The Perfect Society

Use 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman font, justified alignment, size 12 font, and black color font.

Use BUiD Harvard Style for referencing and citation.

Enclose your research paper with a cover page of your design. The cover page should include:

1. BUiD logo

2. Course Name: Introduction to Philosophy

3. ‘Summer 2019-2020’

4. ‘Assignment 3: Research Paper’

5. Research Paper Title

6. Research Paper Type

7. Your name

8. Your student ID

9. Submission Date

10. ‘Submitted to: Rawy A. Thabet’

The following are the types of research paper you can write. CHOOSE ONLY ONE TYPE:

1. Conceptual Paper: Explore a philosophical topic in details and from different perspectives, and provide your own original theory on it. For example formulate a new theory of:

   1. free will; or

   2. knowledge; or

   3. post-humanism

1. Analytical Paper: Analyse a philosophical topic and provide your thoughts and interpretation on the various theories and perspectives available on it. For example, unpack and explain:

   1. Kant’s ‘synthetic a priori’; or

   2. Descartes’ dualism; or

   3. Kendall Walton’s quasi-emotions

1. Critique Paper: Choose a theory or a perspective on a philosophical topic and criticize it. Concentrate on finding the problems with the theory/perspective and explain them carefully. For example, criticize

   1. Marx’s theory of Dialectic Materialism; or

   2. Locke’s theory of the Self; or

   3. Noam Chomsky’s ‘Poverty of the Stimulus’

1. Compare and Contrast: Compare two philosophical topics. Find similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, their origins, their advocates and opponents, and their ideas and thoughts on them. For example compare and contrast:

   1. Kalam vs. Falsafa; or

   2. Modernism vs. Postmodernism; or

   3. Feminism vs. Womanism

• Explore a topic by defining it, explaining what it is, and presenting the different views and perspectives on it.

• Analyse the topic by unpacking each definition, each theory, and each argument carefully. You can do so by cutting down the definition/theory/concept/argument into small parts and explain each part and then provide your own interpretation of them. Keep in mind the eras these theory/concept/arguments were written and how it affected them. Keep in mind the philosophers who wrote them and the way they think. Point out the problems with them (such as logically inconsistencies or background assumptions) and the benefits or powers they have.

• Logical inference statements such as inductive or deductive numbered statements that start with a premise and ends with a conclusion can be very helpful to both the reader and the writer. They could be from previous publications, or they could be your own.

• Thought Experiments are an excellent way to get your points across. They could be from previous publications, or they could be your own.

• Analogies and analogical arguments can be very helpful in explaining your ideas and in persuading your readers. Some examples: life is like a race, both the lion and the deer are running; or, capitalists are like vampires, they only live by sucking the life of their labourers; or maybe, we should not blame weather reporters for reporting bad weather.

• Critique a philosophical theory/proposition/concept/perspective. Explain why you disagree with them and point out their problems.

• Compare between several theories or views on a particular philosophical matter.

• Philosopher’s quotes such as Karl Marx’s “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!” to unpack, explain, criticize, analyze, or to defend a philosophical matter. Don’t forget to cite them.

• Invent a new definition or a new word. This might better help you to apply your new theory or idea in your discussion without having to repeat the explanation every time it comes up.

• Examples

• Tables and diagrams. If you do, remember to give them a title, for example: ‘Figure 1: Knowledge Transformation between Tacit and Explicit’.

Your research paper will be graded based on the following components:

1. Thesis (10%): Your thesis is the main point you are trying to make. What is the main objective of your research paper? What is the main idea you are trying to make? What do you hope to achieve by writing this paper? Your thesis needs to be easily identifiable, interesting, plausible, original, and sophisticated.

1. Strength (10%): your power of reasoning, argumentation, explanation, critique, use of evidence, and accuracy of evidence.

1. Structure and Style (10%): grammatical accuracy, coherent sentences, writing style, paragraph structure, transition between points, and focus of the paper. Pay attention to the structure/outline and the format of your research paper (abstract, introduction, text segments, conclusion, references etc.)

1. Insight (5%): Your creativity in reflecting deep thoughts. Your own new interpretation, theories, perspectives, original ideas and novel concepts. The ability of your research paper to spark new thoughts into readers.

1. Use of Sources (5%): Accurate use of in-text citation, and the power and relevance of cited sources.

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