How Philosophers Define Life

Find articles related to your topic. You can use any of the class readings or others from the library. You must, however, use at least 5 primary sources written by the philosophers we've studied in this class in your final article. A good paper will also include at least 5 secondary sources of a scholarly nature too. Newspaper articles are not generally considered 'scholarly' sources. Please use books and/or journal articles instead.

This is the list of the philosophers that have been studied and have to be at least five of the sources used in the paper.

Kierkegaard
Gasset
Heidegger
Sartre
Friedman
Merleau-Ponty

Hegel 

Marx
Buber
Melville
Dostoevsky
Nietzsche

Camus
Jaspers

Berdyaev

Dilthey
Husserl
Bergson

Once you've completed your research, begin your essay by crafting your introduction:

• · Clearly explain and elucidate the sense and meaning of your essay topic in your

own words. Be sure to use some of your research to help in this process.

• · Identify and define the key terms and expressions of your topic. Your definitions

should be philosophic in nature, and they should cut to the essence of each term.

• · Although you know the conclusion(s) you will be arguing, it's important to not state it

too early in your paper as you must argue for it first! This is not an English essay. In

Philosophy you must always offer logical proof before giving conclusions. Thus, in

the introduction it's best to just focus on defining key terms and clarifying the

parameters of the question at hand. Your conclusion(s) can wait until the end.

a. The body of your paper should contain your very best argument(s) for your

conclusion(s). Each argument should contain true premises that are stated in clear

terms. Remember to be as logical as possible as you make your points.

b. Remember to make reference to at least 5 primary sources as you go . As you

do so, be sure to explain all quotes in your own words. Never cite a quote

without fully explaining the sense in which you are interpreting it and how it relates

to your central argument(s).

c. Lastly, you should give convincing, concrete evidence that exemplifies your

argument(s) and supports your position(s). Give examples from real-life situations

that prove and illustrate the argument(s) you are trying to make.

As one closes the research paper, it is most important to summarize your position and

restate the most compelling evidence cited for it. Remember, this is the last chance to

remind the reader and convince her/him to accept your position. Do not introduce new

material into the final summary. Your summary should be about a page to half a page

long (no more!)

• · Use Arial 12-pt font and 1" margins all around.
• · The personal pronoun 'I' is not appropriate for either your essentialist definitions or

your abstract argument. It is, however, okay to use when you exemplify your

argument.

Please see attached document for all the information required for the paper. Please pay very close attention to the requirements for the sources and the list of the philosophers that have to be used as at least 5 of the sources.