Ideological Turing Test
"Hard Center, Soft Edges."
Presentation
This is how Biola University President Barry Corey described his school s ethos and their approach to the larger secular culture as a faith-based institutions. Hard Center=knowing what we believe and why; Soft Edges=charity, humility, and intentional understanding to the patterns, practices, beliefs, and values for those outside of the Judeo-Christian paradigm.
What does it look like to cultivate soft-edges while still holding fast, and with conviction, to our faith-values, traditions, and Scripture?
Ideological Turing Test. A Turing Test is a test to see whether a computer can pass as a human. You will do a Turing test as a test to see whether you can understand an opposing position so well, that an outsider would not be able to discern whether they reflect your true beliefs or not. Put differently, can you articulate someone else s beliefs to their satisfaction?
The founder of the term, economist Bryan Caplan, says, [T]he ability to pass ideological Turing tests - to state opposing views as clearly and persuasively as their proponents - is a genuine symptom of objectivity and wisdom.
Each student will write a paper due on the date listed on your syllabus. Each student
will record a presentation using Kaltura and uploading this by your due date. The video is due before the Final paper.
� Identify a perspective or an action that is important (NO political Subjects, NO discussion of the Presidential Elections, BLM, Defunding Police or the Supreme Court Justices). This can be anything, veganism, vaccines, check cashing sites, or any other idea that you have that cause people to have differing opinions. Finding something that relates to Business would be great.
� You will need at least two references � the Bible and your textbook may be used but use two other reference as well. These need to be academic. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA OR ANYTHING WIKI OR PEDIA!!!!
� Students are required to write a 3-5 page paper, 12 pt font, Double spaced, 1-inch margins, APA formatting (Titles page and references).
i. For the one half of the paper, students will present the merits to the ideology they are describing. For example, what animating beliefs and values might drive practices associated with this idea? What are some areas of sympathy you might have relative to this idea? In general, writers should attempt to explain the position in a way that would satisfy someone who actually holds that position.
ii. For the other half of the presentation, I would like for you to state the other side or the idea (or argument). This needs to be just as passionate and through as the first.
iii. In the conclusion, tell me what argument you side with and WHY you ultimately disagree with the position, and provide your best and most convincing evidence. In THIS SECTION ONLY will I except the use of first-person writing.