For the final assignment of this course, you are asked to think and write about two philosophers (or philosophical approaches or schools of thought) we have studied during the course:
- Choose one philosopher (or school of thought) whose ideas, theories, and methods of argumentation most resemble your ideas, beliefs, and methods of reasoning in relation to a particular philosophical issue; and
- Choose one philosopher (or school of thought) whose whose ideas, theories, and methods of argumentation least resemble your ideas, beliefs, and methods of reasoning methods of reasoning in relation to a particular philosophical issue.
- In each case, explain why. This will serve as an argument or rationale for your position on the issue(s).
Your task is to analyze and assess the views in question with the main purpose of examining and coming to a fuller understanding of your own position on the philosophical issue(s) and related concepts in play. Here are just some of the issues (broadly described) that have been covered in the course:
- the qualities and character of a morally good human life
The easiest and most coherent approach would be to focus on two thinkers who hold different views or advance different theories about a single topic, on which you will then weigh in. However, you may also choose to look at two different topic areas and discuss how and why you agree with a philosopher or philosophical school of thought on an issue within one topic area and then discuss how and why you disagree with a philosopher or philosophical school of thought on an issue within a different topic area. If you’re in doubt about which issue(s) you want to write about, please consult your instructor for additional guidance.
Your project should cite at least four (4) sources from course content and be no fewer than 1000 words; you are certainly welcome to write more but keep the upper limit below 2500 words. You may, of course, use the first-person voice. And don’t forget to review how to use critical thinking in your analytical essay: Using Critical Thinking in Your Academic Research Paper
Please remember to view the grading rubric for this assignment both before you begin your work and again before submitting it for a grade: PHL 100 Final Project Grading Rubric
This analytical essay should be as much about you as it is about the philosophical thinkers in question.