Reference no: EM133346796

1. Introduction: Start your paper with an introduction to your philosophical question. Why is that philosophical question important?

2. Thesis: State your position on the matter. This should be stated in a concise way that reflects your perspective after having reflected on the topic.

For example. Suppose your question was: Is knowledge necessary to aesthetically appreciate nature?

Then tell the reader why you think this question is important giving some background of your own experience, or what you have read, etc. You can use first person laguage.

For example: This question is important for me because, as a student in Environmental Sciences, we learn how much humans have negatively impacted natural ecosystems. As I began reading about this topic and discussing it with my peers and professors, I wondered if knowing more about nature could help people appreciate its beauty, and therefore, respect it so that we stop destroying our environments.

Then state your thesis: I believe that understanding the way nature works actually enhances our aesthetic appreciation of it.

3. Roadmap: After your thesis, tell your reader what the structure of your paper will be in order to guide them through your essay. In other words, tell your reader how you will prove your thesis.

For example: "In this essay, I will first present the view that doesn't think knowledge is necessary to appreciate nature. I will then explain why I think this view is not correct by showing examples where knowledge have helped people see beauty in nature where they previously couldn't. Next, I will present the philosophical view that argues for the cognitive theory of aesthetic appreciation by referring to the work of Allen Carlson and argue why I think his view is very convincing. It seems to me that without knowledge, we would be left with a very narrow way of approaching nature, that could eventually lead us to disrespect it in very problematic ways. I will respond to one possible objection to my view before concluding the essay."

This section should take you approx. one page.

4. Paraphrase the arguments: Develop your essay by paraphrasing the arguments, presenting the different views on the topic in the best, clearest, strongest way you can; then giving reasons why you agree or disagree with the arguments; presenting your own reasons and argument for your view. Here you can include your conversations that you had in your philosophical engagement activity AND you must include a philosophical reference. See sources below.

This section should take you approx. three pages.

5. Form an objection: Think of the strongest objection to your own view of the topic and address it with further reasons, including examples.

6.Respond to the objection: After considering the potential weaknesses of your own view, you need to honestly think if you can respond and explain why your thesis still holds. Here you could even admit that your initial thesis was wrong, or that you need to nuance it better, or what you think your view needs to hold despite the objection.

This section should take you approx. one pages.

7.Conclusion: Provide a short summary of what you did in your paper. Show that you did what you promised in the introduction and emphasize what it was that you tried to show. You could also say what you were not able to answer and what would need to be done next to solve an issue you could not answer. "In this paper I have argued that... One important issue that could not be solved was...however, this poses several questions that would require further research, inquiry, etc. such as..."