Mill’s Utilitarianism
Locke’s Social Contract Theory
Rawls’ Justice as Fairness
Your essay may be structured as a kind of Compare and Contrast, in which you show how the philosophical theory that you chose was influenced by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. You should carefully cite your sources, and make good use of the following three resources:
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/platoscave.html
https://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/cave.htm
Please carefully review the documents called “Paper One Requirements” and “Paper One Criteria”, which are available from the course home page, by clicking the “Essay Topics” link.
Paper One Requirements
Your paper should include:
A short introductory paragraph, with a clear thesis statement (e.g., I shall argue that Rawls’ argument is influenced by … because …). Your thesis should almost always be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph.
A short, charitable reconstruction of the argument as presented by the Plato and the second philosopher (you may, but need not, use standard premise / conclusion form).
An brief explanation of the position that you’re describing (such as the Categorical Imperative, Justice as Fairness, etc.)
An original argument, in which you make the case that the philosophical position under investigation is influenced by Plato’s Allegory.
A suitable concluding paragraph.
At least two sources, and at least as many non-internet sources as internet sources (Read that sentence again to be sure you understand it).
No direct quotations. It is not necessary to directly quote any author. When it is important to do so, simply explain the position which he/she is defending. It is, however, necessary to cite all authors whose ideas you reference. Thus, if you begin a sentence with, e.g., “According to Plato…”, you should end that sentence with a citation. Essays that include “direct quotations” will not receive a grade higher than a D.
