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If you are having trouble with any aspect of writing papers, there is a place where you can get help.  The Writing Center offers one on one tutoring, draft preparation and more.  You can even improve your writing with their online program.

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Comment Sheets

You are expected to write several  300 word commentaries on the readings that we have done. Writing a philosophical commentary is most likely new to most of you so here are some guidelines to help you begin.

1. One of the central features of all philosophical writing (including logic, philosophy of science, mathematics, knowledge, religion, etc.) is that of evaluation. Philosophers work to bring out the assumptions, value judgments, proposals and observations of the cases they study. A good paper is one that takes an issue and breaks it down. It pinpoints the arguments which are meant to support the various positions, judges how well the arguments actually support the conclusion, points out flaws in reasoning and finally, if possible, suggests how the arguments can be improved.

2. When you are writing a paper, you should engage in the same sort of procedure. Do not merely repeat the arguments given. You must go further and judge the arguments. When you judge the arguments, do not merely say whether or not you agree. This is not enough. You must give reasons why you agree or why you think the other side is mistaken.

Finally, if possible, suggests improvements to the arguments or else provide an alternate argument which works better.

3. When critiquing a position, resist the temptation to ridicule it or else present it as obviously silly and wrong. The reason is simple – very few people hold onto to obviously silly views. If your opponent’s claim seems ridiculous, you should consider the strong possibility that you have misunderstood him or her. Try to see why they hold their view;  what could they be thinking?

In philosophy, we follow a rule called ‘The Principle of Charity’. It states that you should do everything you can to make your opponent’s view as attractive and strong as possible. This is designed so that you are fair to the other side and also, it forces you to give the best argument you can. If you can show how even the best version of the other side is still flawed, you will have presented convincing evidence that your view should be the one adopted. On the other hand, if you can’t find fault with a strong version of the other side, it may mean that you should change your mind! It is possible that in presenting the other side in an attractive manner, you come to see that you are the one who is mistaken. If so, great. It’s all part of learning.

In the end, you don’t have to end up agreeing with the other side but you should walk away with an appreciation of the sense of their viewpoint.

4. Learning to analyze an argument is a skill like any other and takes time to learn. Don’t get too frustrated if, at first, you aren’t catching on. Once you’ve worked through a few, it will get easier. If not, come see me during office hours and we can work on a problem together.