Philosophy 117: Paper 2
Swedlow
Overview: This is an essay examining various tenets of existentialism. Your chief
goal here is to dig deep into one or more of the philosophers and really think them
through to the end. A reminder of things you ought to do:
o Have a thesis in the introduction
o Explain the philosophers’ main ideas completely, using quotes,
paraphrases, and citations
o Create an extensive argument of your own that lasts more than a page
o Deal with any possible counter arguments, showing why they are
wrong
o Provide at least a brief conclusion to wrap things up.
Requirements: Regular class: 4 to 6 pages, sans the argument. Honors class: Six to
Eight pages or more, including the argument. Format it in MLA, and provide a
bibliography. Think of a creative title and do so after you’ve written the paper,
unless you are inspired. A digital copy is to be turned into turnitin.com.
1. Examine Nietzsche’s criticism of the ascetic ideal and compare it to how the
noble/master morality lives. Explain whether his analysis is correct and how
it would apply to our world today.
2. Variation on 1: After exploring Nietzsche’s key concepts, explain who lives
the slave morality today and who the master morality. Then examine
whether Nietzsche’s advice is sound.
3. Explain Sartre’s concept of radical freedom, including responsibility for all of
humanity and the pitfalls of bad faith. Show how he uses Kant in the process,
and argue for whether he is ultimately correct.
4. Examine how both Nietzsche and Sartre use art and the artist to describe the
way one ought to live; examine their similarities and differences and argue
whether either provides a good way of explaining how we ought to live today.
5. Show the similarities and differences between Camus and Nietzsche in terms
of their explanation for how we ought to deal with our fate, and then show if
either should be followed.
6. Discuss the various ways that Nietzsche and Sartre show how we lie to
ourselves, highlighting any similarities and differences. Then explain
whether either has the better analysis of how humans submit to selfdeception.
7. Examine the threads of thought that tie Nietzsche, Camus, and Sartre
together to create an existentially philosophical approach to how one ought
to live, noting along the way any important differences. After doing so, assess
whether existentialism is the right approach to viewing the human condition
and reality. Be sure to compare it to alternative philosophical views, such as
that of Kant or Plato.
Due: Monday, April 15th