A Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays for IPO Contestants, Summaries of Philosophy

Download A Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays for IPO Contestants and more Summaries Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity! How To Write a Philosophy Essay A Guide for IPO Contestants Many guides exist on how to write a good philosophy paper. This guide is tailored to suit contestants competing in the annual IPO essay contest but it uses many of the same strategies employed in guides written by renowned philosophy professors from around the world. It is not intended to be a guarantee for writing an award-winning essay at the IPO. Rather, it outlines one method that can direct your efforts toward writing a sound, logical, persuasive essay. The process of creating this document started at the IPO 2015 when The IPO Essay Guide Committee was formed, consisting of delegates Floris Velema (The Netherlands), Leslie Cameron-Curry (Italy), Michael Koss (Poland), Kedar Soni (India), Dennis de Gruijter (The Netherlands), Eric Gustafsson (Sweden) and myself. The task of writing this guide would not have been possible without the valued input from these committee members and several other distinguished IPO delegates, namely Jonas Pfister (Switzerland), Ivan Kolev (Bulgaria), Joseph Murphy (USA), Jürg Berthold (Switzerland), Lars Hammer (Sweden) and Salim Miah (Bangladesh). Special thanks go to Kattya Arroyo (Costa Rica), Nuran Direk (Turkey), Moris A. Polanco (Guatemala), Thor S. Grødal (Norway) and the International Jury of the IPO for feedback and support. Lastly, I want to extend a special thank you to Mary Kiernan for her superb editing of my original manuscript. Mary selflessly gave her time and expertise to ensure that my manuscript was organized concisely, flowed logically, looked professional and was grammatically flawless. We wish all of the IPO contestants the best of luck in this noble endeavor. Frank Murphy Associate Delegate, USA May 2016 1 I. Introduction Navigating the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) Essay Contest A philosophical essay should be an exploratory device, something that starts with a question and takes you on a path towards an answer. 1 Philosophy is often defined as inquiry, more specifically inquiry into matters of profound interest to humanity—truth, knowledge, reality, meaning, social justice and the mind. Art and literature also look into these questions, but only philosophy examines these subjects directly, logically, and in depth. In the West, philosophical inquiry has predominantly been a verbal activity—taking the form of a dialogue as with Socrates, or in written form as with Plato, Aristotle, and the many philosophers that followed them. In either form, the critical components of any philosophical inquiry have always been to craft a thesis, usually related to one of these subject areas, and persuade a listener or reader to accept one’s thesis through honest, logical, and thorough argumentation. Your chief task and challenge at the IPO is to write a persuasive essay that responds to one of four philosophical topics. A philosophical topic, such as the one presented to you by the IPO, is usually a statement that may be true or false but is at the least provocative; its purpose is to elicit a reaction. If you agree with the statement, your reaction may be in the form of a supportive argument defending the thesis; if you disagree, you may offer an argument that objects to or criticizes the topic statement. You may find that you have valid arguments both for and against the philosophical statement, and you may evaluate arguments on each side. Whether you agree or disagree, you might also choose to discuss the consequences of your argument or propose an alternative position. You may even choose to discuss a completely different view that can better explain the thesis. No matter what type of response you choose, you want to demonstrate that you understand the topic statement thoroughly. From there, you can proceed to describe your position in depth. Massacar, Aaron, “How to Write a Philosophy Paper,” (2010) The Learning Commons, 1 University of Guelph 2 ‘imitation of a noble and complete action’ falls short of explaining how there are many other aspects of life that can be tragic.” Tip: Don’t labor over your initial thesis statement! Record your initial reaction only. You may not use this exact sentence when you are finished, but it will help you focus your thoughts; you can revise it later. Remember that the IPO requires you to complete your essay in four hours, so you will not have time to outline your thoughts in great depth. Make a rough sketch of your position (your thesis statement), your analysis of the topic statement, arguments for and against, and your