Philosophy writing reflection help

1 © Chavah I. Schwartz

PHIL2306: Ethics

Reading Reflection- Instructions & Example

Purpose:

The purpose of these assignments is to see that students understand the ideas presented in the

readings and can identify the main claim of what is being presented. As philosophers engaged in

ethics, we must strive to express our thoughts about morality as clearly and exactly as possible.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”

- Plato

Format and Requirements:

After carefully reading, take some time to reflect and think about what the main claim of the reading is. What is the author’s main claim? You are being asked to provide a coherent and concise explanation of what the author’s main claim is. Each reading reflection must be 250-400 words and must include:

• What is the title and author? - Title and author. Make sure to specify which reading you chose by including the title

and author.

• What is the main claim of this reading? - Thesis. E.g. “I think the main claim of this reading is…” Make sure that your thesis is

clearly indicated and reflects what is presented in the reading.

• How does the reading make this main claim? - Explanation. Based on what is presented in the reading, explain how the main point

is made. This means you are explaining the reasoning behind your thesis and how you have come to make this claim based on the reading. This also means that your explanation should clearly reflect what is presented in the reading. Remember, you are not being asked to provide your opinion about the reading. Rather, you are being asked to explain the main claim of the reading. Including direct quotes and references from the reading shows that you understand the material and can use it to support your reasoning. Make sure to include in-text citation; e.g. (author, page number)

• Do you agree/disagree? - Agree/disagree. Based on your explanation, do you agree with the main claim of the

reading? Again, you are not being asked your opinion about the reading. Rather, you are being asked to state whether you agree with the main claim of the reading or if you do not agree.

• Word Count - Make sure to indicate the word count of your explanation.

2 © Chavah I. Schwartz

Example:

Reflection 1

“The Natural Law Theory”- Shafer-Landau

I think the main claim of this reading is that moral life has to do with acting in accordance with

what is in our nature. According to the Natural Law Theory, “so long as we are fulfilling our nature we

are doing what is moral.” (p.74-5) This means that acting in accordance with what is in our nature is to

do what is moral, which also means that doing what is unnatural is to do what is immoral. In other

words, the extent to which our nature is fulfilled determines the morality of an action. This theory

provides a way to understand what makes an action a good action versus a bad action that is specific to

human nature. The idea about human nature that supports this approach to morality is that humans are

designed by nature. This means that “mechanisms of evolution and natural selection are the sources of

our natural purposes.” (p.78) Therefore, according to natural law theory, nature is what determines

human nature. To determine what human nature is we need some sort of model to help explain how

fulfilling our nature is moral. According to the Efficiency Model, “we can understand human nature as

being based on nature and our efficiency to fulfill that nature.” (p.82) In this regard, the efficiency to

fulfill our human nature is what guides moral life. This means that if humans are the most efficient at

writing essays than any other animal, then writing a good essay would be considered a morally

acceptable action because it fulfills human nature. However, by this same understanding, to write a bad

essay would suggest that we are not fulfilling our nature and thus acting immorally. I do not agree with

the main claim of this reading because what is moral is not always what is in our nature. For this reason,

I think that this theory does not provide a good way to determine what is morally acceptable.

Word count: 329