and due dates above.
Can I use an AI text generator to write the answers?
No. You will score zero marks if you do this.