Metaphysics Term Paper Requirements

Write a 7-11 page paper on one of the readings listed here. Your paper can also discuss articles we’ve read in class or even other outside articles, but part of the exercise is to figure out and clearly lay out an argument we haven’t already considered. Normal formatting should be used (double spacing, 1” margins, etc.), and only put the last four digits of your student ID number on the paper rather than your name. A draft of the paper is due Tuesday, December 2. I will return papers with comments. If you wish, you may submit a revised version, due Tuesday, December 16. If you turn in a revised paper, 25% of the term paper grade will be that of the first version and the other 75% will be the better of the two grades.

A philosophy paper is an argument – keep this in mind when writing the paper. Here are some common sorts of papers:

a) Present Mr. Peacock’s argument for X, and then show why the argument fails.

b) Present Mr. Peacock’s argument for X and Mrs. Plum’s attack on it and then defend Peacock’s view by showing how Plum’s attack fails.

c) Present Mr. Peacock’s argument for X, argue that it fails, and present an alternative view or modification of Peacock’s view which resists your counter-argument.

In general, though, at least half of your paper should consist of your exposition of someone else’s argument (an argument that we haven't already covered in class), laying things out as carefully and clearly as possible, and the remainder of your paper should be your original contribution (typically some critical comments). In the first part, though, don’t just give a book report about everything the author says. Some of the things she says may be unimportant for your purposes. She may give multiple arguments for X, in which case it might be better to focus in on one or two rather than giving just a cursory overview of all of them. Or she may consider several objections to her view that are unimportant for your argument since you agree with her that the objections don’t work. For a more thorough description of what is wanted in a philosophy paper, click here to see James Pryor's description.

I encourage you to use me as a resource in creating your paper, either by discussing your ideas with me ahead of time and/or showing me a rough draft (or even preliminary notes) of your paper for me to comment on. I will give you feedback which should improve your grade substantially!