PAPER TOPICS FOR INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Remember, papers should be (at least) 6 pages long, double spaced. Six pages do not include the cover page and bibliography. As you can imagine, you can (and probably should) write more. You must other sources. A research paper is about research, after all. One great place to start (but only to start) is the Stanford Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Id look in actual books and on Jstor for articles. That said, what I really require in this paper is that you write a very good, carefully reasoned argument. Importantly, this means that you do not just write a history paper. Remember, when you are arguing, the argument is yours. You have to develop a thesis, answer objections, and be critical.

What is Plato’s argument for the Forms, and specifically, the Form of the Good? What is Platos argument morality is a natural good? Relate this argument to the Myth of Gyges, to the Myth of the Charioteer, and to the image of the man, the lion, and the monster. Remember all of these images (and parables) are in Chapter 6.
Explain Aristotle’s teleological doctrine of virtue, bringing in the concepts of habit, character, the golden mean, practical wisdom, and the relation of virtue to intellectual development.
Augustine carefully defines human failings and success. Along the way, he covers what he thinks sin is, our place in the great chain of being, our attitude towards God, ourselves, etc. Evaluate all these ideas. Discuss what, according to Augustine, a good life would consist of. Remember, here, that this is a philosophy paper, and so do not make any unsubstantiated religious claims.
Compare the kind of argument that Anselm puts forward for God (i.e. an a priori one) with the kind that Aquinas favors, all of which are a posteriori. What are the significant differences between these approaches? Assess these arguments. (e.g. are any of the plausible?) Remember, here, to be critical.
Compare the views of Hobbes and Locke on life in a state of nature, together with the prescription each provides on how to get beyond its inconveniences. Which of these views is more plausible? Why?
In area after area, Hume is tries to convince us of the limitations of reason. Although we might not like it, reason is the slave of the passions. Discuss how he goes about showing these limits with regard to four areas: causality, the self, morality, and God
Kant says he was shaken by David Hume’s analysis of causation. He calls it “Hume’s problem.” What was there about this analysis that awoke Kant from his “dogmatic slumber,” as he put it? And, how does Kant think he has solved the problem? Remember to include parts of Kants system (e.g. intuitions of space and time, categories, etc.). Does his solution work?
Compare and contrast Bentham and Mills different versions of Utilitarianism. Benthams version of Utilitarianism measures pleasure quantitatively. Mill uses his notion of quality to do so, and so, has a notion of higher and lower pleasures. Which version of Utilitarianism is more plausible?
Compare the similarities and differences in Wittgenstein’s treatment of language (and its relations to the world) in the Tractatus and in the Investigations.
Simone de Beauvoir, although she largely follows the existentialism of Sartre, offers a unique version of Existentialism. What are the basics of this system? And, importantly, how does she analyze the condition of women in society? Lastly, what are her solutions the problems women face today?