Philosophy ethic
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20.WritingPhilosophyEssays.pptx
Writing Philosophy Essays
Philosophy Essays: General Structure
Writing a philosophy essay is not radically different from writing other academic essays.
Fundamentally, you’ll be required to:
Formulate a thesis statement.
Defend the thesis using evidence from the text and your own reasoning.
Introduction
Exposition
Argument for thesis
Conclusion
The 3 Virtues of a Good Philosophy Paper: The 3 C’s
Charity
Interpreting the author(s) so that their argument is compelling
Clarity
The quality of being clear, lucid, coherent, intelligible, easy to understand
Cogency
The quality of being logical, convincing, persuasive
The Introduction
Orients the reader
Generates interest in the topic
Presents the thesis
Be concise and economical! (~5-6 sentences)
The Body Paragraph(s)
Explains background information necessary for the thesis argument
Offers the argument for thesis; provides evidence for the thesis
Relates back to the thesis (may not do so explicitly, but the connection should be obvious)
The Conclusion
Summarizes the thesis and argument
Optional: give the reader something further to ponder
Philosophy Essays: Component Overview
The Introduction
The Intro (CSC)
The introduction should familiarize the reader with the topic in a general way and state the thesis.
Aim for 1/2 page in length.
A good approach to writing introductions is the CSC method, as described in Moore and Cassel (2010), Techniques for College Writing.
Context Subject Claim
CSC—Context, Subject, Claim
Context: the frame of reference; establishes the boundaries of your paper topic (e.g., ethics).
Subject: the central topic (what the paper is about); narrows the focus of the context to a specific issue (e.g., utilitarianism).
Claim: the thesis; a point of view or specific interpretation of the subject; the argument of the paper, what it aims to establish (e.g., I will argue that the Greatest Happiness Principle is plausible).
Context Subject Claim
Apply CSC to the Prompt [In groups]
1. Highlight and discuss the key concepts in the essay prompt.
2. Identify the topic question the prompt is asking you to answer.
3. Identify the prompt’s context and subject.
4. Formulate a claim/thesis statement that connects to the topic question. Discuss your claim/thesis with others in your group.
Apply CSC to the Prompt [In groups]
Highlight and discuss the key concepts in the essay prompt.
The aesthetic, ethical, and religious ways of life; Abraham’s trial; faith; paradox of will or RI/EI; ethical and absolute duties; tragic hero; aesthetic individual; justification.
2. Identify the topic question the prompt is asking you to answer.
Is the highest goal or purpose of human life to live ethically?
3. Identify the prompt’s context and subject.
Context = Abraham’s trial or the conflict between ethical and absolute duties; Subject = the justification of transgressing ethical norms.
4. Formulate a claim/thesis.
Example 1: “In this paper, I will argue that our highest duties are/are not ethical, and so Abraham was/was not justified.”
Example 2: In this paper, I will argue that absolute duties do not exist, and so one is never justified in transgressing ethical duties for the sake of an absolute duty.”
Requirements for an Effective Claim
1) Clarity
The position you’re defending should make sense to a reader who knows nothing about the topic.
Avoid ambiguous or vague phrasing.
State exactly what you mean as concisely as possible.
Avoid technical terms unless they will be explained in the paper.
Don't be afraid to use the first-person pronoun when presenting your thesis. "I will argue X…" is a perfectly fine and direct way to get your point across.
2) Arguability
3) Must clearly address the prompt’s topic question.
Example Intro
The Body Paragraphs
Exposition and Argument for Thesis
Body Paragraph Structure: TAXES
Topic sentence: a sentence that states the ONE point the paragraph will make
Assertions: statements that present ideas
eXample(s): textual evidence, general facts, personal anecdotes, reasons in favor of T or A
Explanation: commentary/analysis that shows how the examples support your topic sentence; in short: reasoning***
Significance: commentary that shows how the paragraph supports the thesis statement or topic sentence
Topic Sentence
Discussion of evidence/reasons
Significance
Example of TAXES
Thrasymachus believes that just persons do not benefit from paying their taxes, but this reasoning is flawed. While it’s certainly true that a person who pays her taxes forfeits her money and so suffers a loss, this does not show that she does not benefit in other ways. For instance, in most cases property taxes go toward supporting public services, like schools, and so if the taxpayer has a child in a public school, she benefits from paying those taxes indirectly in the form of the child’s education. Citizens also benefit from paying taxes in other ways. Without taxes, there would be no money for public services like roads, sanitation systems, utilities, or a police force. Therefore, persons who pay their taxes are not always disadvantaged by doing so, even if they receive no monetary refund, since the money they lose goes toward services they benefit from. Without further qualification, Thrasymachus’ contention that the unjust person who cheats on her taxes always benefits more than the just person who pays them is untrue.
Caution about TAXES
TAXES is a useful guide but do not get into the habit of thinking:
1) Every body paragraph must be five sentences.
2) Every component of TAXES must be used (especially S).
Writing is an art, not an exact science.
There are many ways to organize a paper and a body paragraph effectively!
Topic Sentence
Reasons/Evidence
Analysis
Conclusion
Evidence: Citing
Provide evidence by citing from the primary text.
Aim for at least one citation in each body paragraph.
What should I cite?
Direct quotes from the author.
Paraphrases of the author’s view.
