Paper Assignment
The paper assignment will be available by mid-October.
1. Your paper
is due on Monday 11 November. In addition, it will be accepted without penalty
on the 18th. After that, late papers will be lowered a full letter grade. (This
means that I encourage you to get it done early, but I'm giving you an extra
week to do it.)
2. All papers must be typed or computer-printed, double spaced, four to six
pages in a reasonable font (11 or 12 point Times, for example). This means approximately
1000 to 1500 words.
3. Do not right-justify your paper; I am absurdly, but strictly, opposed to
this strange practice
4. I expect you to observe basic rules of grammar and spelling. Proofread your
paper. Asking a good writer to read and comment on your paper can be helpful.
5. You may use quotes from the readings in our books by merely noting the author
and page number. I strongly discourage you from using other sources. If you
do use another source, you must include a proper bibliographical reference,
including author, title, and publishing information. You may quote your class
notes liberally, as long as you cite them.
6. If you plagiarize, you fail. I am interested in what you have to say. Sometimes,
for brief passages, some one else will just say it better than you can. Quote
it. Footnote it. Cite any ideas that are not your own. (E.g. "Descartes
argues that...", "According to Locke,...".)
1. Pick a topic
from the list below.
2. Introduce your paper by briefly stating what you are going to say in the
rest of the paper. This is your thesis, the conclusion you will defend. Be specific.
Your paper should be an extended argument supporting your thesis. (Sometimes,
it's easiest to write the introduction after you have finished writing the body
of the paper.)
3. Argue for your thesis. Each paragraph should somehow support your thesis.
Make sure you understand the role of each part of your paper in your argument.
4. Consider possible objections. Don't accept what the philosophers say if it
doesn't make sense to you. Argue your own point of view, but through the writings
of the philosophers.
5. Conclude your essay by summarizing exactly what you think you said in the
paper. If you didn't say it well, at least I'll know what you were trying to
say.
6. Make sure to answer each of the questions given below in the topic you choose.
1. Descartes rejects the resemblance hypothesis in 'Meditation Two'. What is this hypothesis? Why does Descartes reject it? What's Locke's opinion about the resemblance hypothesis, and why? What's Berkeley's opinion, and why? Who's right? Why? Be specific.
2. Descartes begins the Meditations by doubting the existence of a physical
world. By the end of 'Meditation Six', he agrees that there must be a physical
world. How does he reclaim the world? (What, specifically, is his argument that
the physical world exists? On what does it depend?) What is Descartes' world
like? What is Berkeley's position on the physical world? How does he argue for
it? How is his argument similar to Descartes' argument? Who's right, and why?
3. Locke and Berkeley disagree about the nature of the external world. Locke
says that the world is material. Berkeley says that there is no such thing as
material substance; all reality is mental. What exactly do they each mean? How
does they support their views? Where exactly do they agree and disagree? Who
is right, and why? Be careful not to create straw men, here.
4. What role does God play in Descartes' Meditations? Be specific. What role
does God play in Berkeley's Principles? Be specific. Would either system be
more acceptable to a religious person? Would either system be more acceptable
to an atheist? Is there reason for a scientist to prefer one view over the other?
Provide reasons for your answers.
5. Berkeley considers various objections to his position in Sections 34-84 of
the Principles. Choose two or three of these objections and defend either Berkeley
or his critic. Explain each objection in detail. Is it an objection that either
Locke or Descartes would make, and why? How does Berkeley defend his position?
Who is right?
Important: Any other topic must be cleared with me before you write the paper!