Classifying+Our+Beliefs+Activity

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Classifying Our Beliefs: A Useful Oversimplification

Now that we have gained a more sophisticated understanding of what we “know”, the next level of analysis asks us to classify our beliefs into categories to allow us to assess and evaluate their strength and applicability. Four potential categories are Rational Statement, Empirical Statement, Value Judgment, and Metaphysical Statement. Into which category would you place each of the following statements? Next to each statement, attempt to provide a brief (no more than one –two sentence(s)) justification for your choice.
 * Instructions: **



1. There was a school assembly last Friday. 2. Plants use chlorophyll in photosynthesis. 3. Roses are beautiful. 4. She is an excellent swimmer. 5. She won a gold medal swimming in the last Olympics 6. Her ability is a gift from God. 7. A circle is a closed plane curve, which is equidistant from a fixed point within its curve. 8. God is omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing). 9. She claims God is omnipotent and omniscient. 10. It is good that she claims that God is omnipotent and omniscient. 11. It is wrong to steal. 12. He’s a really good teacher. 13. Sodexho food is really good. 14. Sodexho food is better that the food most people in the world have to eat. 15. Her extended essay is excellent. 16. Her extended essay was given an A. 17. Women are human beings. 18. Yesterday he received a telephone call from a friend at home. 19. For the purposes of determining airlines’ student discounts for fares, a student is someone who is enrolled for a full time course lasting at least 30 weeks in the year by an approved college or other institution. 20. Cigarettes are harmful to your health. 21. Men are human beings. 22. There are fish balls and boiled potatoes for dinner tonight. 23. Carrefour sells chocolate cheaper than Marks and Spencers in Puxi. 24. A week has seven days