Summaries of the author’s view.
In short: any attribution made to the author.
How do I cite in-text?
(Author’s name, page #).
Works Cited and PowerPoint Citations
Reference:
Descartes, Rene. 2003. “Animals are Machines.” In Armstrong and Botzler, ed., Environmental Ethics: Divergence and Convergence. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Citing PowerPoints from lecture:
Snelson, Avery. 2022. Title of PowerPoint [PowerPoint Slides]. Department of Philosophy, Seattle University, Seattle. URL
If more than one PowerPoint referenced:
Snelson, Avery. 2022a. Title of PowerPoint [PowerPoint Slides]. Department of Philosophy, Seattle University, Seattle. URL
Snelson, Avery. 2022b. Title of PowerPoint [PowerPoint Slides]. Department of Philosophy, Seattle University, Seattle. URL
In-text citation:
(Descartes, 275).
Evidence: Quoting
When should I quote?
To present and unpack technical concepts (Important in philosophy!).
To affirm and provide evidence of your statements or attributions.
To capture the language of an expert who made the point well.
To present a dissenting view (esp. if you’re about to critique it).
When you do quote …
Provide introductory commentary.
Provide explanation/analysis of what the quote is saying and why it’s significant (if the significance is not obvious).
Alter the quote to make it grammatical with the statements immediately surrounding it (e.g., make tense and subject and verb agree). Use [brackets] to include new elements and ellipses … to omit.
Transitions
Transitions are statements that link ideas between sentences or paragraphs by relating those ideas to what came before.
Effective transitions make your paper flow better and easier to read.
By “connecting the dots” (as it were) re: the logic/structure of your paper.
You might consider connecting the last sentence of your previous paragraph to the next one like this.
Concluding statement of paragraph: “Therefore, according to the conventional view, justice is good for its consequences but not for its own sake.”
Beginning statement of next paragraph: “In order for Socrates to refute the conventional view, he must argue that justice is valuable for its own sake. He first does this by arguing that the soul has parts...”
Word Choice
Word choice is very important!
Eloquence is great, but make sure you know the definition of the word you use and that it makes sense in the context!
Caution about synonym tool in word processors.
An example from a student paper:
“Nietzsche’s theory of the evolution of morality suggests that over time humans evolutionized the concept of morality in an attempt to secure their own well-being.”
Why is this word choice sub-optimal?
First, “evolutionized” is not a word.
Secondly, even if it were a word, it’s not the sort of thing humans do.
Evolution by natural selection is something that occurs, naturally, without human interference. The student writes as if “evolutionizing” is a human action.
Better: “Nietzsche’s theory of the evolution of morality suggests that morality evolved to secure the well-being of individuals.”
Things to avoid
Plagiarism
Presenting another author’s words or ideas as your own.
Avoid by citing, reformulating in your own words.
Mere summary
You want to reproduce the author’s reasoning, not merely what he/she said. In philosophy essays, we don’t care so much about what an author said, but why they said it.
Avoid mere attributions like “Socrates says” or “Glaucon says.” Try instead: “Socrates claims this because … “
Relate ideas/concepts instead of claims (e.g., intrinsic and instrumental value, direct and indirect duties, welfare interests).
Outlining Your Paper
Outlining your paper
The following slides offer example outlines for the body paragraphs of your essay. These are just suggestions—you can organize your essay however you like!
The top box is a main topic you will need to discuss. Each subtopic is a topic idea/paragraph elaborating on the main topic.
Topic 1
Topic 3
Topic 2
Topic 4
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
First Pass– What main topics should be discussed in the paper? (See “key concepts” from earlier and “grasp of the material” under “assessment criteria” on the prompt). Consider which topics work best as main topics and which work best as subtopics.
Topic 1
Topic 3
Topic 2
Topic 4
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Example—What main topics should be discussed in the paper?
Did your main topics differ? How so? Discuss.
Abraham’s Trial & Faith
Defense of Thesis
Analysis of Ethical and Absolute Duties
Second Pass—What are the subtopics, the topic ideas of each paragraph? [Discuss]
Abraham’s Trial & Faith
?
?
Defense of Thesis
Analysis of Ethical and Absolute Duties
?
?
?
?
Example 1—What are the subtopics, the topic ideas of each paragraph? [Example]
Did your subtopics differ? How so? Discuss.
Abraham’s Trial & Faith
EI/RI
or
Paradox of Will
Not a tragic hero/ethical life
Defense of Thesis
Analysis of Ethical and Absolute Duties
Application to Abraham to show he is justified
Not the aesthetic individual/aesthetic life
Personal example of ethical reasons being legitimately overridden
Faith/religious life
Example 2—What are the subtopics, the topic ideas of each paragraph? [Example]
Did your subtopics differ? How so? Discuss.
Abraham’s Trial & Faith
3 Ways of Life
Not a tragic hero
Defense of Thesis
Analysis of Ethical and Absolute Duties
Consider an objection
Not the aesthetic individual
Abraham is not justified
Abraham as representative of religious (EI/RI or paradox of will)
Final Tips
Don’t worry about rigidly sticking to the outline you’ve created.
Begin writing your paper and just let the ideas naturally “flow.”
Once you’ve got a completed draft, edit and reorganize the paper accordingly.
View a sample philosophy essay here.
Reach out—I am happy to help!
