Philosophy of Science: Essay 4
Essay 4
Due Mon 23 Mar 2015 by 5pm
Instructions
In a 1,500 word essay, state and argue for a thesis that 1) draws on our courses material, and 2) gives a specific answer to one of the following questions.
Whatever your choice of question, your thesis should answer a very specific question.
- Representation. How does science provide such effective representations of the world?
- Causation. In what sense is nature governed (or not governed) by cause and effect?
- Philosophy of Physics. In what sense (if any) does a theory of physics require interpretation?
- Philosophy of Biology. What is (or is not) an appropriately general and informative definition of life in biology?
- Philosophy of Medicine. What is (or is not) an appropriate definition of when death has occurred in medicine?
- Philosophy of Psychology. Is the mind a system of modules governed by natural selection?
Further guidelines
State a clear thesis that answers one of the questions. Your job in this essay is to construct a valid philosophical argument for a clear thesis in 1,500 words.
The principle thing that you will be evaluated on in this essay is the argument for your thesis. Everything that you write should go toward supporting this argument; nothing more and nothing less.
It is recommended that your essay be organised so as to include:
- A brief Introduction in which you state your thesis;
- Relevant background material if necessary for understanding your claim;
- A main body in which you state and argue for your thesis;
- (Optional) Further discussion such as the discussion of possible objections to your argument;
- A brief conclusion in which you summarise the argument of your essay.
Evaluation
Essays are evaluated on the basis of the thesis and the argument. Some of the specific features of your thesis and argument that will be considered include:
- Expression and style
- Structure and organisation
- Understanding and use of literature
- Quality of argument
- Independence of thought