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This is an open-book, open-notes, short-essay exam; you may discuss the questions with your classmates, but you may not collaborate on crafting the language of the essays. Also you may not copy or paraphrase each other’s written answers. -Your answers should be typed in a normal font, double-spaced, and between 3-4 pages per essay. -The emphasis is on clarity, conciseness, and thoroughness. I recommend strongly that you adhere to the length restriction, as shorter or longer answers defeat the purpose of the exercise.
Give yourselves plenty of time to work through the questions. -Avoid text-free interpretations, and any published source (this includes the internet) must be cited in a coherent and consistent manner. Do not use Wisped as a cited source. -Make sure you write your name and the title of the course on the first page. -Grammatical errors will be penalized severely. For assistance, contact the Learning Assistance Center, located at HAS 348. Their phone number is x81993. -The essays are due by noon, Friday, May 24th. Late essays will not be accepted.
Essay Prompts: 1 . (30 points) How might Aristotle concept of Karakas constitute an objection to Socrates’ ethical intellectualism? Do you agree that Socrates ethical position is vulnerable to an objection from karakas? The answer to this question is your thesis; defend it. Be sure to explain the Socratic claim that Virtue is knowledge’ using McDowell Virtue and Reason”. How is this claim developed by Aristotle so as to address the problem of karakas (I. E. , the weakness of the will)? Be sure to explain karakas before you begin utilizing the term.
Your answer must draw from relevant excerpts from Plat’s Memo, McDowell Virtue and Reason,” and Aristotle Mechanical Ethics (available on learn). (40 points) How does Nietzsche overran compare to Murderous “unseen-De” person? Defend your thesis. In the opening sections of Thus Spoke Caruthers, Nietzsche complains of the animally of human beings. To address that concern, Nietzsche protagonist, Caruthers, in his first speech: “On the Three Metamorphoses,” proposes a program of improving human beings through a three- step transformation process, from the beast to the overran.
Iris Morocco in Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts,” argues that great art can facilitate an “unsealing” that draws us out of our absorption in “the mess of the selfish empirical psyche” and brings us to a state of virtuous consciousness. The measure of virtuous consciousness is our ability to get at the real. Be sure to draw out the comparisons and distinctions between Nietzsche metamorphoses and Murderous unsealing process. (30 points) Discuss the meta-ethical solutions given by John McDowell in “Non-Cosmogonist and Rule-Following. ” McDowell modus operandi is to navigate teen two problematic “horns of a dilemma. In this article, between which two problematic positions is McDowell attempting to navigate? Explain each of these “horns” thoroughly, including why each is an inadequate solution. What is ultimately McDowell solution, and is it, in your opinion successful? The answer to this question will be your thesis. 3. Grading Explanation: To help everyone understand how we will evaluate the assignment, we will follow the same pattern as the midterm extra-credit essay. As you recall, the breakdown of points is divided into two categories: (I) understanding the assignment and (II) understanding the material.
These are further divided into subcategories. An explanation of the categories and subcategories will be given after the breakdown. L. Understanding the assignment is a general category that is the same for each essay and will be graded according to how well the essays follow the instructions for the assignment. Here are the details for the subcategories: 1. Thesis (up to -5 for each essay) – to receive full points, the thesis needs to: A. Be included in the introduction AND the conclusion B. Address the elevate parts of the essay prompt: C. Be clear, precise, and succinct 2.
Argument for the thesis (up to -10 for each essay) to receive full points, the essay needs A. An argument for the thesis (see the links below if you’re unfamiliar with what an argument is). B. A brief outline of the argument in the introduction AND summary of the argument in the conclusion 3. Citations (up to -5 for each essay) – To receive full points, the essay needs to A. Refer to textual evidence (I. E. Give proper citations) for all claims made about the text. I. Source and page references for quotations and rephrases. I’. Explain any quotation or paraphrased idea; explain why you chose to use it.
B. Mention the titles of the works and their authors. C. Adhere consistently to a citation style. 4. Grammar (up to -5 for each essay) – Points will be deducted for serious grammatical errors that interfere with readability. Good grammar is one of the minimum requirements for a good paper. No matter how good your ideas are, they must be clearly communicated to hold weight. 5. General essay format (up to -5 for each essay) – A philosophy paper should have 1) your name, course title, and date Leary posted at the top of the first page. 2) title for your essay, something that will reflect your topic. ) page numbers. 4) have an introduction with thesis, defense of your thesis where you show command of the content, potential objection to your thesis, your rebuttal/response to that objection, and conclusion with your thesis restated. II. Understanding the material. This category will be graded according to how well the paper explains the basic concepts involved in the particular essay question. Below is a breakdown of concepts and points for each essay: Essay 1: 1. The Karmic (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Scribe the karmic generally. B. Specify the description using an example. 2. Socratic Intellectualism (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Describe Socratic intellectualism generally, drawing on McDowell Virtue and Reason” and Plat’s Memo. B. Specify the description using an example. 3. Contrast These Positions (up to -5) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Thoroughly describe how these positions relate to one another. B. Adjudicate these positions and their potential espouses to one another 3 Essay 2: 1 .
Man’s Transformation from Beast and Overran (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Describe the problematic of human animally generally. B. Specify the description using an example. C. Identify Nietzsche solution by explaining each stage in the metamorphoses, and how each progresses one toward the status of overran. 2. Iris Murderous Unsealing and the State of Virtuous Consciousness (up to -10) A. Define “unsealing” and explain its import in relation to virtue. B. Explain some of the methods that Morocco suggests can induce unsealing. Compare and Contrast (up to -5) – to receive full points, this section needs to identify what the two processes and their aims have in common. A. Be sure to provide your own analysis of the points of comparison, do not Just list them. B. As these two views are not identical, be sure to explicate at least one significant distinction. Essay 3: 1. Moral Platonism (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Describe the type of position that McDowell refers to as “moral Platonism. B. Specify the description using an example. C. Lariat what McDowell find unsatisfactory about these positions. 2. Non-Cosmogonist (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Describe the Non-Cognitive meta-ethical position. B. Clarify what McDowell find unsatisfactory about this type of position. 3. Naturalized Platonism (up to -10) – to receive full points, this section needs to A. Explain this position as McDowell presents it. B. Explain how this position is an intermediary between the former two. Hopefully this breakdown clearly explains where and how points will be counted for the paper. Please refer to this handout as needed.
Here re links to sources for further help: Bumps, Ann – Writing the Philosophy Paper – a quick overview of how to write a philosophy paper Promote, Douglas W. – Tips on Writing a Philosophy Paper – a much more in-depth guide to writing a philosophy paper (NOTE: there are several links to other guides on writing philosophy at the end of this article) Prior, Jim – Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper – another good overview of philosophy paper writing, including planning and rewriting tips The Little Brown Handbook Guide to Citation – there are sample essays with examples of how to properly cite sources