Take-Home Essay Exam and Paper #1

 

 

The first few writing assignments will primarily be expository in nature, with the purpose of determining how carefully you have done the reading and how much attention you have paid in class. Please read the webpages entitled Tips on Essay Writing and Key to Writing Errors and Abbreviations before beginning. The webpage on Secondary Sources might also be helpful.

 

 

Take-Home Essay Exam (for Nonmajors)

 

Write a separate essay for each of the following topics. Each essay must contain at least one citation from our reading.

 

1. In your own words, briefly explain the problem of evil. Then summarize Augustine’s attempt to defuse the problem through the notion of free will. Finally, critically evaluate Augustine’s attempt, justifying your response. (Minimum 1.5 full pages.)

 

2. In Boethius’ view, what is God’s relationship to time? In this respect, how does God’s nature differ from that of human beings? (Minimum 1 full page.)

 

3. In your own words, briefly explain the ontological argument. In your view, what is the key issue that determines whether the argument succeeds of fails? Finally, does the argument succeed? Why or why not? (Minimum 1.5 full pages.)

 

 

Paper (for Philosophy Majors)

 

Summarize and critically evaluate the response to the problem of evil developed by Augustine and Boethius. Make sure to explain the problem in your own words, and to discuss their justification of both moral and natural evil. Also, discuss the role that Neoplatonic metaphysics plays in their responses.

 

Your paper must contain at least 3 citations from our reading.

 

 

Guidelines for Take-Home Essay Exam and Paper:

 

1. Length – Minimum of 4 full pages, maximum 7 pages. If you use formatting or stylistic devices which artificially inflate the length of your writing – such as titles or headers, footnotes or citations within the text, or extra spaces between paragraphs – you will need to expand the length of your essay or essays to make up the difference.

 

2. Citations – Provide full citations for any quotation or paraphrase (not including class lectures), using any standard method that provides all of the relevant information (including exact page numbers). Sample: Augustine, “On the Free Choice of the Will,” in Medieval Philosophy, 4th edition, ed. Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufmann (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003), p. 81.

 

3. Formatting – Number pages and staple; 12 point type; Double-spaced; 1-1.5 inch margins