Instructions for Philosophy 110 Essay

2008

Most philosophical essays require both exposition of a topic (a thesis, problem, argument, theory, etc.) and critical examination of the topic. The exposition should be expressed in your own words, with quotations kept to a minimum and adequate reference to any material quoted or paraphrased. The critical examination need not display originality, but it must show understanding of the topic, and it must be carefully organized and argued, and leave no doubt as to the reasons for your position — even if this amounts to uncertainty or bewilderment. The following points must be observed:

(1) Computer file. Your essay must be produced as a computer file and submitted to the anti-plagiarism site, turnitin.com. Detailed instruction about how to do this will be made available.

(2) Quotations. These should not be plentiful, and must be clearly delimited and absolutely accurate, with adequate reference given to sources. (As a rule, you should quote only when the exact wording is important, or when you wish to engage in substantial critical examination of the passage.) You are required exactly to follow the reference style given here.

Books: Author, italicised title (city: publisher, year), pages.

Leslie Patterson, The Concept of Disinterestedness in Aesthetics (New York: Oxford University Press, 1972), pp. 201-238.

Articles: Author, title (in double quotation marks), italicise name of journal, volume number, year of publication (or name of book and editor), pages.

Edna Everage, “Disinterestedness,” British Journal of Aesthetics, vol. 83 (1956), pp. 71-86.

Madge Allsop, “Psychical Distance,” in Interest and Disinterest in Aesthetic Perception, ed. Norman Everage (London: Methuen, 1982), pp. 27-56.

If you make repeated references to the same source, find an easy way to handle it, such as by simply putting page numbers in parentheses after quotations, i.e., (Allsop, p. 59).

(3) Spelling. One or two misspellings will be overlooked. More than two will lower your mark. Spelling mistakes are symptomatic of carelessness in preparation. Be especially cautious about the its/it’s distinction and the difference between criterion and criteria. In most plurals apostrophes are spelling errors.

(4) Plagiarism. An essay containing quotation that does not appear as such, or consisting of unacknowledged paraphrase, will be flunked. The same goes for an essay prepared by a “typing” or “editorial” service that actually writes for you.

(5) Style. You will be marked in part on how well you argue the claims made in your essay (how you choose and use evidence, consider counter-arguments, etc.), but also on how well or badly you write. (“Crikey, this isn’t an English course!” No, it isn’t. It’s a course in thinking, and writing is thinking.)

Here is your topic:

Critically examine the idea of confirmation bias. Begin with the discussion of it as it is described in your text, but extend you discussion beyond How To Think About Weird Things to other sources. (Library research is encouraged; the web will be useful too, so long as you don't resort to web copying!)

Your discussion should be analytical and should make reference to two topics connected to confirmation bias: first, Karl Popper's idea that science should be practiced in a spirit of seeking falsification and, second, conspiracy theories.

An interesting question (not required) you might wish to explore is: Are there situations in which confirmation bias might be a good thing - perhaps having ancient survival value and therefore engraved by evolution in human psychology?

Explain your position on confirmation bias as clearly as possible, with examples.

Due: Friday, June 6, 2008.

Length: Around 2000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography.