Final Paper
Introduction to Philosophy
Final Paper
Due Monday, May 15
Assignment: 3-page, double-spaced thesis essay. Submit as word.doc on Moodle
· Your final paper assignment requires you to respond to one of the following prompts and to develop a thesis that argues for and supports your own position. This paper is not merely a summary or interpretation but asks you to develop your own position about the philosophers you consider. This is not a research paper and should only refer to primary texts. Restrict your arguments to one or two philosophers at most. I have provided the following questions to help you develop a thesis statement. (You can modify them if you speak with me first):
Topics:
1. Socrates famously argues in The Apology that the unexamined life is not worth living. Philosophy, therefore, is understood as way of life, and process of self-discovery. Virtue, in this view, is portrayed as wisdom and truth. Against Socrates, Nietzsche argues that human beings do not truly know themselves. Historical change transforms our understanding of good and evil, and therefore, what it means to live a good life. Whose position regarding virtue and the good life is correct? Is Socrates right that the right kind of life comes from self-inquiry, reflection, and philosophy? Or is Nietzsche right to say that good and evil are mere power struggles that blind our intentions?
2. In On Free Choice of the Will, St. Augustine argues that human beings have the freedom of choice in a world created by a good God. Evil, therefore, is the result of human decisions alone. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, by contrast, argues that human beings are naturally good, because of our instinct for pity. He attributes the moral downfall of humans to the creation of society, and the institutions that make us unequal. Evil, in this way, is not merely a choice, but a product of history and society. Who has a stronger claim about the origin of evil and corruption? Augustine or Rousseau?
3. In the Leviathan, Hobbes has argued that man is by nature self-interested. He argues that a social contract is possible because of human rationality. Freud, by contrast, argues that the human mind is motivated by unconscious, and irrational drives. Civilization, he argues, is only possibly through the repression of drives. Which model of human rationality is correct? Are human beings rational, self-interested, and therefore capable of peace as Hobbes argues, or are the threats of conflict always present as Freud insists in Civilization and its Discontents.
4. Develop your own topic and thesis statement. Be sure to discuss your plan for the paper with me prior to writing your draft!
Tips/Advice:
The paper needs to have a clear thesis that presents a specific argument. Make sure your thesis appears in your introduction.
Keep in mind that your thesis statement should:
· Be original. Remember that a thesis is the main idea of your paper, so your main argument needs to be your own. It is acceptable to use ideas presented in class, but you must be sure that your thesis builds upon those ideas and brings the argument to a higher level.
· Make an argument. A good thesis does not simply summarize but makes an argument. An argument takes a “what” and “why” form. For example, “I will argue that human nature is x, because of y”...
· Support your thesis. Find examples from the text, such as quotes or arguments, that advance the key idea of your thesis. An argument needs to explain why your reasoning is effective.
· Most importantly, take a risk! I especially value papers that take a position that is challenging and surprising. Do not worry about making an argument that I agree with. Develop a position that is unique to you and which you can defend. Specifically, taking up details we have not discussed in class indicates a close engagement with the material.
Format:
Write in double-spaced 12-point times new roman font.
Be sure to use quotes from the texts themselves in order to argue your thesis.
In-text citations using either MLA or Chicago Manual Style. No bibliography is necessary for this assignment.
Additional Remarks:
I would strongly advise you to go to the writing center to get help with your paper.
Grades: The paper will be worth 20 points, which is 20% of your total grade.
Final Paper Evaluation Checklist
1. Mechanics: Paper has date, a meaningful title, your name, instructor name, no problems with grammar or spelling, all quotations cited properly, no secondary sources consulted, or, if secondary sources have been used, they are cited even if you did not refer to them directly.
Strongly Agree __ Somewhat Agree__ Somewhat Disagree__ Strongly Disagree__
2. Introduction: Introduction gives general topic of the paper and introduces the thesis. The thesis makes a claim about the material that would not be obvious to someone who had read the material and helps such a reader understand the texts in a new way. The thesis also acts as a response to one of the provided paper prompts. The paper avoids broad generalizations (for example, “since the dawn of time, men have . . .).
Strongly Agree__ Somewhat Agree__ Somewhat Disagree__ Strongly Disagree__
3. Conclusion: Final paragraph adds something to the paper rather than summarizing what
the audience has just read (for example, suggests broader implications, new directions or questions).
Strongly Agree__ Somewhat Agree__ Somewhat Disagree__ Strongly Disagree__
4. Argument: Paragraphs provide good reasons for believing the thesis, supported by evidence from the text. Textual evidence is carefully chosen from multiple places in the text, not entirely by passages discussed in class, and properly cited. The argument is supported with reasons, textual evidence, and a conclusion.
Strongly Agree__ Somewhat Agree__ Somewhat Disagree__ Strongly Disagree __
Assignment: The paper fulfills the 3-page requirement.
Strongly Agree __ Somewhat Agree__ Somewhat Disagree__ Strongly Disagree __