Philosophy 5: Critical Thinking and Composition 

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group Exercise on Brentano's Theory of Mind and Why It Matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Notes on the importance of group exercises.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each group answers the "So What," and "Who Cares" questions for Brentano's Theory of Mind as it could apply to Alexander's concern about implicit bias.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recall Chapter Seven "'So What?  Who Cares?':  Saying Why It Matters" from the They Say, I Say text. 

 

"'[W]ho cares?' literally asks you to identify a person or group who cares about your claims." 

 

"'[S]o what?' asks about the real-world applications and consequences of those claims–what difference it would make if they were accepted."

 

"Rather than assume that audiences will know why their claims matter, all writers need to answer the 'so what?' and 'who cares?' questions up front."

 

"[W]riters who cannot show that others should care or already do care about their claims will ultimately lose their audiences' interest."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1 (five minutes): Individually, answer the "So What," and "Who Cares" questions for Brentano's Theory of Mind as it could apply to Alexander's concern about implicit bias (with one sentence for each answer). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2 (ten minutes):  In groups, discuss your answers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3 (ten minutes):  In groups, craft one group answer for the "So What" question for Brentano's Theory of Mind as it could apply to Alexander's concern about implicit bias (in three sentences). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4 (ten minutes):  In groups, craft one group answer for the "Who Cares" question for Brentano's Theory of Mind as it could apply to Alexander's concern about implicit bias (in three sentences).   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5 (twenty minutes):  Present your answers to the class.