Phil paperrr 3

Paper 3 Topic

 

In the Meditations, Descartes attempts to ground all knowledge on an individual’s rational capacities. Demonstrate how Descartes does this by addressing  each  of the following in your paper:

1. Explain how Descartes’s dream argument and evil deceiver argument challenges an individual’s ability to know.    

2. Explain how Descartes uses these doubt arguments to establish the necessity of the “thinking I.” Do you believe that Descartes is successful in overcoming the challenges in section 1 (i.e. the previous #1). Defend you conclusion.

Your paper should be 1-2 full pages double-spaced with standard margins. The paper is due Tuesday, November 23nd by midnight (NOTE: This is an extended deadline). LATE PAPERS will not be accepted. Papers will only be accepted if submitted through the TurnItIn Paper 3 Link in the Course Content section of Blackboard (Your name on the paper is all that is required since you will be submitting electronically. A lengthy paper header is not required.) Please consult the syllabus for additional paper requirements and for the grading rubric for assigned papers in the course. To submit the paper, go to the Course Content section of Blackboard and upload an appropriate file (.doc or .pdf) via TurnItIn Assignments Paper 3 link.   

Note: extensive use of secondary sources in your paper is discouraged and will result in a lower grade. Engagement and analysis of the primary texts (i.e. the pdfs provided for free by the course) is expected in the paper. Citing lengthy primary text quotes without thorough explanation does not constitute engagement with the text. Additionally, papers will be checked for plagiarism. It is your responsibility to make sure your paper is free of copied and improperly cited material. Citation of the primary text does not have to follow rigorously the MLA or Chicago standards, since the readings were provided as free pdfs. For example, you can cite a passage with the (author, page number) format. Finally, there will be an Argumentation video posted in the Course Content section of the Blackboard, which explains how to construct an argument. Your paper should be written following its guidance; you should have a thesis which you propose and defend with logic/analysis in your paper.