Write on a topic of your choosing related to Philosophy of Mind. This can be a topic we have covered in the course that you want to explore in greater depth or a topic we havent covered that you are interested in. (If you want to write about a topic we have covered, you need to explore a new angle; do not use content from your previous papers.) The purpose of this assignment is to give you a chance to reflect on an issue you are personally interested in and demonstrate your developing skills in philosophical analysis.
This is not a research paper. You are not just reporting facts or merely stating your opinion; you are developing a philosophical argument. Re-read Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper for help with how to come up with a philosophical thesis.
Your paper should cover the following 3 parts:
Part 1: Articulate your own argument regarding some philosophical question related to Philosophy of Mind. Clearly state your thesis and give strong, clear reasons to defend it. You should make it obvious what your topic is and what stance you will be arguing for on the topic.
Part 2: What is the strongest objection someone could give to your view in Part 1?
Part 3: How would you respond to this objection to defend your view? (Do not just repeat the points you made in Part 1; say something new that targets the specific objection from Part 2)
If you need some help coming up with a topic, you might want to check out the following links. There you will find lists of philosophy of mind topics and references.
http://consc.net/guide/ (Links to an external site.)
https://philpapers.org/browse/philosophy-of-mind (Links to an external site.)
Feel free to run your topic by me if you would like some feedback on your idea or have any questions.
An A paper will do the following:
Clearly state your thesis.
Dont make your thesis too broad! Your thesis needs to be narrow enough to be able to give a convincing argument in 5-6 pages. If its too broad you will not be able to address all the variables.
Give a clear, well-structured argument to support your thesis. Dont just list a bunch of unconnected points. Focus on a few key reasons, lay them out clearly, and show how things are connected.
Give strong reasons to support your thesis.
Give a strong objection to your view. It might seem counterintuitive, but the stronger the objection you give to your view, the better your paper will be.
Give a convincing response to the objection.
Present original ideas and insight into the issues.
Dont include a lot of fluff.
Have good spelling, grammar, and writing mechanics.
