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Introduction to Philosophy |
Consider the thesis that when you see something you are actually aware not of the thing itself but of a mental representation of it (eg an 'image'). Write a dialogue between two people, one defending this thesis and one arguing against it.
If you feel the need for guidance I would say:
The heart of your discussion should be the representational theory of perception, what it is, the arguments for and against. The straightforward thing would be to have your two discussants agree over what exactly the thesis was and then proceed to argue with each other, taking one point for each 'turn' of the conversation.
But these are just suggestions, not instructions. You may have a non-straightforward way of constructing a dialogue like this, and don't let me dissuade you.
Marking will look for clarity and logical power of argumentation, not literary merit: but the dialogue form is a requirement.
Your essay should draw on at least one piece of philosophical reading. This could be the extract from John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding to be found in Reason and Responsibility, pp 209-217. (This is also available on-line here (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/philosophy/courses/211/Locke's Essay.htm)
But also available on-line is Russell's discussion, which you may find a good deal easier than Locke's (mostly I think because of the language) (http://www.ditext.com/russell/rus1.html)
For help with essay writing please see the guidance in the Part I handbook, as well as the on-line guide to writing essays in Part I Philosophy: http://domino.lancs.ac.uk/ieppp/Home.nsf/baphil?openview
(Click on ‘Essay writing – Part I Guide’. You can also find it on the PHIL 100 module resource web site.) Your essay should be word-processed and double-spaced.
Please leave a margin for comments. You should provide a bibliography (including webrefs) for any sources you use. We are asking you to write to a guideline of about 1500 words.
The deadline is Wednesday, February 16th at 5pm. The completed assignments should be posted in the Part I essay box, by the notice board in the Institute for Environment, Philosophy and Public Policy foyer (Furness C Floor, opposite C22). Use a pink cover sheet which asks you to fill in your name, college, seminar group (e.g. lOOG etc.) and seminar tutor's name, and make sure you sign the submission statement on the bottom. (Spare cover sheets are available near the essay box.) Please don't use plastic folders.
Short extensions to the deadline may be given in exceptional circumstances (e.g. ill-health etc.): requests should be made to the Director of Part I Studies, Sean Crawford, in person or in writing, prior to the deadline.
Please note that if your essay is not completed by the stated deadline and you have not agreed an extension, your essay will lose 10% if it is between one and seven days late (that means 10 marks off). Work more than seven days late and without an agreed extension cannot be marked - ie a zero will have to be recorded.
Part of the exercise in completing assignments is to practise communicating effectively within tight word limits. Marks will be lost for breaking the word limit accordingly. Work that is between 10% and 50% over the set length loses 5 marks. Work that is more than 50% over length will lose them all - ie zero will have to be recorded.
VP/SC