Write an essay that responds to one of the prompts. Please read the prompt and the following requirements carefully. The essay is due March 20 by midnight via Canvas submission. Although this is your first draft, it must be complete to receive credit.
Once you receive feedback from your TA on your paper, you will revise your paper in light of that feedback and include a cover sheet that explains your revisions. The revised version of this paper is due April 17 via Canvas (using a different submission portal).
Prompts
In Ex Machina, Nathan and Caleb seem to accept that Ava is a thinking machine. Explain their evidence throughout the movie for this view about Ava’s capabilities. What is the best objection that someone can make to their view? Evaluate that objection: Does it succeed or fail at rebutting this view? Why or why not?
Choose one of the three views of gender that Barnes discusses in her paper (the traditional view, gender externalism, or gender internalism). Explain that view of gender and its initial plausibility. What is the best objection that someone can make to that view of gender? Evaluate that objection: Does it succeed or fail at rebutting the view? Why or why not?
Choose one of three views of free will that Sider discusses in his paper (hard determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism). Explain that view of free will and its initial plausibility. What is the best objection that someone can make to that view of free will? Evaluate that objection: Does it succeed or fail at rebutting the view? Why or why not?
Formal Requirements
Aim to write roughly 1000-1500 words. Please do not write more than 1600 words. Include a word count on your paper.
Please do not include any identifying information on your papers, such as your name.
I suggest that you use a serif font with 12 pt. size (e.g., Times New Roman).
If you quote or paraphrase from assigned readings, include the page number from the text. For example:
“Consider the following: is the pious loved by the gods because it’s pious? Or is it pious because it’s loved?” (pg. 33).
If you consult any outside sources, include in-text citations for ideas or words that are not your own. Please include the author’s name and page number in these citations. For example:
God would have the ability to create a hospitable universe, as well as good reason to do so, and so God’s existence is a satisfying explanation of our universe (White, pg. 33).
Include a bibliography of sources if you use ideas or words from sources outside the course material. Please use APA or MLA format for your bibliography citations. If a paper fails to give credit its outside sources, it will receive a failing grade.
Substantive Requirements
Your paper should contain all the following elements (listed in the recommended order):
Introduction. A brief overview of the main ideas, perhaps touching on their general interest to us, and your thesis statement. At minimum, your thesis statement should indicate your view.
Exposition. Explain any arguments, views, or concepts necessary to set up the objection and evaluation that follows. In the case of argument, be sure to explain how their conclusions are supported by their premises.
Objection. Present the best (singular) reason you can think of to reject your argument. In most cases, a viable objection argues that one of the your premises is false. Explain how your argument may fail in light of the objection.
Evaluation. A critical assessment of whether the reply to the objection succeeds. Here you make good on your thesis by supporting or rejecting the argument given the considerations in your paper thus far.
Conclusion. Summarize the main points of the paper and perhaps mention any immediate upshots of your argument.
