Assignment:
Please choose ONE of the following paper topics. Papers should be 4-6
pages in length, due in class Friday, November 11.
I am flexible about
paper topics and length only
if you discuss it with me first. Rough
drafts are
strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. I will be accepting rough
drafts no later than
Wednesday, November 9. Also,
drafts will only be accepted in person, so please make an appointmnet
to see me. No
late papers will be accepted. Electronic submissions required;
additional hard copies optional. Go here for
some advice on
writing a philosophy paper. Please email me
or talk to me if you
have
any questions.
1. Lay out formally, and then put into your own words, the Cosmological
Argument for the existence of God (Aquinas' Argument from Causation).
Do you think that this is a valid
argument? Why or why not? Do you think that all of the premises are
true? If not, which ones do you think are false and why? What do you
think is the most convincing objection to this argument? Discuss.
2. Lay out formally, and then put into your own words, the Teleological
Argument for the existence of God. What kind of argument is this? Do
you think that this is a strong
argument? Why or why not? Do you think that all of the premises are
true? If not, which ones do you think are false and why? What do you
think is the most convincing objection to this argument? Discuss.
3. Lay out formally, and then put into your own words, the Ontological
Argument for the existence of God. Do you think that this is a valid
argument? Why or why not? Do you think that all of the premises are
true? If not, which ones do you think are false and why? What do you
think is the most convincing objection to this argument? Discuss.
4. Explain Pascal's Wager. Is this a good reason to believe in God? Why
or why not? What assumptions does this argument make about beliefs? Do
you think this assumption is right? Why or why not? What is one of the
most challenging objections to Pascal's Wager? Is there a response to
this objection? Discuss.
5. Lay out and discuss the Problem of Evil. What are some of the
inadequate responses to the problem, and why are they inadequate?
Explain what you think is the best response to the problem of Evil. If
you would like, discuss in detail the free will response (you can leave
out discussion of the other responses if you choose to write on
this). How is Free Will supposed to solve the Problem of Evil? Do
you think it is a good response? Why or why not? Discuss.