Philosophy challenges and questions foundational values and assumptions. Everyone has formulated assumptions. Regardless of the topic or principle being discussed, it is possible to identify fundamental assumptions which may form an ascending or descending hierarchy of related ideas.
The author is Daniel Keeran, MSW, moderator for the Philosophers Cafe in Victoria, Canada, and president of the College of Mental Health Counseling http://www.collegemhc.com
The "Guidelines for Respectful Discussion" may be found below the photo and distributed freely without permission from the author.
ASSESSMENT OF PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Directions: Enter True or False for each of the statements below each numbered heading.
1. Awareness of Human Life
__My self-awareness exists and is known by my thoughts, emotions, senses.
__The self-awareness of other humans exists, and they also have thoughts, emotions, and senses.
2. Value of Human Life
__My value as a human exists.
__The value of other humans exists.
__My value as a human is greater than the value of other life forms.
__All humans possess equal value because they are human (intrinsic value).
__Humans possess different value depending on their attributes: intelligence, abilities, age, etc. (practical value).
3. Meaning of Human Life
__My life has purpose or meaning.
__The lives of other humans have a meaning or purpose.
__Human life has a meaning or purpose in itself (intrinsic meaning).
4. Value of Human Behaviour
__Some of my behaviour has the value of right or wrong depending upon whether or not it supports the value of my life and the life of others.
__Some human behaviour has the value of right or wrong in itself (intrinsic morality).
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