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Topic:

The Interconnection of Faith and Reason

Term Paper Instructions:

The term paper you will write for this class should be a position paper. That is, you take a certain view and either you argue for it, or critique it. Here are some steps you need to follow: 




1. Choose a topic




2. Construct a brief abstract which sums up what you intend to do in your paper. Here is an example from one of my own published papers in Philosophia Christi Journal (2011):




 




Title: Frank Jackson’s Location Problem and Argument from the Self




  




Abstract: E. J. Lowe argues in Personal Agency that the self is physically embodied yet not identical with any physical body, nor with any part of a physical body, such as the brain. For Lowe, the self is an agent that is capable of carrying out intentional actions. Call this the thesis about the self (TS). In this paper my purpose is to develop and defend TS and argue that Frank Jackson’s serious metaphysics (SM) fails to account for the nature of the self. This paper is outlined as follows: Section I presents Lowe’s theory of the self. In section II, I present Jackson’s central claims of SM. In section III, I develop Jackson’s SM as an objection against Lowe’s TS. In section IV, I respond to objections raised against Lowe’s TS and then critique Jackson’s claim that if an entity is not locatable within the framework of physicalism it should be eliminated. In section V, I conclude that Lowe’s TS is superior to Jackson’s SM."




 




 




3. Be clear in regard to want you want to do once you decide a topic for your paper. Ask yourself: Do I want to critique this view or defend it? Always give reasons for any central claims that you make. Don’t simply list opinions without defending them.




4. Consider objections against your position and respond to those objections. Your paper must be based on arguments not just mere series of assertions. For a detailed information on how to write a good philosophy paper, look at the following two links:
  

 Jim Pryor’s Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper:


 

  For Jim Prior’s, Philosophical Glossary for Beginner’s. Look at


 

Examples of Paper Topics


1. Is modest foundationalism a better view compared to the classical Cartesian foundationalism? If so, why?


2. Discuss Edmund Gettier’s case against the sufficiency of the three components of knowledge, namely justification, truth and belief (JTB). For example, do you think that Gettier’s thought experiment effectively shows the inadequacy of the traditional analysis of knowledge, that is, JTB? If so, why? If not why?


3.Are human beings purely physical beings?

4.Can science explain everything?

5. Do properties exist as universals or particulars? 


6. Argue for or against skepticism.

7.  Argue for or against moral relativism

8. Does soul exist?

9. Is scientism a correct view of science? If not, state some of the reasons why it is not.

10. Is morality objective?

11. Are faith and reason allies or foes?

In writing your papers, keep three things in mind:  (1) state the issue; (2) take a position; (3) consider objections against your position; and (4) respond to those objections.

N.B. You can also suggest your own topic. In that case, make sure you get my approval.



Term Paper Sample Content Preview:

The Interconnection of Faith and Reason
Submitted by: Student’s Name
Submitted to: Prof Name Intro to Phil 100: Intro to PhilosophyInstitution Name:Due Date:
Abstract
Faith and reason are two common terms that renowned philosophers have had to expound on over the past couple of centuries and even in ancient times. Some strict rationalists have argued in favor of reason as the main source of authority while others, mainly the strict creationists, believe in the superiority of faith. The work of some philosophers, in particular St. Augustine, St. Thomas, and lately John Paul II have played a significant role in asserting the interrelation between the two terms that some have considered contrasting. The proponents of the interdependence of faith and reason have validly expressed their arguments and this paper purposes to strongly assert the fact that faith and reason are more of allies rather than foes. The paper takes into account the different understanding of the terms in question and the perspectives of the different philosophers, from the ancient times of Aristotle and Plato. The contributions of St. Augustine, St. Thomas’s, and John Paul II are also taken into account.
The Interconnection Faith and Reason
Introduction
The human species have adopted various strategies and techniques through which a concept can be understood or rather to acquire knowledge. The various strategies and techniques represent the different sources of authority. Faith and reason are the two primary sources of authority, and philosophers and theologists have come up with all sorts of arguments to back up the authority that these two concepts exert on beliefs and knowledge. Faith can be defined as the tendency to strongly believe in some proclamation that is not backed up by a rationale. From a religious perspective, faith can be of two categories: evidence sensitive and evidence-insensitive to denote those that rely on demonstratable facts and those of which are purely reliant on the subject’s faith alone respectively (Swindal, 2001). Reason, on the other hand, justifies a claim based on certain principles of inquiry that are adequately demonstrated or based on experience.
Faith and reason are probably the two uniting concepts between religion and philosophy. The role of the two concepts in the area of epistemology has brought about intense attention by philosophers and theologists trying to figure out the relationship between the two terms. Some philosophers and theologists have come out strongly to argue that faith and reason are never in conflict; that infact, the two concepts complement each other. Others have strongly disagreed, arguing that the two concepts can be conflicting and have varying outcomes depending on domain areas in question. The opposers of the interdependence between faith and reason present some valid arguments. However, the proponents who claim that the two terms are more of allies than foes give more convincing arguments that deserve the backing of this paper. The interaction between faith and reason is best described as an element of the philosophy of religion as well as by taking into account the different schools of thought by the philosophers of ancient times, the medieval period, the enlig...
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