Earth and Space Exploration Question

ALA 315 / Popular Science

Unit Essay #1

(25 points, due by the start of class on 2/3)

You will submit two unit essays in this course, responding to a given prompt or set of

prompts. Essays should be 2-3 full pages, 1.5 (space-and-a-half) line spacing

(approximately 800-1200 words). Essays will be submitted via the Canvas Assignments

feature. Please do not forget to cite specific readings in your essays. (In-line citations

are appropriate; no need for a full bibliography.) Be concise, but include specific

details from readings and class; show me what you know and have thought about!

For your first essay, please respond to one of the following two prompts.

(1) What can and cant science tell us about humanitys place in the universe or ultimate

significance? Critically discuss and integrate at least 3 specific readings from Unit 1 in

responding to this question.

(2) The Dalai Lama writes in The Universe in a Single Atom: I have noticed that many

people hold an assumption that the scientific view of the world should be the basis for all

knowledge and all that is knowable. This is scientific materialism. Although I am not

aware of a school of thought that explicitly propounds this notion, it seems to be a

common unexamined presupposition. (p. 12) To what extent do you think that scientific

materialism is a common unexamined presupposition in the works we have read (or

seen excerpts from) for Unit 1? Justify your response with at least 3 specific examples

from Unit 1.

By submitting this assignment, you are affirming that your assignment submission is your

own authentic work, as defined in the course syllabus and discussed in class. Please

avoid AI use in general, but carefully document the exact nature of any AI use that did go

into composing the words you are submitting here, and please include an appropriate

(brief) citation any time you incorporate or draw on another persons written or spoken

words.

Requirements: 800 words

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