Philosophy essay, 2 pages, $20

Due Monday Nov. 25th by 11:59pm! (Late papers receive a full letter grade deduction for each day!)

Essay Assignment PHIL 2101

You are hereby notified that your instructor has access to all submissions in SafeAssign, including drafts, and may at his/her discretion submit drafts and papers for plagiarism testing through SafeAssign. Please refer to . SafeAssign checks your work against both an institutional and a global database. "Institutional database" refers to submissions to a CUNY-wide database only. "Global database" refers to submissions by a global community of SafeAssign users. Submitted papers (not drafts) will automatically become part of the institutional database. Submission to the global database is global and irrevocable, but it may provide greater protection for your work from infringement by others.

All essays should be 2-3 double-spaced pages in a standard font (I prefer Times New Roman) in 12-point type with 1-inch margins. Please be sure to include your name. ALL PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY through Blackboard in PDF format by Monday Nov, 25th @ 11:59pm! Late papers will receive a full letter-grade deduction for each day they are late! ***Please remember to cite all sources. In Chicago 16th Style (either N, NB, or AD)***

Chicago -- http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html Failure to do so would be a violation of academic integrity and result in a failing grade on the paper and possible further disciplinary action by the college and/or university (see syllabus for more information on academic honesty).

It is not necessary to do any outside research in order to complete this assignment. However, it is not acceptable to simply record your own thoughts on the matter. Use the selections we have read to argue your points and guide the discussion.

Choose and write about ONE of the following topics:

1. Ryle - Descartes Myth: Descartes proposes that he is a “thinking thing” intimately co-mingled with a body. What problems does Ryle have with this picture? What is a category mistake, and why does Ryle think that Descartes, and those who follow him, make one with respect to minds and bodies? Do you agree with Ryle or Descartes?

2. Nagel - What is it like to be a bat?: Nagel argues that a reduction of the mental is impossible, at least presently. Why? How does mental life work under Nagel’s account? How is it connected to the brain and body? Does this seem plausible?

3. Ayer - Freedom and Necessity: What does Ayer think about determinism? How is determinism related to moral responsibility, for Ayer? How does Ayer characterize freedom? What does this mean for the relation of determinism to free will? Do you find this a satisfying theory?

4. Frankfurt - Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person: It has been argued that freedom of will is necessary for holding people morally responsible for their actions. Why might this be the case? What does Frankfurt think about this claim? What conditions does he think are necessary to hold someone morally responsible? Do you agree, or disagree?