Overview
With reference to the text, lecture, or both, reconstruct John Paul’s argument against abortion.
In the light of the Abortion and the Bible lecture, which premise is the most controversial?
Please complete the following elements:
1. a. What is Pope John Paul II's Conclusion?
b. What are Pope John Paul II's premise(s) in support of his conclusion (please note: an argument can have only one premise)?
c. Where do you see evidence of (a) and (b) in the text (find a quotation or citation and explain its meaning)?
2. a. What is the most controversial premise in Pope John Paul II's argument?
b. Explain why this premise is controversial and why it makes the Pope's argument problematic. (you may need to review course lecture material to respond to this question)
Assignment 6 requires you to identify the premise(s) and conclusion from the argument of another which is a philosophical writing skill called argument reconstruction. This is an essential skill for the final paper section 'Received View/Reconstruction,' where you reconstruct the argument from an author/theorist we have read in class. Additionally, you are asked to critically evaluate this argument which is a skill you will need to complete the 'Analysis' and 'Objection/Reply' sections of your final paper, where you scrutinize both the arguments of others and your own views.
A6 submissions will be assessed in accordance with the General Grading Rubric for Written Assignments presented in the Course Syllabus and the A6 Guidelines and Scoring Rubric (see below).
Assignment 6 Guidelines and Scoring Rubric
Scores: This assignment is worth up to 50 course points, where
50/50 is equivalent to 100%, i.e., A+; 48/50 is equivalent to 96%, i.e., A; 46/50 is equivalent to 92%, i.e., A-; 44/50 is equivalent to 88%, i.e., B+; 42/50 is equivalent to 84%, i.e., B; and 40/50 is equivalent to 80%, i.e., B-. 38/50 is equivalent to 76%, i.e., C; 36/50 is equivalent to 72%, i.e., C-; 34/50 is equivalent to 68%, i.e., D+; 32/50 is equivalent to 64%, i.e., D; 30/50 is equivalent to 60%, i.e., D-; and <30/50 is equivalent to <60%, i.e., F.
Scores will be assessed on the basis of five criteria with criteria (1) and (2) being the major criteria.
1. Reconstruction of PJPII’s argument against abortion… An argument is a group of statements one of which (the conclusion) is claimed to follow from the others (the premises). An argument reconstruction brings explicit attention to the conclusion as well as the statements that are given in support of the conclusion (these are the premises). Reconstructions of PJPII’s main argument should refer to the text for each premise and for the conclusion. You may find guidance back to the text in the lecture, but references to the text are preferred;
2. Explanation of which premise or premises are most controversial… When we evaluate an argument, we evaluate (i) whether or not the premises do, in fact, support the conclusion in the way they are claimed to, and (ii) whether or not the premises are true (sometimes they themselves require support and can be conclusions of other arguments). For A6, we are focusing on (ii). Bring attention to the premise or premises that are the most controversial, whether or not they are blatantly false. Here again, you may get guidance from the lecture, but refer to the text if possible.
3. Sufficiently developed, clear, grammatically correct writing;
4. Effective use of references. Please include a page reference, e.g., (PJPII, 330), each time you use or mention words or ideas from the reading. Please, also, use a reference whenever using or mentioning the words or ideas from the film or the lecture, e.g., (Abortion and the Bible Lecture, Part II). And, in the event that you use or mention the words or ideas from any other sources (which is discouraged strongly for this particular assignment), please include either a page reference similar to the one given above or as informative of a reference as is possible given the source being used or mentioned; and
5. Inclusion of full bibliographical information for any work cited in-text at the end of your assignment in a list of works cited.