conclusion. This will help focus your thoughts during the short amount of time you have. Record only the key points you want to make using a logical flow. You will flesh out your thoughts in the actual essay. Example: The following is an example of a logical and thorough outline: 1. Introduction—draft your position in response to the topic (thesis statement) 2. Analysis—summarize your assessment of the main points of the topic 3. Arguments—bulletize the main arguments you intend to make in support of your position 4. Counter-arguments—note briefly at least one possible major response to your argument 5. Summary—summarize your main position in response to the topic Step 3: Structure Your Essay The next step is to decide on a clear structure for your essay. If your essay has a clear and logical structure, your reader or judges will follow your argument more easily and reduce the chances that you will confuse them. It is also beneficial to prepare your reader or the judges with how you will proceed in your argument(s). If you explain, in the essay, the structure your essay will take, and then follow it up with a logical flow, it can sometimes be easier to write your essay under a time constraint. A clear and logical structure in a philosophy essay can look like the below; note that it likely follows the same flow of your initial outline: 1. Introduction a. State your thesis b. Analyze and react to the topic c. Mention briefly the main arguments you intend to make 5 d. Explain any technical or philosophical terms (if relevant) 2. First Argument a. Reason your position with details b. Provide evidence, examples, etc. supporting your reasoning 3. Counter Argument a. Discuss/acknowledge possible objections to your arguments b. State your reasons for your considering and rejecting 4. Second Argument a. Reason your position with details b. Provide evidence, examples, etc supporting your reasoning 5. Counter Argument a. Discuss/acknowledge possible objections to your arguments b. State your reasons for your considering and rejecting 6. Third Argument (optional) a. Reason your position with details b. Provide evidence, examples, etc. supporting your reasoning 7. Counter Argument (optional) a. Discuss/acknowledge possible objections to your arguments b. State your reasons for your considering and rejecting 8. Closing Paragraph a. Restate your thesis b. Flesh out any key points again c. Discuss briefly the key implications of your argument (if relevant) Tip: Prepare the reader. Make it obvious from the start what your thesis is and how you will proceed with explaining and defending it. This will prepare and guide the judges for what your argument is. Example#1: I disagree with Ms. Arendt’s statement because… I will use the following approach in my argument: … Example #2: In this essay I will argue that Ms. Arendt… (then) I will offer three arguments that support my thesis; these are: 1) … 2) … 3) … Example #3: I will provide two examples of how I object to the thesis… 6 The following is an example of an IPO winning essay, in which the writer lays out the structural plan for his essay: As the topic is very comprehensive it must be broke down in smaller parts: First I will discuss the topic of animal rights, starting with Peter Singer’s patocentristic views. Secondly, I will go a step even further and argue for the moral integrity of all life. Finally, using a dialectical attitude, I seek to combine the ecological positions into coherent principles of a bio-centered ethical approach to nature and the integrity of life in general. 2 Tip: Make the structure of your essay obvious to the judges and most importantly—follow it. Don’t drift. Tip: Don’t use too many arguments to support your position. You risk diluting your main argument and creating confusion in the mind of the judges. Keep your structure simple and easy to follow. Step 4. Write Your Introduction In its essence, a philosophical essay is a well-reasoned defense of a thesis. 3 Your introduction should contain your analysis of the topic, i.e., your reaction to, or opinion of, the philosophical topic. Do you agree or disagree with the topic? You do not need to provide your reasons why in this paragraph; you will flesh those out in your arguments. It is, however, the essence of your thesis that you will defend throughout the rest of your essay. As noted above, it is useful to indicate the basic structure of your essay in this opening section or in another brief follow-on paragraph, so the judges have a roadmap for the path your argument will take. Additionally, use the introduction to explain any technical terms or definitions you intend to use in support of your thesis and how they relate to your argument. Note that your introduction can be multiple paragraphs, but for a four-to-five page essay that is