| ASSIGNMENTS | DUE |
|---|---|
| Class Participation | Throughout |
| Pop Quizzes | Throughout |
| Reading Responses | Throughout |
| First Paper | Session 14 |
| Second Paper | Session 28 |
| grade | criteria |
|---|---|
| A | Fully and clearly answers the question at hand without factual errors. Asks a question which reveals a thorough understanding of the material. |
| B | Answers the question without factual errors, but is lacking in some degree one or more of the features which warrant an “A”. |
| C | Factual errors present. Is worse than a “B” along the dimensions sketched. |
| D | Worse than a “C” along the dimensions sketched. |
| F | Missing, or for which the reasonable inference is that the author has not even remotely attempted to complete the task. |
| grade | criteria |
|---|---|
| A | Fully and clearly answers the question at hand without factual errors. Demonstrates mastery of the material (and its nuances) and shows creativity and originality when presenting author’s own interpretation or argument. |
| B | Answers the question without factual errors, but is lacking in some degree one or more of the features which warrant an “A”. |
| C | Factual errors present. Is worse than a “B” along the dimensions sketched. |
| D | Worse than a “C” along the dimensions sketched. |
| F | Missing, or for which the reasonable inference is that the author has not even remotely attempted to complete the task. |
| grade | criteria |
|---|---|
| A | Demonstrates mastery of the issue (including the literature discussed in class), originality of thought, clarity and precision in writing and argument. Articulates a substantive thesis and provides a persuasive case for it. Anticipates strong and sensible objections to the main thesis and motivates reasonable and compelling responses. |
| B | Demonstrates understanding of the issue and surrounding material, but is lacking in some degree one or more of the features which warrant an “A”. |
| C | Exhibits confusions about the issue and surrounding material. Is worse than a “B” along the dimensions sketched. |
| D | Worse than a “C” along the dimensions sketched. |
| F | Missing, or for which the reasonable inference is that the author has not even remotely attempted to complete the task. |
Example student work provided below is courtesy of MIT students and used with permission.
Due: Session 14
Your essay should address one of the following questions. Please type your essay (double-spaced). It should be between 3 and 5 pages. Make sure you clearly explain what you mean by the philosophical terms you discuss, and argue for your claims.
Can Moral Facts be an Explanation? (PDF)
Due: Session 28
Please type your essay. It should be around 5 pages (double-spaced). Make sure you clearly explain what you mean by the philosophical terms you discuss, and argue for your claims.
Prompt: Your task is to write a paper assessing the outlook of one of the varieties of moral anti-realism that we discussed in class (error theory + moral fictionalism, moral relativism, moral non-cognitivism). The focus of your paper should be on one aspect of the view—do not try to do too much! Make sure you give arguments for your claims, and consider and respond to responses from your opponent. (For instance, you might assess error theory in light of whether moral fictionalism can provide an adequate account of why it is rational for us to ‘carry on’ in our moral practices in light of the thesis that all moral propositions are false.)
Below are two examples of the Reading Responses assigned to students in this course.
Due: Session 7
Answer all the questions thoroughly (write about three paragraphs). Please type your answers. Please consult the grading guidelines for information on how reading responses will be assessed.
Does Thomson’s view avoid Moore’s open question argument? Argue for your answer. Then briefly assess what, if anything, follows for Thomson’s view from your conclusion. (e.g., if you think Thomson’s view avoids Moore’s argument, do you think her view provides a definition of ‘good’?)
Due: Two days after Session 19
Write one to three paragraphs addressing the following prompt:
Suppose you agree with Harman that saying “Those aliens morally ought not kill humans” is odd when the aliens in question exhibit behavior revealing that they are unmoved by the facts you think are reasons not to kill a human being. Now, do one of the following:
