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There are two options for this paper: First, you can write an analysis of one of the arguments we discussed in Plato. The best ones to do here are probably the argument against fearing death in the Apology, the recollection argument in the Phaedo, or the Final Argument in the Phaedo. But good papers could also be written on Socrates’ argument that Philosophy is a preparation for death in the Phaedo, the analogical “invisibility” argument in the Phaedo, or Socrates’ refutation of Simmias’ objection that the soul is like a harmony in the Phaedo. (Socrates’ refutation of Meletus’ charges in the Apology, and the Cyclical Argument in the Phaedo, are both too short for this paper.) This type of paper is called an “argument analysis.”
The second option is to write a more traditional essay on a particular theme in Plato or Aristotle. Some good topics would be Aristotle on the types of knowledge/cognition and the differences between them, Aristotle on what wisdom is, Aristotle on the earliest philosophers’ theories, or Aristotle’s four causes (though this last one might be hard to get five pages out of). Alternatively, one could pick a specific theme in Plato, such as how to interpret the allegory of the cave, how pious Socrates, Socrates’ requirements for a good definition in the Euthyphro, etc. (Email me, stick around after class, or come to office hours to get your topic approved if it’s not one of the above.) Let’s call this a “thematic paper.”
If you are writing an argument analysis, your job is to lay out the premises of the argument, explain what type of argument it is, explain how the author justifies/defends/provides evidence for those premises, and then, in the last ¼ or 1/3 of the paper, defend or attack the argument by either strengthening or weakening the premises, respectively, or pinpointing a problem with the structure of the argument. So, if you think the argument is bad, explain which premise is wrong or why the evidence for the premise is not enough to accept the premise. Alternatively, you can critique an argument by finding a problem with its structure. If you think the argument is good, try to strengthen a premise with some further evidence, or defend the argument against an objection. Merely disagreeing with the argument, or saying something like “we have no proof,” will result it little or no credit. (There is a sample paper of what this should look like on Blackboard, and there is also a “How to Write an Argument Analysis” sheet with more information.)
If you are writing a thematic paper, your job is to clearly identify the theme at the beginning of the paper, stick to that theme throughout the paper, and say the most important things about that theme throughout the paper. However you do this, the paper should show careful reading and critical thinking skills. Do not just cite things Aristotle says, for example, but try to answer why he says them. Why does Aristotle think perception is at the bottom of the period, for example? Is craft knowledge below scientific knowledge, or equal but about different things? How does wisdom relate to craft knowledge and scientific knowledge? The more detail, and more critical thinking and reading that goes into this paper, the better. The last 1/3 or ¼ of the paper should be about whether you think the author is correct about what they say and why. This portion should aim to do something somewhat original or creative, finding a new way to interpret, defend, critique, or apply the text to a contemporary issue.
