Modern Philosophy PAPER

The Paper  Reading: Descartes’ First Meditation  Thesis: “The purpose of this paper is to summarize and critically evaluate Descartes’ skeptical arguments.”  Issue: Do Descartes’ skeptical arguments justify the degree of doubt claimed?Label the 4 sections  Introduction  Summary  Argument  Conclusion

The Paper  Turning in the Paper  Drafts  Printed Copy  Final Version  BlackBoard  Grade Discussion  Plagiarism  Formatting

Writing the Introduction  5 points  125 words or less.  Content  Thesis  Summary Statement  Position Statement  Argument Statement  Minimal Background

Writing the Summary  Descartes First Meditation  45 Points  350 words+  Objective: summarize the text  Clearly  Concisely  Accurately  In your own words.

Su mmary: Outline of Meditation 1 I First Part A. Start and Goal B. Method II Doubting the Senses A. Senses B. Dream Problem C. Painter Analogy D. Math-Skeptical Pause III God and the Demon A. God B. The Demon

Grading the Summary  Excellent Summary (A) (41-45 points)  Good Summary (B) (36-40 points)  Adequate summary (C) (32-35 points)  Poor Summary (D) (27-31 points)  Failing summary (F) (0-26 points)

Writing the Argument  45 Points  words  Position Statement  Issue: : Do Descartes’ skeptical arguments justify the degree of doubt claimed?

Writing the Argument  Argument #1: Doubting the Senses  Position: Descartes’ argument succeeds.  Hint-Deceptive Senses  Hint-Distrusting the Deceiver  Position: Descartes’ argument fails.  Hint-Critical Thinking  Hint- Deceit Assumes Trust

Writing the Argument  Argument #2: The Dream Argument  Position: Descartes’ argument succeeds.  Hint-Intuition Argument  Hint-Standards  Position: Descartes’ argument fails.  Hint-Standards

Writing the Argument  Argument #3: God/Demon Argument  Position: Descartes’ argument succeeds.  Hint-Dreamlike  Hint-Memory  Hint-The Problem of Evil  Position: Descartes’ argument fails.  Hint-Demon Odds  Hint-Irony: Too Much Success

Grading the Argument  Excellent Argument Section (A) (41-45 points)  Good Argument Section (B)  (36-40 points)  Adequate Argument Section (C) (32-35 points)  Poor Argument Section (D)  (27-31 points)  Failing Argument Section (F)  (0-26 points)

Writing the Conclusion  5 points  125 words or less.  Content  Thesis  Summary Statement  Position Statement  Argument Statement  Final Relevant Remark

Checklist & Comment Sheet  Checklist  Comment Codes