typical for an IPO essay, it should be no longer than one page. Tip: Don’t finalize this paragraph until the rest of the essay is in its final form. This means you should make sure you allot time at the end to revise your introduction, if necessary, after the rest of your arguments are complete. Granhoj, Jeff, http://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/?page_id=6962 Horban, Peter, “Writing a Philosophy Paper,” (1993) Simon Fraser University3 7 you’re prepared to prove it, it’s important to remember that this is an empty position. Confine each argument to a single paragraph. If you are going to present more than one main argument for or against the topic, confine each to its own paragraph. This will prevent you from drifting off topic and watering down your main argument. Evaluate the basic assumption(s) of the philosophical position you are attacking or defending. How do these assumptions affect your position? State clearly your own assumptions and indicate and give reasons why they are sound. Stay on topic! Don’t drift from your main argument. This will confuse the judges. Your outline should help you stick to your thesis and arguments. Don’t attack the author of the topic, or any philosopher, directly; direct your remarks to the substance of his/her ideas. Avoid using sweeping, general terms such as always, never, all, and every. It is much better to be specific with your facts. Instead of saying, “All modern philosophers tend to be introverts,” try “a recent study by the American Philosophy Association indicated that 68% of modern philosophers live alone.” Don’t use a quote unless you can cite it exactly and then explain how it is relevant to your point. However, it is acceptable to paraphrase a philosopher’s idea as along as it is accurate and you can show how it pertains to your argument. Step 6. Consider Counter-Arguments He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good…but if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side…he has no ground for preferring either opinion. 7 IPO judges do not evaluate your arguments based on whether they agree or disagree with them, but how well you state your case and by how well your essay is written. However, to create a well-rounded philosophical essay you should anticipate objections to your thesis and arguments. Be sure to present and Mill, John Stuart, “On Liberty,” (2002) Dover Publications, pg. 43. 7 10 analyze these opposing views. When you present an opposing view, step through your reasons for rejecting it. It is easier for the reader, and for the judges, to evaluate your essay if you raise any objections to your arguments at the relevant time within the argument. That is, avoid discussing all the points of your argument then discussing the objections and your reply to them. That type of structure might make your essay appear disjointed, confuse the judges, and detract from your overall argument. Your essay will flow more smoothly if you opt for a structure such as: 1. Thesis; 2. Argument #1; a. Counter-argument; Reply; 3. Argument #2; a. Counter-argument; Reply; 4. Conclusion. This may give you the impression that there are always two sides to an argument. Sometimes that is the case, but rarely are both equally valid. You need to weigh in with your opinion as to which argument you think is more valid and present reasons why. Step 7: Craft a conclusion The purpose of your conclusion is to restate your thesis and summarize your arguments in concise terms. However, it should not be a copy of your introduction. Revisit your main points in summary form, and emphasize the arguments you feel most strongly will convince the judges that you have defended your opinion on the topic. The concluding paragraph is also the place where you want to highlight any outstanding or important implications or limitations to your argument. Tip: Don’t Bring up new points or issues in your conclusion. Examples: The following are excellent examples of summaries written by former IPO contestant winners: In conclusion: I have argued for a reconstruction of the ecological order, focusing on the ethical integrity of all life, and proposed three basic principles for a biocentrical [sic] ethics, which is adaptable with human culture and technology. It relies on the metaphysical axiom that all life has an inherent 11 value in itself, no matter if it a human, an animal or a plant, which should at least be recognized as a moral worth. 8 Let me summarize this for the reader. Sextus Empiricus doubted whether our perception was consistent with the reality. He thought that it was a matter of doubt (to which a conclusion cannot be easily known or known at that point of time). However, I presented view points that said that it was not possible to compare our perceptions of the appearance of an object with the reality – dualist and relativists. Then, I argued against dualism and relativism to show that it can objectively known whether the perceptions are in consistency with the reality (Note that we have only considered appearances and perceptions and not situations in ethics where objectivists can be argued upon). 