Paper #3

Papers are due electronically via Safe Assignment by 8am on Wednesday May 7th. The required length is between 1250 and 1750 words. Papers outside this range will recieve an automatic fail. This assignment is worth the final 10% of your grade.

Choose a philosophical question and write a dialog between at least three authors or characters we have encountered this semester. Your aim here is to explore an issue while demonstrating knowledge of the systems of thought we have discussed in class. A convincing paper will:

1. Examine a philosophically interesting question,
2. Present a nuanced examination of what individual thinkers or characters would say on the issue,
3. Offer some form of conclusion - i.e. do not end with Socratic confusion! - and.
4. Be entertaining.

You may choose any question that interests you, and use any real or fictional character. You may yourself feature in the dialog, but yours cannot be the primary worldview being expounded (the goal here is for you to engage in a synthesis of what we have examined).

There is no need for elaborate scene-setting, and while you are free to use your imagination on this assignment, papers which present clearly preposterous ideas (Buddha drinking, swearing, and advocating war, for example) will be penalized. Make sure you do not misrepresent or parody the views of the actors - try and "channel" the characters in developing your synthesis.

You may or may not choose to use direct quotations where applicable. If you do, offer citations as footnotes.

The best way to format this is as a script for a play. For example:

Achilles, Buddha and Epicurus are seated in a park. Epicurus notices a bird.

Epicurus: Say, look at that bird?

Achilles: What bird?

E: That one there?

A: Ah, yes now I see. What about it?