Select just one of the following topics.
1. Look only at the Euthyphro. Socrates says that piety and justice might be like fear and shame. In what way does he say that the two might be alike? Read the entire text. He suggests that the two concepts – fear and shame – come apart. In what ways do they do so? Cite the text to support your claims. Then, relate the discussion of fear and shame back to the discussion of piety and justice. What does Socrates want to say about these ideas?
2. HCC says the following: “We will be the opportunity institution for
every student we serve – essential to our community’s success.” Broadly
– and incompletely – ‘success’ can be interpreted in two ways here.
What might they be? Is there a notion of ‘success’ that our community
could achieve that is somehow not worth achieving?
Use the ideas from Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham to explicate the
two potential meanings of ‘success’. Then, explain how those meanings
might yield different interpretations of the passage quoted at the
beginning of this prompt. Which notion of ‘success’ is it proper for
us to seek to achieve? Or, is there one that it is proper for us to
seek to achieve? Defend your answer.
3. Bentham argues that happiness of individuals is the sole end to which legislators ought to consider. He also says that overall happiness is the only standard to which individuals ought to be made to adjust their behavior. If these statements are Bentham’s view, then what are the areas in which the individual should have freedom from legislation? Are there any? Use, among other things, Bentham’s 4 sanctions of pleasure and his utility calculus to answer this question.
Each of these topics requires about 4 to 5 pages of double-spaced writing. You should cite the text to help your interpretation.
The topics are constructed so that they do not require outside research. You can sit down with the relevant texts, your notes, and perhaps a cup of coffee, to work through the ideas and answer the questions. These are not research papers. They’re philosophy papers. Check out the sample term paper for an example of what that means. Note that the example is, like Socrates in the dialogues, your guide. You should look for its virtues and try to embody them as you construct your own paper.
The following identifies the factors I consider in grading papers. It also identifies how much weight I put on each factor.
Grading Rubric 1. Does this paper identify have a clear thesis? (5%)
2. Does this paper contain only relevant information? Are the
citations completed properly? (5%) 3. Does the paper attribute the
correct view to the philosophers in question? (10%) 4. Is/are the
philosopher’s view presented with the appropriate level of detail?
(For example, does the author explain concepts and arguments in a
tight manner, or are the arguments and concepts merely sketched?)
(25%) 5. Does the author present a clear argument in his/her
discussion? (15%) 6. Does the paper cohere? Or, is the paper a
hodgepodge of disparate ideas? (10%) 7. Does the conclusion tie
together the different phases of the paper? Or, is the conclusion a
non-sequitur? (5%) 8. Are the spelling, grammar and syntax on the
college level? (5%) 9. Does the author make appropriate and accurate
use of course concepts in constructing his or her discussion? (20%)
Intangibles: Is the paper on the assigned topic? Is it the author’s
own work?
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