Philosophy Question

Overview

Paper question:

Considering the arguments of the philosopher you choose, use your paper to address this question: Who should have power and how should they use it to solve (deal with) the issue in your life? Why should they have power (that is, what definition of justice are you using)?

You will use a total of four philosophers in this paper. You will make your argument using Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, or Mill. Then, you will use three of the other philosophers we studied during the first half of the course to critique/criticize your philosopher’s argument by presenting the key critique/criticism each would make of your philosopher’s argument, and you will defend your argument against each of those critiques.

Guidelines:

Paper must consist of 6 paragraphs: paragraph one is your thesis, paragraph two will be your argument (addressing both justice and power), paragraphs three through five will be your oppositions’ best critiques of your argument and your response (defense) to each of them, paragraph 6 will be your conclusion.

1. You must underline the thesis sentence in the thesis paragraph and you must underline the topic sentence in each paragraph.
2. You must use and cite quotations from each of the readings/philosophers covered in the debate. Failure to use and cite quotations from the reading in the second and all subsequent paragraphs, other than the conclusion paragraph, will result in a paper score of 0 or 1 point. You must have quotations that support claims about justice and power in the second paragraph, and quotations that support each side in the debate/critique paragraphs. That means you must include at least 2 quotations in each paragraph after the thesis paragraph.
3. Students who in any way incorporate the work of another will receive a grade of 0 on the paper and will be cited for academic dishonesty. This includes undocumented use of the Internet or the work of another student (past or present)
4. For the philosophical aspects of your paper, you should use only texts assigned for this class. Do not use outside philosophy sources in your paper. You do not need them to succeed on your papers.
5. No papers will be accepted after other students' papers have been graded and returned to them.

Format:

You can submit your paper in the following formats: Microsoft Word (.docx), Portable Document Format (.pdf)

Framework/Outline for Papers 1

Since you have to use only four of the five philosophers we studied – your philosopher plus three critiques you then rebut – choose the four you best understand and exclude the one you least understand.

Structure:

Paragraph 1 – Thesis

Paragraph 2 – Argument

Paragraph 3 – Critique and Defense

Paragraph 4 – Critique and Defense

Paragraph 5 – Critique and Defense

Paragraph 6 – Conclusion

Detailed Structure:

Paragraph 1 – Thesis (the thesis states views of philosophers you might have argued and didn’t, and states the view of the philosopher you will argue)

• You don’t need to write some sort of attention grabber or some elaborate explanation of your topic or what’s going on with your topic. That information will come out through the essay itself when appropriate.
• Organize this paragraph by stating the various philosophical arguments about your topic. This could be a paragraph made up of the various argument topic sentences you have already written for each of the philosophers. If you approach the paragraph this way, you may want to edit what you wrote to make the sentences more clear and concise.
• Though, for the purpose of the thesis paragraph, you could narrow the focus to who each philosopher would say should have power and what they should do with power, or you could narrow the focus to what each philosopher thinks would be a just approach to determining power over your topic.
• Also, at the end of the paragraph, you should indicate the perspective you’ll use to make your argument.
• For example, you could write: Philosopher A argues that [-------] ought to have power to solve [issue x] by doing y. Philosopher B, on the other hand, asserts that [-------] ought to have the power to solve [issue x] by doing z. Philosopher C argues the best way to solve [issue x] is to empower [--------] to do v. In light of the range of political options considered this semester, Philosopher D provides the best political approach to solving [issue x].

Paragraph 2 – Argument (this paragraph is where you make your argument)

