Major Essay Content
Your major essay is an expansion of the discussion you’ve done in the mini essays. The same basic structure will apply.
Thesis: Defend a position as true or false. Agree or disagree with the arguments from our class readings..
Interpretation: Clearly summarize all the relevant arguments from the text. Cite where each idea comes from. Explain each argument from the thinker in your own words.
Arguments: Use your own arguments and evidence to prove your thesis. State facts and explain clearly how your arguments connect to the reading. Provide evidence, don’t just state your opinion.
Good Argument: The fact that humans are creative is evidence that they could generate the idea of a perfect being on their own. [provides evidence]
Bad Argument: I think Descartes is wrong because I don’t think God exists [fails to provide evidence]
Objection and Reply: Clearly state an argument that might show your thesis to be false. Clearly state it as an objection. Then, provide a new argument that clearly shows the objection to be false and the thesis to be true. Clearly state that you are making a reply and explain how it refutes the objections.
Conclusion: Re-state your thesis and its most useful insights.
Major Essay Topics
In the major essay you can expand on themes you’ve already discussed in the mini essays, But it is forbidden to copy and paste from your previous work. Improve your arguments and writing style.
The topic may be a deeper reading of one of our class texts. Or you can compare sections of two texts. Always make yourself a list of the specific arguments you are going to talk about. Here are some suggested topics.
Compare the arguments from any two speakers in Plato’s Symposium.
(Phaedrus / Pausanias) gives a more useful account of love.
Describe Agathon’s main points and show how Socrates generates objections to them.
Socrates’ objections (prove / fail to prove) that Agathon’s speech is wrong.
Diotima says that the “good” is seeking eternal wisdom and acting with virtue. Nietzsche says that true “good” is vitality and freedom from resentment.
(Diotima / Nietzsche) has a more useful understanding of goodness.
Provide arguments for or against Descartes’ proof of God in Meditation III.
Descartes’ proof for God in Meditation III is (valid / invalid)
Descartes argues 1) That senses, body, and math can be doubted and that 2) The mind cannot be doubted so that 3) If we use the mind correctly, we can reach truth.
Descartes’ overall thesis in Meditations is (true / false).
Nietzsche says religion presents moral falsehoods. Descartes says God exists and directs humans toward truth.
(Descartes / Nietzsche) has a more useful understanding of religious ideas.
Nietzsche argues that historical facts prove that the idea of “good” was subverted by conquered people and religious groups to promote resentment and inaction.
Nietzsche’s historical account of goodness is (accurate / inaccurate)
Nietzsche makes an emotional argument that being self-interested and dangerous is far better than being unegoistic and a herd animal.
Nietzsche’s emotional arguments are (valid / invalid)
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