PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON (IBL)

PAPER ASSIGNMENTS

FALL 2006

PAPER #1--GROUP PAPER ON SHIP OF THESEUS

1. FIND your group.
2. READ the Ship of Theseus problem/question.
3. Decide on an answer.
4. Formulate a justification/defense of your answer.
5. Explain why the other answers are incorrect.
6. The point of this paper is for you to reflect on the issues involved in the problem of personal identity.

PAPER #2--SECOND THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

1. FIND your group
2. CHOOSE a thought experiment.
3. Explain what the problem/question is.
4. Formulate your answer.
5. Present your argument in support of your answer.
6. Critically evaluate your argument.
7. Conclude by saying why you have the correct answer.
8. The point of this paper is for you to think about the problem of personal identity and defend a particular solution to the problem.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON (IBL)

DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING PAPERS

1. FIRST PAGE

*Title of paper at top in center/middle of page

*Your name

*Paper number (i.e., Paper #1)

2. INTRODUCTION

*Begin by stating your objective/purpose

*(i.e., The purpose of this paper is ...)

*Say why you THINK this is an important topic/ question

*Explain what you are going to do/show in the paper

3. MAKE YOUR CASE

*Present your evidence/set up/lay out your argument(s)

*i.e., Plato thinks that Socrates is NOT a Sophist BECAUSE:

P1--If a Sophist, Then Lots of $$$

P2--~(Lots of $$$)

C--S0 ~ a Sophist

*REMEMBER--you are trying to justify what you believe

4. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE ARGUMENT(S)

*State what kind of argument it is

*(i.e., Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Induction, Disjunction)

*Check its validity/strength

*Explain why its PREMISES are TRUE or FALSE

*Any counter-examples???

*Say what you THINK about the argument(s)

5. CONCLUSION

*Say what you have done/shown

*(i.e., This paper has shown that ...)

NOTE: GRAMMATICAL & MECHANICAL MISTAKES COUNT!!

3 OR MORE WILL RESULT IN A FULL GRADE REDUCTION!!