Philosophy 111 – midterm exam questions for Tuesday, October 21st You may each use one page of notes to help answer the question(s) on the midterm next Tuesday. Each of you will answer at least one of the following questions. Bring only your one page of notes and a pen or pencil to write your answer(s) in class. Bluebooks are not needed. Use any of the essays 2, 7, 9, 12, 16 and any of the Mad Men episodes shown in class to compose your answer(s).
• Via creative persuasion Don Draper transforms novelties into necessities. By what means does he take a mechanically simple revolving slide projector and transform it into the Carousel? Remember that Don boils down communication to its essentials. What did Harry Crane contribute to Don’s insight as Don prepared for the meeting with Kodak?
• Our passions do not discriminate between reality and illusion. What do the “nomads” in the season two episode, The Jet Set, represent to Don? Why can we call Don an artist rather than a middle manager?
• Discuss the moral characters of Don Draper and Pete Campbell, or the moral characters of Peggy Olson and Betty Draper. Consider their actions, motives, and the consequences of their actions.
• In the season three episode My Old Kentucky Home, why do Don and Pete wince at a performance by Roger Sterling at a summerhouse party? How is Roger’s performance perceived by Don and Pete ( in light of the Civil Rights struggles of 1963)? Why does Don describe the occasion as “work disguised as a party?”