Philosophy 1: Introduction to Philosophy

Pierce College

Department of Philosophy & Sociology

Winter, 2020

Third Essay Prompt

Due Thursday, January 30th Friday, January 31st 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 Descartes' claim that (his) thinking can be independent of his body, from the assigned excerpts of Descartes' Second & Sixth Meditations;

2) show how Descartes' claim that (his) thinking can be independent of his body, from 1) can be understood in terms of Folk Psychology from the assigned excerpt of "Eliminative Materialism;"

3) explain one of Churchland's arguments against Folk Psychology or in favor of his Eliminative Materialism;

4) argue for or against the argument you present in 3), above; and

5) defend your argument in 4) against a naysayer to either your thesis or support for your thesis. 

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 third essay in Philosophy 1, the attachment name would be:  Kweego BenahootP1E3.docx .