Introduction to Philosophy: Paper Assignment 1

Honors Introduction to Philosophy	Richard Lee
Philosophy 2003 H 001, 002	Autumn 2006

Philosophical Paper Assignment 1

Tentative

Write a philosophical paper on one of the following arguments:

Socrates' argument that Euthyphro's definition of piety (at 7a if the Euthyphro) is inadequate (Socrates says at 8a "So you did not answer my question")
Plato's argument (Republic X (selection)) in the final book of Republic that the soul is immortal
Simmias's argument that the soul must be destroyed in death. (Phaedo 85e-86d)
Thomas Aquinas's argument that man has free will in Summa Theologica, First Part, Q. 83: Of Free Will, article 1 (See especially the "I answer that" section)
George Berkeley's argument in Three Dialogues that "A very violent and painful heat cannot exist without the mind." (See pages 5-8 in this edition.)

Here are some guidelines:

The argument should be carefully and completely laid out.
Premises and conclusion should be clearly identified. (See "Identifying and Formulating Arguments")
The paper should include clarification of positions, distinctions, premises, and arguments.
There should be critique of the argument.
The paper should display insight into the issue.
The paper should be fair to several sides of the issue.

Note: For this assignment you need not use any materials apart from those in the class texts (or indicated in the assignment)-- indeed you are encouraged not to. However, no matter what sources of information you use -- even the textbook -- be sure to make adequate attribution (e.g. in footnotes). You are expected to do your own work. Use of unacknowledged sources (e.g., books, friends, tutors, web sites, other papers) for this assignment constitutes cheating.

This paper should be submitted electronically to rlee@uark.edu. The paper should be submitted as a "rich text format" (.rtf) file. (You'll need to use a "save as" command to get your document into this form.) Submissions after the due date risk incursion of a penalty for lateness.

Please put your name and topic number on your paper.

Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 14 September 2006