Areas Plato, Hume, Kant, and Russell: What is human knowledge? Is
there Truth? If so, what good is it? Bring in the Matrix, the Truman Show, or related
media. Kant, Mill, Aristotle, and Kierkegaard: What is the ethical life? What is it to be
a good person? Bring in the The Good Place, Seven Pounds, or related media.
Sartre, James, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is an authentic, autonomous
individual? Bring in Twelve Years a Slave, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, or
related media Descartes, Hume, Searle, and James: What is consciousness? Bring
in Star Trek Next Generation: Borg, Shutter Island, or related media Plato, Kant,
Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is truth? Bring in the Matrix, the Truman Show, or
related media. Plato, Descartes, Hume, and Nietzsche: What is the soul or self
(conceived as an entity that is purely mental, spiritual, or nonphysical)? Sartre,
James, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is the role and value of religious faith?
Bring in Amadeus, The Mission, or related media. Descartes, Kant, Sartre, and
Nietzsche: What is free will and why does it matter? Bring in Crash Course
Philosophy on Free WIll & Determinism, or related media. Socrates/Plato, Russell,
Sartre, and Nietzsche: What is the role and value of philosophy? Bring in Allan
Watts, Simone de Beauvoir, or Anthony Appiah.
Part II: Final Research Paper
This is your final draft, i.e., your finished version of the completed paper. Once again, here are the
guidelines for the paper: Final Research Paper: Detailed Guidelines Click for more options Final Research
Paper: Detailed Guidelines – Alternative Formats . Here is the Final Research Paper Rubric Click for more
options Final Research Paper Rubric – Alternative Formats that will be used in evaluating your assignment,
which is worth 20 points, weighted at 15% of your course grade.
Be sure your final draft includes:
1) An introduction that states the specific issue related to the general topic area to be addressed and a
clear thesis statement that either asserts your position on the stated issue (for the position paper strategy)
or your comparative thesis involving the four philosophers included in your selected topic area (for the
comparison essay strategy).
2) For the position paper strategy, the paper should have an objective summary of at least one opposing or
alternative view on the issue in question. (See above for where to locate this in the paper…you have some
choices.) For the comparison essay strategy, the paper should take account of possible objections to the
comparative thesis. Although you won’t be pursuing a complete exposition and rebuttal of such an
opposing view, it is important to note any significant oppositions or alternatives to the comparative thesis.
These should be dealt with in the section that presents the supporting evidence for the comparative thesis.
3) A fully developed line of argumentation in support of the thesis
4) A conclusion that drives home your main point and looks to the future.
5) Citations of at least four different course Required Readings used a sources. These must be cited both
in the text (near the location where the source is used or mentioned and in a separate works-cited page or
list of references.
6) Remember that the minimum word count is 1500 words. Any submission with fewer than 1350 words will
not be accepted as a completed assignment. The maximum word count is 2000 words, which you may
exceed only if it is essential to accomplish the purpose of the paper. Finally: DO NOT FORGET TO
PROOFREAD before submission!!
WATCH FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM PROF STARR IN ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THIS
ASSIGNMENT. HOW IT CAN BE FUN AND PRODUCTIVE AND CREATIVE AND BEST OF ALL,
SUCCESSFUL.
For your final research paper, you are asked to write a paper of 1700-words (minimum word count—any
paper more than 150 words short of this minimum will not be accepted as a complete paper) to 2000-words
(maximum word count—you may exceed this without penalty only if it is essential to attaining the purpose
of your paper). Your paper must cite the work of at least four philosophers studied during the course; there
is no upper limit on the number of sources you may use.
The assignment is broken into two parts. Part I is your PROPOSAL only. Please write 2-3 informal
paragraphs explaining which topic you are choosing to write your paper on, why you are interested in that,
which one or two Philosophers you think you will focus on, and how you will give the paper your stamp of
originality, by bringing in popular media and/or current events. Also, please include a statement verifying
that you will do all your own work, will document your sources thoroughly and will write the paper in the first
person voice. Also include in Part I a “working” title and an informal list of possible sources. Please DO
NOT turn in the first few paragraphs of your paper for your PROPOSAL. EXPLAIN what you plan to cover
in ALL of it. This will be due at the beginning of the last week of class so that the instructor can give you
feedback on your thesis before the final version is due. You will be able to change your thesis and revise
your sources for the final version; treat this as a “rough draft” of the introduction of your paper. Part II is the
finished, final version of the paper. It will be due on the last day of class.
Please click on the title link above, “Final Research Paper,” to access the assignment module where you
can submit both Part I and Part II of this assignment. Once you are on that page, click on the title links to
access the submission page where you may browse for and upload your document.
Read more detailed assignment guidelines here: Final Research Paper: Detailed Guidelines Click for more
options Accessibility score: High Click to improve – Alternative Formats Click for more options – Alternative
Formats Click for more options Final Research Paper: Detailed Guidelines – Alternative FormatsYou have the option of writing a position paper or a comparison essay, depending on whether your plan is
to argue in favor of an original position regarding the work and thought of at least four philosophers covered
in the course or to comparatively evaluate the work of four or more philosophers. The topics below may be
approached using either strategy; you may find that some will better lend themselves to a position paper
(also known as an argumentative essay) and some will work better as a comparison essay. Choose the
topic that most interests you and the strategy that works best for you.
Topic Areas
Plato, Hume, Kant, and Russell: What is human knowledge? Is there Truth? If so, what good is it? Bring in
the Matrix, the Truman Show, or related media.
Kant, Mill, Aristotle, and Kierkegaard: What is the ethical life? What is it to be a good person? Bring in the
The Good Place, Seven Pounds, or related media.
Sartre, James, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is an authentic, autonomous individual? Bring in Twelve
Years a Slave, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, or related media
Descartes, Hume, Searle, and James: What is consciousness? Bring in Star Trek Next Generation: Borg,
Shutter Island, or related media
Plato, Kant, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is truth? Bring in the Matrix, the Truman Show, or related
media.
Plato, Descartes, Hume, and Nietzsche: What is the soul or self (conceived as an entity that is purely
mental, spiritual, or nonphysical)?
Sartre, James, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche: What is the role and value of religious faith? Bring in Amadeus,
The Mission, or related media.
Descartes, Kant, Sartre, and Nietzsche: What is free will and why does it matter? Bring in Crash Course
Philosophy on Free WIll & Determinism, or related media.
Socrates/Plato, Russell, Sartre, and Nietzsche: What is the role and value of philosophy? Bring in Allan
Watts, Simone de Beauvoir, or Anthony Appiah.