Instructions for Philosophy 227 / 322  

Essay Topics -- 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. You 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 shortly.

 

(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, underlined title (city: publisher, year), pages.  

 

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

 

Articles: Author, title (in double quotation marks), underlined 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.)

 

Choose either topic (a) or topic (b) or topic (c) or topic (d):

(a) Analyse any example of a "marginal" art form in terms of the cluster criteria for art, comparing it with canonical art. The choice of a marginal art is over to you, but you might want to pass your idea by your lecturer before getting started.

(b) Contrast the arguments for and against the idea that landscape preferences are a product of enculturation or that they are essentially innate. Base you argument on texts by Carlson, Carroll, and Dutton, and the references they appeal to (these are many in number). You may find the most sensible approach is to say that landscape preferences are both cultural and innate simultaneously.

(c) Examine the arguments for and against the idea that photography is a legitimate art. You should begin by analysing the philosophers represented in the assigned text, but your essay must include original research that you have undertaken in the library (and not just on the Internet). Argue your position, always taking into account the objections of your potential opponents.

(d) Examine the concepts of kitsch and sentimentality in the arts. What do you see as the most potent arguments against kitsch and sentimentality? How can it be justified? How to your recognise it in the arts? Take a personal stand on the issue and argue to your conclusion.

 

Due: Tuesday, October 28, 2008.

Length: 2000 - 2500 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography, for students enroled in PHIL 227. Students enroled in the course under PHIL 322 must write a more substantial essay of up to 3500 words.