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Essay Instructions-IBA Fall 2024

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Pushkar Raj
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16 views

Essay Instructions-IBA Fall 2024

Uploaded by

Pushkar Raj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dear All,

You can select any one of the following topics for the essay:

1- Third-order simulation and its implications on our perception of reality (Check the
handout simulation and Hyper-Real)
2- Ethical implications of translating non-economic goods into monetary units (give some
specific examples and then their ethical implications in the context of normative theories)
3- Lacan's trichotomy (imaginary, symbolic, and real) through popular culture.
4- Enlightenment of false consciousness and the critique of ideology.
5- What are the virtues or character traits that you believe are most important for the
morally good person to have in today's world? Why are these important? How would you
go about cultivating this kind of character?
6- Consider a situation that confronted you with a moral dilemma. Discuss what each of
these theories of obligation would have required you to do: utilitarianism, Kant's
categorical imperative, virtue ethics. Does each of these theories provide clear guidance
about what you should do? Explain
7- Some philosophers hold that utilitarianism imposes extremely heavy obligations on us.
Others hold that Kant's categorical imperative imposes even heavier obligations. Which
of these two approaches do you think would be easier to follow? Why
8- Some people argue that because nonhuman animals can think, humans are not unique at
all. What is the difference between thinking and reasoning? What mental states indicate a
thinking process? Would you say that reasoning presumes thinking but that thinking does
not presume reasoning? Why
9- How do the rationalistic and religious views foster a concept of the human as being at
odds with nature? Does history indicate that Westerners have lived up to this concept?
Does contemporary experience confirm or challenge the wisdom of this concept?
10- What do you understand to be meant by the terms "epistemic naivetéy" and "epistemic
awareness"? As you reflect on your own knowledge-condition, do you feel that these
terms apply to you? (both terms are explained in the knowledge handout)
11- "Skepticism is the logical outcome of empiricism"- Critically analyze this statement
based on Hume's philosophy… (Skepticism means we can't have absolute and certain
knowledge)

Instructions:

1- Weightage: 20% of the course grade (20 marks)


2- Word limit: 1500 words (minimum) to 2000 words (maximum)- Excluding Bibliography
3- How to write effectively with proper justification is an essential skill in philosophy
papers, and it should be reflected in your essays. You are expected to demonstrate in-
depth knowledge of the course material. Your paper should also engage with the skills
of 'close' and 'critical' reading in the study of the History of Ideas. Your paper must offer
an argument. It can't consist in the mere report of your opinions, nor in a mere report of
the opinions of the thinkers we discuss. You have to defend the claims you make. You
have to offer reasons to believe them.
4- The paper grading rubric (already uploaded) would help you to organize your
arguments.
5- Deadline: Saturday 30th November 2024 (11:55 pm)
6- Late submissions: A deduction of 20% shall be imposed upon the expiry of the deadline.
A further deduction of 10% shall be imposed on each of the next subsequent days.
7- Paper Formatting: Follow APA Guidelines. You are required to use 5 to 8 reliable
academic sources in your draft.
8- Please make sure that you upload the correct file on LMS- if you accidentally upload the
wrong file, your submission will be considered late.
9- The filename should be your name with ID (Example: ABCDE12345)- the file that you
will upload on LMS.
10- Exact quotations or citations must not be more than 10% of the total word count.

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