Philosophy 1000 Essay Topics: (Other topics can be arranged, on consultation with the
instructor)
NOTE: This paper should be about 1000 words in length—longer than 1500 is definitely too much,
less than 900 is too little.
1. Give an account of Anselm’s famous ‘ontological’ argument and of Guanilo’s ‘perfect island’ reply.
Then examine whether Guanilo’s reply refutes Anselm and defend your conclusion.
2. Discuss Aquinas= claim that no system regularly achieves some goal without being directed
towards that goal by some intelligence. Do you think it=s true? Can you give an argument for it, or
against it? (Consider Hume=s proposal that plants and animals should count as a counterexample.)
3. Do you find any argument, either for or against the existence of God, convincing? Which, and
why? Could you be mistaken about whether such an argument works or not (in particular, could
your belief or disbelief in God fool you into thinking that an argument for your belief works when it
doesn=t)? If such an argument works, should you be able to persuade someone who disagrees (so
long as they aren=t Ablind to reason@)? If you find none of these convincing, discuss whether you
think any argument on this subject could be convincing; if you think none could, is that in itself an
argument for agnosticism?
4. Consider Jame’s argument in favour of ‘believing as you wish or feel’ with respect to “genuine”
options (explain this concept) that the ‘intellect’ cannot settle. Does his principle of never restricting
your formation of beliefs by a rule that would prevent you from accepting certain kinds of truth if
those truths held really hold water? Is it sufficient to justify not just freedom of conscience (the right
to believe as you do), but the rational permissibility of any belief that results from this practice?
5. Present Pascal’s wager argument, and explain why you accept or reject it as a justification of
attempts to get yourself to believe in some religion. (Be sure to consider some of the objections
we’ve discussed.)
Always be aware that others will disagree with you- if you ignore obvious replies to or criticisms of
your own views, then you=re not being philosophically honest. Also (a related point) think carefully
through any arguments in the text that run against the point of view you=re defending, and explain
why they fail, or don=t count against the view you=re defending... Above all, show that you are Aup
to speed@ on the arguments and issues we=ve been discussing. A mere opinion may count as your
personal Aphilosophy,@ but that isn=t enough to make a good philosophy essay!