Assignment Paper

Philosophy : Introduction to Philosophy Essay Assignment
Length: 800 words
This is an absolute limit: essays that exceed this limit will be penalized five percentage points. Please note that every word in your essay, however short, counts as a word. Endnotes, footnotes, and title matter will not be included in the word count, though in-text citations will be.
Value: 10 percent of final grade
Subject: Write a paper on one of the following topics:
1. David Benatar concludes that it is “not morally desirable” to bring children intoexistence. In your essay, outline (a) the argument that he provides for this conclusion, (b) in what way the argument depends on the crucial asymmetry between pain and pleasure, and (c) one objection to Benatar’s argument. (You may be in agreement with Benatar. To express your agreement you cannot simply say that you agree. Instead, you support Benatar by raising and then answering an objection that you or someone else has raised. In this case you have to discuss both a criticism and your reply.) At the outset of your essay be sure to tell the reader the question Benatar focusses on and the answer he provides to it. This will provide a segue into your discussion of Benatar’s argument.
2. Margaret Little argues that it is difficult to determine the morality or ethics of abortion because “it is very difficult to get a foothold on what expectations and claims we might press on behalf of the fetus.” In your essay, outline (a) Little’s argument for the quoted claim, (b) in what way the argument depends on a woman’s conception of the relationship she is in with her foetus, and (c) one objection to Little’s argument. In your essay be sure to make note of the so-called “layers” of parenthood to which Little refers and how they affect the responsibilities that a woman has to a foetus. (You may be in agreement with Little. To express your agreement you cannot simply say that you agree. Instead, you support Little by raising and then answering an objection that you or someone else has raised. In this case you have to discuss both a criticism and your reply.) At the outset of your essay be sure to tell the reader the question Little focusses on and what answer she provides to it. This will provide a segue into your discussion of Little’s argument.
The Function of Criticism: It is very important that your objection to Benatar or Little does not simply contradict what the author is saying; your criticism must confute the author, that is, establish that the author is in some way (at least putatively) wrong.
In a paper that aims just to raise a criticism, you raise just one criticism. In a paper that aims to reply to a criticism, the aim of the paper is to defend a position. In this case, your job is to outline the argument that concerns you, the criticism to which you plan to reply, and your reply. Your aim must be to show the reader how the position you have chosen to discuss can deflect the particular criticism that you outline.
Purpose: Develop the ability to identify, formulate and evaluate a position and the ability to write clearly and economically.
Guidelines:
1. Essays must be typed and double-spaced throughout. Do not submit essays with aseparate title page. Do not put your name on your essay. The title of your essay, name and number of the course, tutorial section, name of your TA, student number, and word count must be centred on the top of the first page of your essay as follows:
Better to Be than Not to Be?
Introduction to Philosophy: 1020
Tutorial Section: 12
TA: John Doe
251123456
Word Count: 800
2. Please save your electronic file as follows: yourstudentnumber essay 4 1020 yourTA’sinitials
20.docx
3. You are free (but not obliged) to use any further secondary sources you wish. Thereare a range of useful resources on the assigned topics. There are some excellent resources on the Web. Try the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The journals Ethics, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, Mind, and Utilitas, among others, contain philosophical discussions of every imaginable issue associated with the assigned topics. If all these resources prove inadequate to your needs, don’t hesitate to ask me or your teaching assistant for further suggestions.
4. For this assignment you will once again be writing the so-called “Luxury Essay”.You will therefore write in orthodox essay format. Your essay will include both an introductory paragraph and a conclusory paragraph. You must begin with an introductory paragraph providing an overview of your essay. In this introductory paragraph you must include a brief account of the issue with which you are concerned, the argument (position) you plan to focus on, and the criticism (or reply) you aim to defend respecting the argument (position) of concern to you. If you plan to defend an author (position) you should give an account of both the criticism that you discuss and your reply to it. It is imperative that you inform the reader in brief of the aim(s) of your essay. Devote the main portion of your essay to a substantive analysis of the argument or position that concerns you and your critical reaction to it (and, if appropriate, your reply). Devote your essay to the main things you must do (above). You must then finish with a closing paragraph summarizing your results. When you rely on ideas, arguments, or facts derived from secondary sources, you must acknowledge your debts in consecutively numbered footnotes or endnotes. In addition to your notes, you must also provide a bibliography listing all sources used, in alphabetical order by author. Any standard citation system for your notes (full biographical reference for the first citation followed by abbreviated reference thereafter, author-date format, etc.) is acceptable.