Robert Kane's “Free Will: Ancient Dispute, New Theme": Analysis
A critical response paper is one that summarizes and evaluates. So, roughly the first half of the paper will be a summary of the author’s argument, and the second half will be an evaluation of the content discussed in the first half. The paper should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the author’s argument and include carefully reasoned arguments in defense of the student’s point of view. The paper should also make as many connections as possible to course materials, including other course readings and assigned lectures. Students may use a previously written RN as a ‘jumping off’ point for a critical response.
For the first critical response paper, the student will respond, critically (where ‘critically’ means ‘with substantive engagement’, and not necessarily ‘with disagreement’), to any one of the readings from UNIT 4 (Unit 4 is noted in the reading schedule in the course syllabus). Students should not do any outside research. Rather, limit your research to the readings found in UNIT 4.
600 – 800 words
Double-spaced
12 point font
1 inch margins
No cover page
Saved as a Word .doc
Proper citations (Chicago/Turabian)
Must be uploaded through CANVAS on or before the due date.
Make sure and ask a question to the author as well and answer it.
Critical Response Papers
Critical Response Papers
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuality of Writing
Grammar and style are polished = 27 – 30;
Grammar and style are good = 24 – 26.5;
Grammar and style are acceptable, but some problems may make reading difficult = 21 – 23.5;
Grammar and style obstruct reading = 1 – 20.5
30 pts
Excellent Quality
Grammar and style are polished = 27 – 30
26.5 pts
Good Quality
Grammar and style are good = 24 – 26.5
23.5 pts
Acceptable
Grammar and style are acceptable, but some problems may make reading difficult = 21 – 23.5
20.5 pts
Poor Quality
Grammar and style obstruct reading = 1 – 20.5
30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMeets minimum requirements
Paper is not an argumentative response essay = 0;
Paper is not on a relevant topic = 0;
Paper is either under or over the required word count = 0
10 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
Does not meet minimum requirements
Paper is not an argumentative response essay = 0; Paper is not on a relevant topic = 0; Paper is either under or over the required word count = 0
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuality and Clarity of Argument
Excellent summary of author’s arguments; excellent evaluation of author’s arguments; multiple and relevant connections with other course materials; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 54 – 60; Good summary of author’s arguments; good evaluation of author’s arguments; some connections with other course readings; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 48 – 53.5; Acceptable summary of author’s arguments; acceptable evaluation of author’s arguments; few connections with other course readings; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 42 – 47.5; Summary may be seriously deficient; evaluation may be seriously deficient; connections to other course materials may be lacking; logical argumentation and coherence may be lacking = 1 – 41.5
60 pts
Excellent summary and excellent evaluation
Excellent summary of author’s arguments; excellent evaluation of author’s arguments; multiple and relevant connections with other course materials; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 54 – 60
53.5 pts
Good summary and good evaluation
Good summary of author’s arguments; good evaluation of author’s arguments; some connections with other course readings; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 48 – 53.5
47.5 pts
Acceptable summary and evaluation
Acceptable summary of author’s arguments; acceptable evaluation of author’s arguments; few connections with other course readings; logical argumentation is employed in defense of student’s point of view = 42 – 47.5
41.5 pts
Seriously deficient summary and evaluation
Summary may be seriously deficient; evaluation may be seriously deficient; connections to other course materials may be lacking; logical argumentation and coherence may be lacking = 1 – 41.5
60 pts
Total Points: 100
Robert Kane, “Free Will: Ancient Dispute, New Themes"
Student
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
Robert Kane, “Free Will: Ancient Dispute, New Themes"
Part 1
In the text, Kane addresses the questions of compatibility and incompatibility and interdeterminism. He a contemporary philosopher who has argued much about freewill. In many philosophical interpretations, his arguments are stated as libertarian freedom. Through the text, we can see a presentation of alternative possibilities, the ability of an individual or agent ability to do otherwise. This is an important condition to exercise free will. In the other aspect, determinism is never compatible with other alternative possibilities. Therefore, it is perceived that determinism overpowers individual’s ability to act otherwise. Throughout the text, it can be clearly seen that his approach is never centered on defending alternative possibilities. However, we can see that he is observing what we call ultimate responsibility (Kane, 2002).
In this regard, we can see that alternative responsibility is never sufficient process for arriving at freewill. It is essential to have actual alternative possibilities to undertake certain actions. There are also perceptions that an individual’s action is mainly influenced by ultimate responsibility. In the ultimate responsibility, as argued through the text, an agent is responsible for the event. Therefore, whenever there is an occurrence, the agent is deemed to be personally responsible for its occurrence. It is based on the voluntary action of the agent, and voluntary contributed to the occurrence of the event. In other terms, we can argue that the agent is considered to be responsible for an action that causes for the occurrence of an event. There must be sufficient reasons and that will lead to the even and the agent’s responsibility (Kane, 2002).
Part 2
While many people have perceived the approach to freewill as being libertarian, it is somewhat aligned to the libertarian approach. Although an event’s results can never be determined, the occurrence of a particular event is determined. Therefore, the results of a particular action is based on probability...