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HOW NOT TO WRITE A PHILOSOPHY PAPER
1. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT
Philosophy is not the same as History, Journalism, Psychology or Biology. A philosophy paper should reflect this fact. Hence a philosophy paper should not just be a report of the facts. It should evaluate the facts.
2. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT A LIST OF PREFERENCES
Philosophy is not an itinerary or a grocery list. Hence it is less concerned with statements than with arguments. A philosophy, paper should not just list statements, but defend or argue for (or against) them. A philosophy paper should, thus focus on arguments or rather the evaluation of arguments. To evaluate the arguments, it should first present them.
3. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT AN ACCOUNT OF A FIGHT OR INSULT
An argument, in a philosophical sense, is neither a fight nor an insult, but a group of statements connected in such a way that one, namely the conclusion, is said to follow from the others called the premises, evidence or reasons. A philosophy paper would, consequently, be seriously defective if it consisted mainly in statements, insults or even criticisms but not evidence or reasons. Note that while an argument consists of statements, not every statement or even group of statements is an argument.
4. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT A COLLECTION OF FALLACIES
An argument may be good or bad. Hence a good philosophy paper should consist not just of arguments but good arguments and unmask or point out bad ones. A bad argument is a fallacious one or one which commits a fallacy or a serious error in reasoning. Simply stated, the conclusion of a bad argument does not follow from the evidence or premises provided. A good or valid argument is such that the conclusion follows or can be shown to follow from the available evidence.
5. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT A MAGIC SHOW
It is the duty of the writer or author of a philosophy paper to show convincingly that a conclusion follows (or does not). The best or excellent arguments are sound ones; that is to say the premises or pieces of evidence used in them are true in addition to the conclusion following from the premises or evidence. In writing a philosophical paper one should aim at producing sound arguments.
6. A PHILOSOPHY PAPER IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE BORING
Like any paper, a philosophy paper should try to be interesting and clear. How else are you going to get points or a grade for it if it is not clear? Further, if it is to be read, it should be interesting or else no one, not even the grader or evaluator, would want to read or finish reading it. It must be read, if it is to receive a grade or credit; mustn't it? Note that to be credited with the paper you must have written it i.e. composed or constructed it; not stolen, copied or downloaded from someone else (from a book, magazine, newspaper, an article or the internet).
WHAT THEN IS A GOOD PHILOSOPHY PAPER?
It is an interesting evaluation of arguments in an attempt to produce a sound argument that one, namely the author, can take credit for and pride in. Here is one easy way of generating such a paper. Remember that this is not the only way of writing a philosophy paper.
(a) Set yourself a main question to be answered by the end of the paper and explain the question as well as define the main words or concepts in the question. (b) Present and evaluate all the arguments on all sides of the issue(s) raised in the question. (c) Try, honestly, to answer the question without dogging it or committing any fallacy, and answer any objection(s) that might be raised against your answer or position by the opposing or other sides. (d) Write an abstract or complete summary of your answer as well as (a summary of) all the arguments presented in your paper.