Starting Points
Selecting a Philosophical Topic &
Presenting a Deductively Valid Argument
This page contains parts 1 & 2 of the 10 part PEE Writing Assignment
OVERVIEW
ASSIGNMENT #2 Present
STEP 1 Take an informed and definitive position on the matter.
STEP 2 Construct a valid argument in standard form.
Are these terms confusing? No worries! See here for HELP
Part 1 Topic Relevance
Pick 1 philosophical issue related to the content of YOUR course which YOU find particularly interesting & relevant to use as your topic for the writing assignment.
Part 2 Research
Find and correctly cite TWO reliable sources of online information about your selected topic and write a brief annotated bibliography for each.
Why only two sources?
More research can, should, and will be done during the course of this scaffolded assignment.
The point here is merely to ensure that at least one opposing viewpoint was considered when selecting one's topic.
STEP 1 How to Select a Topic for a Philosophy Paper
Factual Topics
About the truth / falsity of a claim or consistency of a theory. While there are often more than two options for most factual topics, remember to keep a narrow scope.
Examples
“Whether or not [something] is the case / true / a better theory / explanation than [something else].”
"Whether or not God [is / something].”
Moral Topics
About the permissibility of / obligation to perform a certain act. At some point in the development of your position, it will also be useful to identify which moral agent(s) have which responsibilities / not.
Examples
“Whether or not [some action] is morally permissible / obligatory.” [see here for ethics terminology]
“Whether or not it is morally permissible to [action towards] animals.”
Topics should be...
✓ Relevant
✓ Interesting
✓ Specific
✓ Neutral
Relevance = to the specific course you are enrolled in & the times
Interest = controversial / unsettled in the philosophical discourse
Scope should work within a simple argument and 5 paragraph writing assignment
I.e., phrased as a neutral statement (rather than a question / assertion so as to not indicate one's position)
NOTE: This ensures that you are framing the issue as objectively as possible, and will later make a great TITLE
Check Your Course Materials
Consider one of the topics being covered in your course, as well as any additional resources provided by the instructor, as a general place to start; which you can then narrow down to something more specific.
Consider searching key terms related to your ideas in one of the following online encyclopedias / databases to locate their philosophical equivalents ⇨
Go Beyond The Classroom
Peruse the FREE RESOURCES linked below ⇩,
as well as at the bottom of Why Study Philosophy page
STEP 2 How to Construct An Annotated Bibliography
Part 1 Cite Research
✓ Cite AT LEAST 2 Sources on opposing sides of issue
Author last name, Author first name or initial. “Title of work”. Title of volume that contains work. Edition. Location of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page range.
Part 2 Annotate Sources
✓ Annotate EACH source in no less / more than one paragraph
What should be in each "annotation"?
✓ Summarize why you selected the source &
✓ What reason(s) are given in support of the position
for / against the issue by the author(s)
How to Present a Deductively Valid Argument in Standard Form
Step 1 Assert Conclusion
Based on your topic and research from Assignment #1, take an assertive and informed position which you will now construct an argument to support.
No matter which of the deductively valid argument forms you end up selecting for Step 2, your position should be the conclusion statement of your argument.
Step 2 Construct Premises
Working backwards from your conclusion in STEP 1, construct premises which lead to your conclusion following the argument form you find works best for you (i.e., allows strongest support possible).
This involves (i) replicating your conclusion wherever else it should appear and (ii) filling in the remaining variable(s) with appropriate reasoning.
STEP 1 Asserting Your Conclusion
Part 1 Take a Position on Your Topic
[ASSIGNMENT #1 ⇧]
Sample Topic: Whether or not it is morally permissible to procreate.
Sample Position: It is [not] morally permissible to procreate.
Part 2 Select a Valid Argument Form
While it is recommended to try out different forms before making your selection, only a single argument should be presented (whether simple or complex)
Sample Argument Form: Modus Ponens [MP]
Affirming the Antecedent
P1. If P, then Q.
P2. P.
C. Therefore, Q.
Part 3 Position ⇨ Conclusion
Sample Argument Construction: Take the position you took on your topic and plug it in to your conclusion [plug in for Q in conclusion ⇩].
Modus Ponens [MP]
P1. If P, then Q.
P2. P.
C. Therefore, it is not morally permissible to procreate.
STEP 2 Constructing Your Premises
Part 1 Repeat Conclusion
Locate THE SAME variable from conclusion [Q], in the premise(s) [consequent of P1 ⇩]
P1. If P, then it is not morally permissible to procreate.
P2. P.
C. Therefore, it is not morally permissible to procreate.
Part 2 Fill-in Missing Variable(s)
Think of why someone should believe the conclusion is true [plug in for P ⇩]
P1. If it is extremely likely that future generations will suffer from the effects of climate change, then it is not morally permissible to procreate.
P2. It is extremely likely that future generations will suffer from the effects of climate change.
C. Therefore, it is not morally permissible to procreate.
Note on Constructing
Your Own Argument
Argument forms like Hypothetical Syllogism [HS] and Constructive Dilemma [CD] do not conclude with assertive statements, and so are best combined with one of the other argument forms (Modus Ponens [MP], Modus Tollens [MT], or Disjunctive Syllogism [DS]). HINT HS + MP / MT and CD + DS.