History of Political Thought
Final essay

Final essay

Social and Political Philosophy (PHIL 241)
Instructor: Sandy Berkovski

Bilkent University
Fall 2010

Choose one of the following topics. Your essay should have no more than 1500 words. Consult the essay writing guidelines here. The essay should be based on the texts we have studied (listed below). All quotations should follow the editions we have used.
Download the front page from here. The pages of your essay must be stapled. Do not use plastic folders.
  1. `My life is going well.' Can I (the speaker) be thoroughly mistaken about the truth of this judgement?
    Your essay may (or may NOT) include discussion of the following questions:
    1. What are the components of happiness, according to Aristotle?
    2. Are pleasant experiences necessary for happiness?
    3. How is happiness related to virtue?
  2. Are there bad pleasures?
    Your essay may (or may NOT) include discussion of the following questions:
    1. What is pleasure, according to Aristotle?
    2. What is the significance of the fact that many people enjoy base activities?
    3. Is pleasure necessary for virtuous activities?
  3. Is a thief brought up among thieves morally responsible for his acts of theft?
    Your essay may (or may NOT) include discussion of the following questions:
    1. In what situations are we absolved of moral responsibility?
    2. At what stage in life does the man's character take the final shape?
    3. What is the role of reason in the formation of moral beliefs?

References

[Ari98]
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. Oxford University Press, 1998.
First drafts must be submitted during the class on 24 December. Late submissions will not be accepted, and there will be no exceptions to this rule. Tutorials on the first drafts will be held during the class on 28 December.
Second drafts must be submitted during the oral exam on 8 January. Only hard copies will be accepted. Each day of the delay in the submission of second drafts will entail a reduction of five points from the essay grade. (Late submissions of the second drafts should be sent by email.)


File translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.85.
On 16 Dec 2010, 12:36.