PAPER GUIDELINES

 

Everyone must write a brief paper on one of the readings in Twentieth-Century Philosophy by Baird and Kaufmann. What you need to do is pick one of the readings in this book and then describe what you think the author is trying to accomplish in the reading. You should then support your interpretation of what you think the author is doing by performing a close textual analysis and interpretation of the reading. You may use any variety of secondary material you need to help you in your analysis. Look to the lINKS section of my website for general introductions to the Philosopher that you pick. If you do not have internet access go to the library and look at the various encyclopedias of Philosophy for help. Use Jones and Fogelin if this can be of assistance. However you must remember that this assignment requires a careful reading and analysis of one of the original sources in Baird and Kaufmann.

 

Your paper should have a basic structure. It should include the following items.

  1. Introduction

    2. This should give the reader of your paper a brief roadmap of what your paper will accomplish. Your introduction should be clear enough for a non-specialist to read it and understand what you are trying to accomplish in your paper.

  2. Give an account of your thinker's basic problem. What is your thinker trying to accomplish in their analysis?

    3.  

  3. Conduct a careful analysis of your selected reading

    4. If you are confused about what do you should consider conducting a line by line analysis.

  4. Do you agree or disagree that your theorist has solved the problem that they set out to solve? Why do you agree or disagree with what your theorist says. Explain in detail.
  5. Draw a conclusion about what you think you've accomplished in your analysis.

 

 

 

Some suggestions for possible topics for papers

 

  1. Moore’s Refutation of Idealism
  2. Frege On Sense and Reference
  3. Russell On logical Analysis (The Problems of Philosophy).