Brooklyn Adult Learning Center Philosophy Classical and Contemporary Readings Essay
Description
book (Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings (7th Edition) – Bratman, Perry, and Fischer
Word Count 1200-1500 words (about 4-5 pages)
In-text citations are required.
Evaluative Essay: Carefully/rigorously analyze and explain the author’s ideas – their main assertions, their main arguments, and their support for each premise of their main arguments – and show that either: (A) the idea meets or fails to meet a standard or criterion of quality that you explain and defend or (B) that a rival idea does better with respect to a standard or criterion that you explain and defend. Evaluation always requires the use of a standard; the latter case just shows that a rival idea does better with respect to that standard. Evaluative essays cannot be mere reports.
(a) If evaluating relative to a standard: carefully explain and, if necessary, defend the standard (i.e., a logical standard – deductive validity, inductive strength/validity, and rational theory choice) and show that the argument does not meet that standard.
(b) If evaluating relative to a rival argument: explicitly spell out the other argument, explain and defend a standard, and show how the rival argument is stronger or better with respect to that standard.
(a) If evaluating relative to a standard: carefully explain and, if necessary, defend the standard (i.e., overall support with respect to the evidence, rational theory choice) and show that the assertion does not meet that standard.
(b) If evaluating relative to a rival assertion: explicitly spell out the rival assertion, explain and defend a standard, and show how the rival assertion is stronger or better with respect to that standard.