The following is a list of topics and questions to answer in the process of writing your final paper. This paper is similar to some of the shorter assignments that you have done, however, it differs in that it is not based on readings that we have discussed online, though most of the topics are related to issues that we have discussed. The page numbers refer to our text. Look over these various readings and choose one of these topics and write a 5-7 page paper.
You may find that you want to do some additional research. If so, I recommend that you use the links listed on Other Philosophy Websites. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is particularly helpful. I do not recommend that you use Wikipedia because the reliability of information on the pages varies (some are very good and some are not). Be very careful that you do not cut and paste materials from any webpage into your paper! This is one form of plagiarism. I will screen all papers through Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism and I will enforce my policy of a grade of 0 for plagiarized work. If you are uncertain about what plagiarism is and why it is unacceptable check the syllabus, the links on the syllabus, and the Turnitin.com website.
In the paper make sure that you 1) explain the relevant portions of the reading carefully (in other words, do not simply summarize the entire article but discuss what is important to understand in order to answer the questions and defend your position); 2) have a clear thesis that you will support (this should be your answer to the portion of the question that asks for you opinion about some issue related to the reading); and 3) give plausible reasons for believing that your thesis is correct. The premises of your argument should always be more plausible than the conclusion. The reasons that you give should not be things that would only matter or be relevant to you, but should be reasons that anyone could consider and evaluate as relevant to the conclusion. So, for instance, to say that you the reason why you think something is the case is that you were taught that it was true by your parents is not a reason that is relevant for anyone else. That you were taught something is true is not a reason why anyone else ought to believe it is true.
The first draft of the paper is due on May 12 and will be
worth 20 points. I will return it
to you by May 19th and the final paper will be due June 9 and is
worth 30 points.
1. Chapter 3, What Does Science Tell Me About the World?
Read Keller, pp. 98-104 and Harding pp. 111-113. Summarize the main points of each of these readings (though there is more in the selection from Keller than in Harding). What do you think about the idea of the objectivity of science after reading Keller and Harding? Are they advocating a "different science" than what Hempel is describing? What about Kuhn? What do you think about the objectivity of science? Support your position.
2. Chapter 8, Who Am I?
The readings in this chapter deal with the question of personal identity which is the question of what it is that identifies us as who we are. First read the introductory material, pp. 266-268. Then read Locke, pp. 283-287 and Michaels, pp. 291-293. Explain the difference between the Body Theory of personal identity and the Mind Theory. Which view does Locke support? What are some problems with each of the views? (If you adopt a Body Theory or Mind Theory what counterintuitive results might you get?) Do you think that it is more correct to say that you are your mind or your body? Explain and give reasons for your answer.
3. Chapter 9,Why Are My Emotions Important to Me?
Philosophy strongly emphasizes the role of reason in human life and yet clearly emotions are an important part of human life as well. Chapter 9 deals with emotions. Read the introductory material, pp. 312-314. Read Jamesı account of emotion (pp. 325-329), Baierıs account (pp. 329-332), and Sartreıs account (pp. 332-335). Briefly describe each account, noting the key features that each author ascribes to the emotions. What role do you think emotions play in life and how are they related to rationality? What do you think either James, Baier, or Sartre would say about this question? Justify your answer through reference to the readings.
4. Chapter 5.
How Is My Mind Connected to My Body?
You have read the introductory material for class but review it (pp. 159-162). Read Elizabeth Spelmanıs ³Woman as Body² (pp. 185-193). Why does she think that the traditional philosophical discussion of the mind/body problem might not be just accidentally connected to attitudes towards women that past philosophers have expressed? What is ³somatophobia² and what does it have to do with this issue? What is your view of the traditional mind/body distinction? Do you think that the distinction has anything to do with the way we think about women and reason (or their suitability for engaging in philosophy, science, or mathematics)? Why or why not?
5. Chapter 5. How Is My Mind Connected to My Body?
We watched ³I, Robot² in class and discussed it in relation to Lycanıs article. Watch ³Blade Runner². Compare the two movies and the ideas that they present about what it is to be human and the relationship of being human to being consciousness. Think about what positions Lycan and Searle would be likely to take about the humanity and consciousness of the a) the robots in ³I, Robot² and the replicants in ³Blade Runner². Do you think that there positions would be different? Explain how and why you think so. What do you think about each of these? How are they like humans and how not? Do you think that either or both of these types of beings ought to have moral rights? Why or why not?
6. Chapter 14. Why Shouldnıt I Be Selfish?
Most of this chapter was assigned as required reading for the course, however I did not assign ³Individual Rights, Welfare Rights² by Tara Smith. Read that selection now (pp. 474-475). Why does Smith claim that recognition of welfare rights ³would precipitate conflicts, necessitating the violation of the very freedom that is to be safe-guarded by rights²? What freedom is she is referring to? How is her position different from that of Ayn Rand and James Rachels? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? What responsibilities or duties (if any) do you believe that you have to those who are in need? Give reasons in support of your position and explain whether and why it is closer to that of Smith or Rand.
7. Chapter 20. How Should I Make (and Spend) Money?
This chapter has a series of articles that might be described as examining the ethics of business. Two of these articles are particularly interesting in the way that they relate to other issues in ethics that we have examined. Read (at least) Joanne Ciulla (pp. 685-688) and Robert Solomon (pp. 690-696) and also refer back to our reading on Aristotle (pp. 524-531). What is a good life and is there any way in which making money is related to such a life? Consider this question from the perspective of each of the authors mentioned here and develop your own position on this question. You may also use any of the other readings in this chapter if you think that they are relevant.
8. If you would like to write on some other reading from our text or even some reading that is not in our text it may be possible to do this. In order to have this project okayed, make sure that you meet with me and formulate questions that will serve as an outline for your paper.