DAC Philosophy Pleasantville and Free Will Discussion

2-3 Pages | 11-12 PT Font, Double-Spaced

Answer one of the following three questions (A, B, or C) pertaining to the film Pleasantville. Justify your responses with specifics from the film.

A. Discuss some of the moral choices made by characters (Bud/David, Mary Sue/Jennifer, Betty & George Paker, etc..) throughout the film and address the following questions:

• How would you describe the morality of these characters prior to turning “colored”? By the end of the film, what argument does the film make regarding what our standards of morality should be?
• In what ways does the film support or object to Peter Singer’s argument for extreme charity as depicted in our class reading?

B. Discuss how the type of life desired by various characters (particularly Bud/David, and the citizens of Pleasantville prior to and after turning “colored”) changes throughout the film and address the following questions:

• How is the debate between reason and faith (as discussed in class) depicted in the film? How is this debate related to the loss of innocence depicted in the film?
• In what ways does the film support or object to Long’s (William James’) argument for why belief based on faith alone is sometimes justified?

C. Reflect on the behaviors of the citizens of Pleasantville and discuss how the film explores the notion of “free will.”

• In what ways does the film support or object to Coyne’s argument for the non-existence of free will? Be sure to address both parts of Coyne’s definition of free will (freely and consciously).
• Based on what we see in the film, why might some people not want free will to exist? What argument(s) does the film seem to be making regarding the significance of free will?