Order instructions:please use the original books as sources

Dr. Jeffrey Rubenstein

Texts and Ideas: Enlightenment Track:

Paper #2 This paper should be five to seven pages long, 1300-1700 words (double-spaced and typed). Please be sure to use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling; points will be deducted for sloppy English and grammatical mistakes. You should state a thesis or position at the outset and then argue for that thesis in the rest of the paper. You must refer to specific passages to support your claims, but you should avoid lengthy quotations—you do not have the space. For example, you might write: “Jacob’s encounter with the angel foreshadows his encounter with Esau (Gen

32:23-33).” Or: “Oedipus becomes so angry at Teiresias that he almost accuses him of murdering Laius (345-349).” Or: “When Oedipus exclaims, ‘Why should one look to the Pythian hearth’ (964-965), he reveals the true extent of his hubris.” Try to avoid merely summarizing or paraphrasing the text in your own words. Please provide line numbers, page numbers or chapter and verse (or book and section number for Augustine). You should try to use the editions of these texts specified on the syllabus. But given the present circumstances, I understand that many students may have to use a different edition or an online edition or text. If so, please provide full bibliographic information of the editions used in a bibliography. Outlines and thesis statementsd due in recitation sections April 30. Final Paper Due Date: May 6, 5:00 pm (NYU Classes). You should give your paper an appropriate title. ****** 1. Compare and contrast the views of human evil found in Augustine’s Confessions (see Books 1-2, especially 2:4-2:10, and 7:11-18) and Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man. Does each author believe humans are inherently evil / sinful? If so, why? If not, why not? How does each explain human evil? (Note: human evil is the evil done by human beings, as opposed to earthquakes, diseases etc.) What is responsible for their differences in opinion? 2. Analyze Montesquieu’s portrayal of women in Persia and in France / Europe. Your paper should include the following issues: What are the major differences between the two cultures? Which culture (if either) does Montesquieu think is “better”? (Make sure you define what

“better” means to Montesquieu! And how we know it.) What is wrong / bad about the position of women in the seraglio? Most importantly: What is Montesquieu’s overall point? What is he trying to teach us? (Note: make sure in your answer that you elucidate Montesquieu’s opinions, not you own feelings. Also, try to stay away from simplistic positions, such as “Montesquieu thinks everything is great in France, but terrible and oppressive in the seraglio.”)

3. Analyze Montesquieu’s use of the term “nature.” What does he mean by “nature”? How does it become a factor in his assessment of religions, the relationship between the sexes, political systems and / or other issues? Note: to answer this question you will have to re-read carefully and study the passages where Montesquieu uses the term “nature.” For starters, see Letters 9, 38, 62, 63, 161. There are many others. 4. Compare and contrast Rousseau’s and Augustine’s views of human nature. (Hint: You might consider what “the fall of man” is for each thinker. Perhaps consider what the main

problem, or the main evil, is for each. Are they pessimistic, and if so, in what way?) On what points do they agree, and wherein do they differ? Be careful not to simply make a list of differences and similarities. You must formulate a larger thesis which frames the comparisons and contrasts, and makes a claim for which you argue. ******************************************* Common mistakes to avoid and important matters: 0. Make sure you have ALL possessives correct. Know the difference between: brothers, brother’s and brothers’; between Jones’ and Jones’s; and between it’s and its. There were too

many of these errors on the first paper. 1. Please provide references to the text (line/page numbers or biblical chapter and verse.) 2. Make sure you support your claims. Don’t make unsupportable general statements without evidence: (e.g. “Oedipus puts himself at the level of the gods.”) Don’t offer shallow readings

(e.g. “Oedipus was wrong to send Creon to get the oracle. He should have gone himself.”

Oedipus was king and responsible for his city. This does not show Oedipus shirking responsibility. You can certainly argue that Oedipus was irresponsible, but your argument should be persuasive.) 3. Do not tell me about others and how they considered the text. (E.g. “For two hundred years Voltaire’s Candide has been considered a classic.” “Plato’s Apology has been read for centuries and many interpretations have been proposed.” Don’t say how everybody thinks the text is so

great.) 4. Paragraphs are an important unit of organization. The first sentence-- the topic sentence-- should inform the reader about the subject of the paragraph. 5. Avoid summarizing the text. (For example: “Plato’s Apology tells of the trial of Socrates. Socrates is charged with many crimes. There are three speeches. In the first Socrates says... etc.”) You should, however, refer to the part of the text you are analyzing. (For example, “In

his refutation of the later charges, Socrates explains his religious vision” (28d).) 6. Correct spelling, grammar and syntax are important. You may want to ask a friend to proofread your paper. Or go to the writing center for help (especially if English is not your native language.) Too many mistakes will adversely affect your grade. 7. Don’t trot out your class notes. If your paper is about Oedipus’s character, you should not have a long section about Sophocles’s use of irony or about the origins of tragedy, unless these

issues help make your point. When an issue that was discussed in class is central to your thesis, you should still refer to specific passages and provide your own analysis. (For example, do not write: “As was said in class, the covenant is an important biblical concept.” Rather, “The long

section of Exodus devoted to the covenant on Mt Sinai demonstrates the importance of this concept (Exod 19-31).” 8. Avoid colloquialisms. (For example, “Oedipus was pissed off.” “That takes the cake.”)