Philosophy Paper

Philosophy Paper
The purpose of the following assignment is to allow you to express your own ideas in regard to one of the philosophers we have read and one of the practical topics we have discussed. Your paper will be tempered (hopefully) by the discipline and skill in arguing that you have thus far acquired in the course.

Assignment: write a 4-5 page (typed, double-spaced, 1” margins, 12 point font, etc.) carefully argued, clear and concise, philosophy paper, arguing your own position on one of the topics we have discussed in class (sexism and racism, world hunger, the rights of animals or terrorism). Be clear and self-conscious about the form your argument takes, for example, is it an argument from individual dignity, or a utilitarian argument for maximizing the general welfare, or from the perspective of a virtue theorist such as Aristotle, etc.?

Good General Strategy:a) State clearly in the first paragraph your general thesis: what you will be arguing for (you
may not always know this until after you have written your first draft). Be sure to
identify the claim (or set of claims) you have chosen to defend or dispute by
situating the claims carefully within context (within the theory of the philosopher you are
criticizing or within the article that you are discussing). Be fair to your opponent(s).

b) Next, begin your argument for or against the chosen claim by appealing to numerous
weak assumptions first, i.e. to those assumptions which almost any reader will likely
share. (For instance, not everyone believes in the same God as you, so one can’t start
there, etc.)

c) From here move to defending your stronger position which will be more controversial.
Analyze central concepts. Give grounds (reasons) for your enthusiasm or for your
opposition to various arguments and positions. Propose your own counter-arguments.
Try also to account for any natural objections your reader may have in regard to what
you are saying. Respond to these likely or possible objections.

d) Conclude your paper by summing up your position and perhaps suggesting any further
consequences of your standpoint, which might persuade your reader of your viewpoint.

These various steps are meant to help you in organizing your philosophy essay; they need not be followed religiously. You may do further research if you wish (beyond the articles we have read, but this is not necessary.) This is meant to be a work of philosophical reflection. In general, be clear and concise. Give reasons for what you say (ask yourself "why?" is the sentence you have just written true?) and do not bring in any controversial claims that you are not ready to defend in depth!

Standard Philosophy Footnote Form: e.g. Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”, Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Spring 1972): pp. 229-243.