This is a meta-essay, meaning it is a commentary on an essay that I have already written. The instructions are as follows:
Instructions:
For your paper, you must employ deductive reasoning of the form modus ponens (if p, then q, p, therefore q) or modus tollens (if p, then q, Not-q, therefore Not-p) to create an argument in support of one of the following claims:
Science demonstrates that belief in God is unreasonable.
Science does not demonstrate that belief in God is unreasonable.
The heart of your paper is the argument you are offering in support of the conclusion you’ve chosen for your paper. So, the best papers will adopt something like the following format (with section headings):
I: Introduction
Here in about a paragraph or so, you introduce the paper topic. Here you also give the reader a snapshot of your argument—your conclusion and how you’ll support it (e.g. “I argue that there is no good reason to think we have a nonphysical soul because….).
Note: It’s probably easiest to write the Introduction last.
II: Argument
Here you lay out the premises of your argument and make some comment on the argument’s structure—i.e., how the structure or logical form of your argument is the kind of structure that provides support for the conclusion.
III: Defense of the Premises
Here you give me reasons for thinking that each of the premises of your argument is true.
IV: Response to Objections
Here you present reasons that a thoughtful and intelligent person may have for disagreeing with one or more premises of your argument—be charitable and put their criticism in the strongest possible light. Then, show me why I should believe you and not your objector; that is, provide good criticisms of the objections you’ve raised against your own view.
Write a meta-essay: i.e., a philosophical commentary (1000 words, plus or minus 10%) in which you make a logical and philosophical analysis of the argument that you used in your WRTG/ENGL Research Paper or Definition essay or Integration essay. (Be sure to also attach your WRTG/ENGL paper to the PHIL 105 Final Assessment file that you upload to Moodle.) Your grade will reflect how well you incorporate discussion of at least one of the PHIL 105 course’s five key philosophical themes into your meta-essay on your WRTG/ENGL paper: i.e., the five themes of PHIL 105: logic; God; knowledge; mind/body; and freedom (the story of your life). You will need to find at least one of these five PHIL 105 themes in whatever you chose to discuss for your WRTG/ENGL paper. What implicit premises does the argument for your WRTG/ENGL paper contain? Can you articulate those premises here using the concepts that you learned in PHIL 105? Your meta-essay should follow the same format as your Essay Proposal assignment.