• Your first sentence in this paragraph should be your argument Topic Sentence. You have written drafts of these for each philosopher when you answered the daily in class topic sentences (who should have power and how should they use it to solve (deal with) the issue in your life? Why should they have power (that is, what definition of justice are you using)?. You may use one of those sentences (consider editing it to improve clarity and concision)
  • Because you addressed both justice and power in your topic sentence, you must address both justice and power in the paragraph. You may do power first or justice first. That’s up to you. This outline starts with power
• Following the topic sentence, you need a sentence to show what power means in terms of your topic. Provide a hypothetical or real-world example of power, who ought to have power and what is done with power to solve/deal with your issue. Show what it looks like to apply the theory’s notion of power to your topic in practice, either with a hypothetical example or with a real example of how power ought to be organized and used.
• Next, to show that you properly applied the concept of power to your topic include a quotation about power from your philosopher. This is textual evidence to show that you are properly interpreting and using the philosophy. Because the philosopher may say exactly what you want him or her to say, you may not need to explain or interpret the quotation. However, if you feel the quotation could be made more clear or its application to your topic could be more clear, you may provide a brief explanation.
• Now that you’ve made the power part of your argument, you need to make the justice part of your argument. The next sentence should specifically explain why the example used to show how power ought to work is a just approach to your issue due to the concepts and values provided by the philosopher you’re arguing were followed. Show why the philosophy’s approach to your topic in practice is justice by applying the concepts to your example.
• Next, to show that you properly applied the concept of justice to your topic, now include a quotation about justice from your philosopher. This is textual evidence to show that you are properly interpreting and using the philosophy. Because the philosopher may say exactly what you want him or her to say, you may not need to explain or interpret the quotation. However, if you feel the quotation could be made more clear or how it applies could be made clear, you may provide a brief explanation.
• Finally, conclude the argument paragraph. Reiterate the main reason why this is the best political approach to your topic.

Paragraphs 3-5 – Critique and Defense (in each of these paragraphs, you will present the other philosophers’ best critiques of your argument and you will defend your argument against each of those critiques

• Start this paragraph with your critique sentence. You have practiced writing these when you were asked to use one philosopher to critique, criticize or find a problem with another philosopher’s argument. You may use one of those sentences if you have one that fits (consider editing it to improve clarity and concision). If you don't have one already written, use what you learned writing those to write one that is relevant to the critique you want to make.
• Next, provide a hypothetical or a real-world example that shows why the critiquing philosopher is concerned, worried about, or afraid about the argument you used about your topic in your argument paragraph. With a hypothetical example or a real-world example, show what problem the critiquing philosopher thinks might arise regarding your topic if things are approached as you argued in your argument. You may focus on the problem with the power piece of your argument, or the justice piece, or some combination.
• After the example, to show that you properly applied the philosophy when making your critique, now include a quotation from the critiquing philosopher that supports the critique. This is textual evidence to show that you are properly interpreting and using the philosophy to address the issue. Because the philosopher may say exactly what you want him or her to say, you may not need to explain or interpret the quotation. However, if you feel the quotation could be made more clear or its application to your topic could be more clear, you may provide a brief explanation.
• Following the critique, defend your argument against the critique that was just made. State why your argument holds up against that critique or why the hypothetical/example used to support the critique undervalues or misunderstands the true and good political implication of your argument. You might even use a counterexample to make or support your point.
• Then, to show that you properly applied the philosophy when defending your argument, now include a quotation from your philosopher that supports your defense. This is textual evidence to show that you are properly interpreting and using the philosophy. Because the philosopher may say exactly what you want him or her to say, you may not need to explain or interpret the quotation. However, if you feel the quotation could be made more clear or its application to your topic could be more clear, you may provide a brief explanation.
• Finally, conclude the paragraph. Reiterate why your argument holds up against the critique just made

Do two more of these paragraphs with two other philosophers.

Paragraph 6 – Conclusion paragraph

• In a few sentences, briefly note your primary argument, some of the key critiques, and why your position withstands critique and holds up as a strong argument argument

the quotations in your paper, which must come from the course textbook, must be cited with page numbers from the textbook. Before submitting your paper, please make sure you did that. If you did not, then do not yet submit the paper. Instead, before submitting the paper, insert the page numbers from where the quotation can be found in the textbook. If you do not include page numbers you will receive no more than 1 point on the paper.

As a reminder, the following can be found on page 3 of the syllabus:

"Text: Cohen, Mitchell, ed., Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts From Plato to Populism, 2nd ed., Princeton University Press, 2018 • You can purchase a paper or electronic copy of this text. However, if you purchase the electronic copy be sure to purchase one that provides pagination information corresponding to the print edition.

•Please make sure you purchase the 2ndedition. It includes readings that we will be using in this class and are not included in the 1st edition"

example topic sentences:

Criticism of Hobbes: Because humans are naturally born with rationale and the natural ability to gauge moral decisions, an authority figure shouldn’t be necessary to decide what you need best to manage your mental health. When you put the power to decide what you do to manage your mental health in another’s hands, you are giving them permission to potentially lead you astray to sabotage you or benefit themselves.

Hobbes would argue that if I wanted to manage my mental health without becoming overwhelmed or distracted by the never ending alternative options, it would be best to give control over my mental health management to a psychiatric professional and follow their guidance.