Philosophy 1: Introduction to Philosophy

Los Angeles Pierce College

Department of Philosophy & Sociology

Winter, 2020

Second Essay Prompt

Due Sunday, January 19th by 11:59PM

Turn this assignment in via Canvas.   

This assignment amounts to 30% of your course grade (unless it gets dropped as the lowest of the four essays you write). 

In five pages (that is, in no fewer than five pages, and no more than five and a half pages): 

1) explain the notion of knowledge as true judgement with an account, from the assigned excerpt of Plato's Theaetetus;

2) explain the difference between a (mere) sum and a whole, from the assigned excerpt of Plato's Theaetetus;

3) explain the so-called Chinese Room argument from the assigned Searle excerpt;

4) argue for or against the claim that one must understand the difference explained in 2) in order to give an adequate account of the Chinese Room from 3); and

5) defend your argument in 4) against a naysayer to either your argument in 4) or your explanation in 1), 2), or 3). 

If you submit someone else's ideas, words, or phrases, you must cite those individuals: plagiarism of any kind will not be accepted.  If you submit ideas, words, or phrases from a previous essay of your own, explicitly state as much.  Please do not just represent, word for word, old material.  Go to http://libguides.piercecollege.edu/citation for excellent information on citing.

Use one-inch margins all around, double-spacing throughout, and Times New Roman font, size 12 only–and no title pages or page numbers please. Also, you should get into the habit of naming your attachments so that they indicate it is from you, and what the attachment includes.  For me, name your essay attachments as follows: First name, space, last name, "P," the course number, "E," and the essay number.  For example, if Kweego Benahoot wants to turn in the second essay in Philosophy 1, the attachment name would be:  Kweego BenahootP1E2.docx .