Philosophical ideas??

Question

I have to write a 7 page essay on some philosophical viewpoint, but everything I come up with has more to do with theology than anything. ( my professors words) In this 7 pages I have to argue for and against said viewpoint. I am really needing some ideas. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

altruism-is it real, as in do people really do good things just to do them, or do people do good things for personal value (even if they do not realize it--subconscience)
another good one, and very easy to expound on is socrate's journey for truth, "an unexamined life is not worth living" explore the socratic method of questioning everything! it could be enlightening instead of daunting, if you let it

Answer 2

Ok, because of the vagueness of the assignment, it sounds as though you're expected to pick a reasonably broad, generic question, rather than one that requires trawling through hundreds of books and hours and hours of research.

Sounds like you're supposed to demonstrate the ability to see both sides of an argument, present them fairly and analyse them critically. Off the top of my head, the best subject to tackle is the debate over whether ethics is subjective. You can frame your argument in terms of a particular question - I'd call the essay something like:

- What does it mean when we say "Murder is wrong"?

You then go on to discuss whether it comes down to a feeling or subjective opinion that murder is wrong, or whether "Murder is wrong" is a /fact/ in some sense (and if so, what sense?). Most Christians, for example, believe that it is /true/ that murder is wrong, while your average atheist tends not to (clearly, atheists still think murder is a bad idea, but for different reasons!)

Religion would probably come into this topic, but there's no reason why your professor should accuse you of writing a theological essay, so long as you present critical arguments for both sides of the question.

If you want to do some research (and it's probably a good idea to do a bit) any philosophical text book or introduction to ethics will contain reams of stuff on this subject.

Answer 3

Your professor is stuck up. Theology is a perfectly legitimate branch of philosophy. The faithful and the faithless can be equally stuck up.
I'm not sure what advice to give you. Your professor is clearly against the idea of God. You could just please him and write an essay supporting that. Or you could just write according to your conscience and say 'screw the grade'.
On the other hand, I suspect you professor would appreciate more rigorous logic on your part. I would suggest reading some Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine and Saint Anselm. These are very difficult authors and it could take you years to understand everything they're saying, but just get a taste of it. They would give you some of the tools needed to argue your point in a manner that is acceptable to academics.
Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

It is very hard not to take philosophical questions into the area of psychology, theology, etc., etc. There are plenty of topics if you know how to limit your consideration. With only seven pages you are not going to spell out any final solutions; so don't try.

Here you go:

(1) A classic contrast of viewpoints exists between Empiricism and Rationalism. Empiricism is the philosophy that maintains that all knowledge is gathered through sensory experience alone. The opposite of Rationalism.

For Empiricism check out Berkeley, Hume, Locke and Russell.

(2) Rationalism is the philosophy (not religion) that there are innate ideas in the mind, and not everything we know must of necessity be gathered through sensory experience.

For Rationalism check out Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz.

(3) Now pick an idea or ideas you like from one or more persons on both sides and contrast them in your own mind. Make it personal.

It is great to be able to see things with your eyes and certainly knowledge comes this way. But, can you explain all human knowledge as the result of sensory experience alone. Was E=MC squared such a result? Can Empiricism explain this?

No one ever tasted, felt, heard, saw or smelled a piano; yet we have the piano. This, really recent invention, was followed in a very short time with people who could compose for it and play it with abilities that common teachers could not match. Can Empiricism explain this? And so forth... How would Russell answer me on these last two paragraphs?

The question asked by both sides is one of Epistemology. That is the question of "How do we know?" Your paper is to consider the pros and cons of both sides. Good luck.

Answer 5

your professor is a bore. why dont you chose to talk about the conflict between authority and the subject, you being the subject who wants to talk about theology and your professor being the authority who prevents you to do so because he thinks that religious issues are not philosophical. you have a real philosophical debate here. and just tell your professor in your work that you hate people who abuse their authority.

Answer 6

you could go to the basics
Greek thought of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Plotinus...et al
or
schools of thought
Pythagoreans, Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics...et al

take a current situation...terrorists' bombings, stem cell research, drug usage, drive by shootings, questionable business practices, war....
and explain how each of the different schools of thought would describe the situation

or you could go to one of the essential elements of any classical philosophy...epistomology....
use the "Kantian dilemma" as to the problem of a tree in the forest if there is no one to hear the sound....
that is...is knowledge external or internal....
you could use stimulus/response cues from brain waves for the external and genetic predisposition/genetic "instincts" for the latter

or
justify or criticize the actions of Bush [or any President during war time] based on different schools of thought

or

explore how the Greek Cynics world/individual view could have lead to existential philosophy

or
how Epicurean views could have lead to the mentality of elitism

or
how Roman philosophy as expounded by Marcus Aurelius could have lead to monasticism...

or
how the mystic philosophy of Simon Trismagistus could have lead to existentialism

enough??????

Answer 7

Try the proes and cons of Philosophical and theology any thing can have a philosophical side

Answer 8

You can probably talk about living love in a material or spiritual world. Example, If I watch the stars an I think of you. When do we cross the border of the imagination to realism. If you write about it send me a copy, so I will learn more.

Answer 9

all the ancients (socrates, plato, aristotle) all agreed that men want goodness. Pick things that are good that people want and the bad things that stand in the way, and try and pose philosophical questions as so why it is like it that.

Answer 10

Argue about prayer and praying.

Is it betting the odds, a good thing, selfish (hoping you will get something in return for praying for others), is it effective, ect...

Allot can be said about it and you can really drag it out and argue many points.