9 Step 8: Revise, edit and rework During the IPO essay contest, you won’t have time to do extensive re- writing. However, if possible, try to budget at least 20 minutes at the end of the allotted four hours to review what you have written. Here are some editing tips for writing an IPO-style philosophy essay: Review your opening and closing paragraphs to ensure your thesis statement is clear, and that your opening and closing paragraphs support each other. Review the structure of your essay to ensure your argument flows logically and clearly. The order of your paragraphs and sentences may change during this type of review. That’s okay! Many times sentences don’t transfer from your head to the page in the right order. Review and re-order sentences as appropriate within each argument and counter-argument to ensure your points within each paragraph make clear and logical sense—not just to you, but to your readers. Be conscious of the fact that what may make perfectly clear sense to you may not be clear to a reader. Ensure each paragraph is clear, coherent and makes one point, not several. Look for inconsistencies. Re-arrange any sentences within paragraphs as necessary. Jeff Granhoj, http://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/?page_id=6968 Nashith Barat Khandwala, http://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/?page_id=7079 12 instance, you can simply state, “I have addressed Mill’s stance on objective reality. Now I will show how this differs from James’ position.” Have Fun and Good Luck! 15 Acknowledgements and References This guide represents the collaborative work of the IPO delegates from over 40 countries. Additionally, many of the principles and suggestions in this guide have been inspired by other guides and tutorials written by distinguished university-level professors and high school teachers of philosophy from around the globe. Although not an all-inclusive list, many of these guides are listed below. Our sincerest thanks go to these leaders of philosophy education for their inspiration. Online Resource Documents 1. Barber, Alex and Derek Matravers, “Ten Rules for Writing a Philosophy Essay,” (2016) The Open University http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/a222/10-rules.shtml 2. Various, “Paper Writing Strategies for Introductory Philosophy Courses,” (2005) William College http://web.williams.edu/wp-etc/philosophy/jcruz/jcruz/writingtutor/ 3. Horban, Peter, “Writing a Philosophy Paper,” (1993) Simon Fraser University http://www.sfu.ca/philosophy/resources/writing.html 4. Kagan, Shelly, “How to Write a Philosophy Paper,” (2007) Yale University http://oyc.yale.edu/sites/default/files/philosophy-paper.pdf 5. Massacar, Aaron, “How to Write a Philosophy Paper,” (2010) The Learning Commons, University of Guelph http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/sites/default/files/writing_philosophy.pdf 6. Mendelovici, Angela, “Annotated Philosophy Paper,” (2014) University of Western Ontario https://prezi.com/z4h1_fwilbxj/a-sample-philosophy-paper/ 7. Portmore, Douglas W., “Tips on Writing a Philosophy Paper,” (2012) http://www.public.asu.edu/~dportmor/tips.pdf 8. Pryor, James, “What Is an Argument?” (2012) Harvard University http://courses.dce.harvard.edu/~phils4/argument.html 16 9. Pryor, James, “Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper,” (2012) http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html. 10.Rippon, Simon, “A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper,” (2008) Harvard College Writing Center http://philosophy.fas.harvard.edu/files/phildept/files/ brief_guide_to_writing_philosophy_paper.pdf 11.Tooley, Michael, “Writing Philosophy Essays” University of Colorado http://spot.colorado.edu/~tooley/WritingEssays.html. 12.Vargas, Manuel, “How to Write Philosophy Papers (that don't suck),” (2014) http://vargasphilosophy.com/Handouts/How2writeHumPapers.pdf Videos 1. Cullison, Andrew, “Present, Explain, and Evaluate,” (2011) SUNY Fredonia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glu3QCi8Wjk 2. deLaplante, Kevin, “How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay: Logical Structure,” (2009) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAmgEa1B1vI 3. Tichenor, Seth, “Beginners Guide to Writing Philosophy, Do’s and Don’ts,” (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3dm9UiUU70. 4. Zontul Films, “How to Write a Good Essay,” (2011) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liyFKUFCQno 17