Third Paper Assignment
Select one of the following topics on which to write a paper approximately five pages long. Papers must be submitted via turnitin.com by 12 noon, Tuesday, May 5th. Each of the teaching assistants will have a specific policy about whether and if so how to turn in a hard copy beyond turnitin.com (which is mandatory). Your TA will announce this policy in section during the last week of classes and by email to your GU Mail email address. It is your responsiblity to make sure that you know what this policy is and to conform to it. Please remember that we do not accept late papers for this assignment. The only exception is if you receive permission from your dean for an incomplete. (I will accept any excuse your dean will.)
Because we must grade the papers and submit final course grades very quickly, we will not be able to put much commentary on these final papers.
Bear in mind that you are responsible for the announced methodology for writing papers in this course. Be sure to take into consideration your teaching assistant's response to your first two papers, as well as the following documents:
Tips on Writing Philosophy Papers
Guidelines for Submitting Papers for Philosophy 20
Grading and Academic Integrity Policies
- Evaluate the following objection to James's argument in "The Will to Believe:" "James argues that the option between religion and non-religion can only be settled on practical grounds, because it is an example of a case in which 'faith in a fact can help create a fact.' But this implies that a theist's faith in the existence of God helps create the fact that God exists. And that's absurd!"
- Is the option between determinism and indeterminism a genuine option that cannot by its nature be decided on intellectual grounds?
- Evaluate the following objection to Nietzsche: "Nietzsche claims that our behavior is the expression of psycho-physiological forces, rather than the action of an agent. But when I decide to accept one summer job instead of another, I deliberate and base my decision on reasons. This is the action of an agent, not the expression of a force."
- Why does Nietzsche regard morality as an obstacle to freedom, and is he right?
Note: Questions 1 & 3 both ask you to evaluate an objection. That means that your thesis must be of the form the objection (does not) refute(s) James/Nietzsche because . . . . The objection phase of the paper must be an objection to your argument for your thesis. It may not be the objection you're considering. The response phase is a rebuttal of the objection you have just introduced.