Download Philosophy Papers - Warren Wilson College

Camilla’s Philosophy Tip Sheet
Argument
The point of a philosophy paper is to develop an argument. Philosophy papers are not that different
from other kind of argumentative writing. The main thing is that you have a thesis—a single claim on a
distinct topic—that you can support with reasons. This can of course take many forms (see “Thesis”
below), but the important thing is that paper makes (x) claim about (y) topic. Historical, explanatory,
or anecdotal information is useful only insofar as it contributes to your argument.
Elements of the Introduction
Context
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why your topic is important
narrow in on the area of inquiry you will be addressing
Although context is important, don't overdo it. Try to get to your "point" as quickly as possible.
Do not start with empty reflections such as "Since the beginning of time, philosophers have
wondered about truth..."
o Example: "In the second essay of The Genealogy of Morals, Nietzsche states his hope that
the advent of atheism would bring about 'a kind of second innocence' for mankind. In this
paper, I will argue that this hope is not realized in modern materialist capitalist society."
Argument/Thesis Statement
The whole point of a philosophy paper is to advance a specific thesis. It is the boss of your paper, to
which everything else must answer. Remember, a thesis is a single claim on a distinct topic that you
can support with evidence. Although there are very many different kinds of philosophical arguments,
some of the most common are:
• Invalid/Unsound argument: here you can expose basic rhetorical weaknesses in a philosopher's
argument
o Example: "In this paper, I will argue that Plato's conclusion in Meno that 'all knowledge
isrecollection' does not follow logically from the slave boy example he provides."
• Criticism: here you can identify a more generalized problem with a particular philosopher's
argument and present good reasons for not getting on board with it.
o Example: "In this paper, I will argue that Irigaray's hetero-centric approach to discussing
gender equality in I Love To You represents an erasure of queer subjectivities."
• Comparison: In this kind of paper, you can compare and contrast two different philosophers'
works, but only if that comparison yields a viable philosophical argument.
o Bad Example: "In this paper, I will argue that Socrates' theory of virtue and Aristotle's
theory of virtue are very different."
o Good Example: "In this paper, I will argue that Aristotle's theory of virtue is more relevant
to modern life than Plato's theory of virtue, due to the fact that Aristotle's is more flexible
and nuanced."
• Critical comparison: This is probably the most difficult/advanced kind of philosophical
argument, as it requires you to synthesize the arguments of various philosophies in order to make
a more general statement about overarching philosophical themes.
o Example: "In this paper, I will argue that that Nietzsche's gendered personification of life
in the aphorism 'The Other Dancing Song' is emblematic of cultural and historical
understandings of the 'feminine' as diagnosed by both Luce Irigaray in her book I Love to
You and, to a lesser extent, Jacques Derrida in his article 'Khora.'"
Elements of the Introduction, Continued
Game Plan
Your "game plan" is an absolutely crucial aspect of your paper, as it lays out how you will go about
"proving" the claim you lay out in your thesis. Think of the game plan as a way to let your reader know
what they're in for regarding the rest of your paper. Do not skip this step.
o Example: "First, I will give an overview of Aristotle's theory of virtue. Next, I will
provide an overview of Plato's theory of virtue, emphasizing the points in which this
theory diverges from Aristotle's. Finally, I will compare each of these philosophies,
providing a number of specific examples in order to support my argument."
Tips for the Body of Your Paper
Paragraphs
The purpose of a paragraph is to develop one main idea. If you find yourself attempting to introduce two
major ideas in one paragraph, start a new paragraph.
Topic Sentences
The purpose of a topic sentence is to let your reader know what the "main point" of your paragraph will
be. You don't need to "prove" the main point of your paragraph in this sentence, but you do need to let
the reader know what that main point is.
o Example: "Coinciding with the transvaluation of slave morality into the dominant
morality was the development of the bad conscience." (The rest of this paragraph
proceeds to "prove" that these two things did indeed happen at the same time.)
Avoid Fallacies
There are good and bad ways to support your argument. The good way to support your argument is to
provide a number of well-developed examples in defense of your claim. Bad ways to support your
argument are usually fallacies. Here are some fallacies to avoid:
o Appeal to Authority: "Plato is wrong about the immortality of the soul because the Bible
says..."
o Ad Hominem: "Socrates' argument about the soul is wrong because Socrates just wants to
make himself sound smart."
o Rhetorical Question: "The theory of recollection is wrong because why would anyone
think knowledge is just recollection?"