The following is both the homework assignment and a reading guide. The
reading this week, I warn, is both tough and long. Successful completion
of this assignment will undoubtedly take perseverence. There are two
main purposes of this assignment. One, it is to help you answer the
hardest question I posed in the first class: are you prepared to meet the
incredible and enriching challenges I offer you? Two, it is a powerful
lesson in learning the basics of philosophical skills, of discovering an important
intellectual persepective, and it helps to answer the question of why we
ought to learn philosophy.
First thing I would do before continuing on is read quickly through. This
should take about thirty to fourty-five minutes. I would number each
paragraph from 1-31 so that you can follow the rest of this guide. There
are ten question to answer for your homework. You do not need to rewrite
each question. This assignment DOES NOT need to be one page long.
You will need to be able to identify premises from conclusions. If
you still feel a bit unsure how to find them even after an admittedly abrupt
lesson. Click on this link for further
explanations.
P1. The most important paragraph of the essay. Read twice/thrice.
Homework Question #1: What is the central point (conclusion/thesis)
of the essay?
P2. The keyword here is "two". Circle it. Always circle
words that express quantity in argumentitive texts. They are usually
important.
Homework Question #2: What are the two hypotheses referred to here?
You can copy them exactly from the text if you'd like.
P3. "First" is usually a huge keyword, circle it. An important
paragraph. Read again.
P4 (top of page 2). Ask yourself as you read the last half of the
paragraph if you are like the "People more happily situated"?
P5. The conclusion of this paragraph is the first two sentences.
Homework Question #3: What one reason (evidence/premise/propositions)
is given for this claim? One sentence should be fine.
P6. This paragraph answers the question of how we should approach
any claim to truth. Notice what he says in regards to Newtonian science/philosophy.
Hard question (not for homework): anybody see the irony?
P7. Not important, skip entirely.
P8-P11.
Homework Question #4: What role is played by these paragraphs? (evidence
or conclusion) If they are evidence, what paragraph number is the conclusion?
If they are the conclusion, what paragraph serves as its evidence?
P12. At the beginning of this paragraph, notice a counterargument
is introduced. Typical in philosophical debate, a counterargument is
introduced, a response is made by the author against the counterargument,
and additional evidence is introduced. What additional reason is given?
(not for homework)
P13. This paragraph is a continuation of paragraph 12. Use this
paragraph to help answer the question I posed above. Technically, this
is a clarification paragraph, since it just builds upon the ideas already
introduced above.
P14. A very important transition paragraph. Read twice. Ask
yourself what is the "second division?"
P15. The last part of this paragraph serves as the conclusion for
the evidence introduced in P16.
P16. Skip the quote towards the beginning of the paragraph. Actually,
you can skip all the way to the next sentence that begins with "But" (a total
of about 12 lines).
Homework Question #5: What is one reason to believe the conclusion
introduced in P15? One sentence should be fine.
P17. Ask yourself, what role does this paragraph play? Make
sure you focus on the first sentences, they generally provide the best clue
to answer such questions.
P18. Read quickly through.
P19 and P20.
Homework Question #6: Which is the conclusion and which is the evidence?
P21. This is an important commentary on how Christians live today.
Ask yourself how true is it for you and your religious (or moral) beliefs?
P22. A continuation of P21. The last seven lines or so are important!
If you had trouble answering Question #6, this may help.
P23. Read through quickly.
P24. An important paragraph, read twice.
P25. Ask yourself what role does this paragraph play?
P26-P27 An interesting historical treatment and critique of Christian
morality. Read quickly.
P28 The keyword is "four". Circle it.
P29. Homework Question #7: What paragraph number introduces
this idea?
P30. Homework Question #8: What paragraph number introduces
this idea?
P31. Homework Question #9: What paragraph number introduces
this ("thirdly") idea?
Homework Question #10: What paragraph number introduces this ("fourthly")
idea?
