Homework on Crisp, Persuasive advertising and the creation of desire


All answers must be in your own words.
When a question asks for "your own example," you must give an example substantially different from any given in the reading.


1. Give your own example, from the real world, of advertising that is persuasive, as Crisp uses the term. Briefly explain how it counts as persuasive (1-4 sentences). (2pts)

2. Consider Arrington's notion of an "autonomous desire." Give an example of a first-order desire that is autonomous in this sense (this will require discussing the person's first-order desires and second order desires). Explain why it is autonomous in this sense (1-4 sentences). (2pts)

3. Crisp argues that persuasive advertising "removes the very conditions of choice." Why does he think this is true? (1-3 sentences) (2pts)

4. Crisp discusses in a few places the example of a "human robot" activated by an "evil genius."
a. This example is supposed to illustrate a very general point (not just about advertising, but about choice and autonomy more generally). What is that point? (1-2 sentences) (1pt)
b. How is this example supposed to be relevant to persuasive advertising? (1-2 sentences) (1pt)

5. Crisp thinks that persuasive advertising overrides our autonomy, and that it is typically wrong to override a person's autonomy. Give an example, not involving advertisements, of an action that overrides a person's autonomy in similar ways. In your opinion, is this action morally wrong? Why or why not? (2pts)