Phil 26 Spring 2006
Making Sense of Ourselves
Instructor: Meg Wallace
Third
Paper Topic
Assignment:
Please choose ONE of the following paper topics IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE
OPTIONAL EXAM. Papers should be 3-5
pages in length, due in class Friday, April 14. Rough drafts are
strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. I will be accepting rough
drafts no later than 11:59
pm on Tuesday, April 11. Keep in mind that the later you send me
your draft, the less time I'll have to take a good look at it. So get
those drafts to me asap! Please email me or talk to me if you
have
any questions.
1. Which one of the characters in Perry's Dialogues did you most agree
with with regard to their view on personal idnetity? Why? Which
argument did you think best supported his/her view? Which objection did
you think was most challenging? Are there any arguments or points that
you would have brought up if you were writing the dialogue and wanted
to defend the view you favor mopre fully? Discuss.
2. Discuss the Ship of Theseus. What is the problem? Why is it a
problem? Do you have any suggestions for a solution? How does this
solution relate to issues of personal identity? (Feel free to bring in
discussion of the Perry Dialogue here if you like. Or don't. Either way
is cool.) Discuss.
3. Discuss ONE of the views of
the mind/body that we discussed in class--e.g., dualism, behaviorism,
identity theory, (or functionalism if we get to it). How does it answer
the three questions that constitute the Mind/Body Problem? Lay out what
you take to be the best argument(s) for this view. Is this a good
argument or not? Why or why not? What is one of the best objection(s)
to this view? Do you find the objection(s) convincing? Why or Why not?
Discuss.
4. Write a dialogue in which you pit two of the views about the
mind/body or personal identity against one another. Make sure that your
dialogue makes clear (1) which
two views are being discussed, (2) the best areguments for each of the
two views, and (3) the best objections to each of the two views. For
this paper topic: have fun, be creative, yet don't forget show me what
you know. Oh, and make me laugh. Please.
Page Last Updated: April 5, 2006