The paper (4-6 pages long) is due Mon., Apr. 29, in class.
As was the case with the papers last quarter: the
below topics are suggestions. If you want to write on another topic,
feel free to do so. It might be a good idea, however, in that case, to
check with me and/or Megan first.
Note that the topics tend to have many
sub-questions. You need not (and probably should not) try to answer
all of them. (You certainly should not just answer them one
after another in order--that would make a bad paper.) I put them
there to suggest various directions for thinking about the topic, and
in particular to head off superficial or excessively simple ways of
thinking about it.
All but one of the below topics are designed to get
you to write about both Hume and Kant, and that is in general strongly
recommended. If you have an idea which involves writing about only one
of them, you should check with me (but I'll probably still advise
against it). Some of the topics also suggest (and, in two cases,
require) the use of other sources; in general you are welcome to bring
in such other sources (especially things you read in previous quarters
of this course) if you think they're relevant. If you do so, however,
please make sure it's still clear that the paper was written for this
course.
The intent of the paper is to discuss the views or
attitudes of Hume and Kant, rather than your own opinions on the
topic. You should try to say something original, but that original
thing should be about Hume and Kant, not about (for example) what is
the basis of morality.
If you're using the editions I ordered, you can
refer to the readings just by giving the page number. If you use a
different edition and/or some other source, please give at least
enough bibliographical information that I can find it if
necessary. There's no need for a separate bibliography or title page.