Final thoughts senior sem

My experience in this class has really helped me grow in philosophy more than most other classes I have taken. It was a valuable experience to be able to write on whatever subject I wished and get insight on possible flaws with my reasoning. My experience during this class was unique because I was not simply learning some dead philosophers beliefs and applying them to things like the ethical implications of torture or the ethics in the series Torchwood. I believe that this class was the first one where we were actually doing philosophy and not simply the history of philosophy. I think that it was a valuable experience that properly ends our education. I believe it was nice to gain insight into the different presentations that were made. After getting past the D&G we were really able to open up and start philosophy. I learned a lot about the philosophy of art and the art experience as well with this class.
One of the possible problems addressed to my senior seminar is the idea that holding a belief without material evidence based on certain criteria would allow almost any belief. Like a belief in Santa Claus or fairies could be justified if it somehow met the criteria. I was hesitant at first to say this in class however any one of those beliefs are justified so long as it is beneficial and they are not delusional beliefs. So long as the belief cannot be solved on intellectual grounds and the option is momentous, living, and forced holding that belief is justified Holding different beliefs in Gods or fairies is no different than holding different religious beliefs. So long as those beliefs are beneficial a person can consider them true. Some people may criticize it for allowing so many different beliefs like that however it is no different than the differing religions in the world. Some may have a problem with allowing those beliefs, but they have to keep in mind that those beliefs can be of the same rationality as all religious beliefs. I believe that I demonstrated the benefits of religion as well showing that it can be justified. Religion has been used to inspire thoughts and movements which have been beneficial to society and has helped people on a personal level that can be directly observed. I believe that religion is an aspect of our life that seems to be forgotten by philosophers nowadays and my work on the presentation showed me how philosophical those beliefs actually are. I thought I should clear up that little aspect of my senior sem presentation.