Assignment Question
Task: Write a 6-page thesis driven essay on any topic you found of particular interest the second half of the semester that you would like to present more formally as your culminating course paper.
This paper requires you to identify a philosophical issue of importance to you and present a clear thesis on the topic. In addition to using your course readings, you must also minimally use one (1) outside source. This need not be from an academic journal, just an example of your topic in current events or a current application. Your goal is to explain your philosophical topic to an audience (me) in a more academic tone as a thesis driven essay. You will use your readings to support your argument or to present a counterargument, depending on your topic. You are not starting from scratch! These topics have all been considered in our weekly discussion forums. While your discussion forums focused more on summary, your goal in this paper is to refine your thoughts on your previous work and to present the arguments with greater academic complexity. As such, focus on close analysis of the texts while providing direct evidence (through relevant quotes) to support your thesis.
As such, here are some of the possibilities for how to construct your final paper topic/thesis. 1.) Is ethics dependent or independent of belief/existence of God? 2.) What does ethics have to do with notions of free will, personal identity and/or behaviorism? 3.) Can one have moral knowledge like one has scientific/mathematical knowledge? 4.) What does ethics have to do with the problem of evil and human suffering in relation to defining God as divinely omniscient and benevolent? 5.) Do notions of immortality, life after bodily death, and eternal rewards and punishment have an effect on how we define ourselves?
Other suggested general topics: 1.) Comparative study/notions/existence of God in relation to science and secular atheism 2.) The nature of the self and mind (philosophical, scientific, and psychological) 4.) Machines/persons/Artificial Intelligence, in terms of human knowledge 5.) Particular ethical theories that fit with your broader definition/understanding of the self, personal identity, and human knowledge You are limited by the above suggestions: they are simply food for thought in terms of what I am looking for with the paper. Not to worry, I will help you along the way through the steps of submitting a proposal, individual Zoom meetings, helping you verify the applicability of your outside sources to your topic and reading drafts. You must submit a proposal and at least one draft as part of your final grade.
General Guidelines: The essay should be roughly 6 pages. This is a page minimum; you may write as much as you like. Size 12 font 1” margins on all sides Follow MLA formatting for in-text citations Full works cited page in MLA format You must use at least 3 primary sources from your online textbook and at least 1 other outside source