San Diego Mesa College
Phil 107
Spring 2014
Instructor: Prof. Nina Rosenstand
REFLECTIONS ON HUMAN NATURE
3RD TAKE-HOME PAPER, DUE MAY 13 [EXTENDED DEADLINE]
LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED WITH -3 POINTS PENALTY MAY 15
Write min. 3 pages, max.5, typed and double-spaced, choosing from one of the following options. Make sure you
answer all parts of the question. All options require at least two outside sources (scholarly articles, scholarly works,
or websites with a scholarly content—not merely Wikipedia!) in addition to the textbook. Endnotes and a
bibliography (Works cited) are required at the end of the essay, in addition to the 3 pages. Papers cannot be
submitted by e-mail.
Please indicate on your COVER PAGE that this is Essay #3, and specify which option you’ve chosen for the 3rd
essay. Papers must be stapled/clipped. Loose pages lose 1 point.
Worth max. 50 points.
Joint Option: This essay may be submitted as a joint project between two students. Both/all names should
appear on the front page/cover, and both students will receive the same grade.
Due to the extended deadline Prof. Rosenstand may not comment extensively on your essay. If you want extensive
comments, submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your essay.
Option 1 A Sense of Self (CHAPTER 7/Course Reader)
 Describe three different explanations of the sense of self. One of the explanations may be
chosen from the Damasio text Self Comes to Mind. Which one do you find to be the better
explanation? Explain.
 In the film Memento, does Leonard have a sense of self? Explain Leonard’s problem in light
of the three theories of self.
Option 2: The Meaning of Life (Chapter 8)
Explore the question of the meaning of life and/or life after death, referring to at least three
theories in Chapter 8. In addition, your paper may refer to the film What Dreams May Come
(Narrative, Chapter 8), or another film dealing with the subject of life after death (such as
Afterlife). (Feel free to speculate! Anything goes.)
Option 3: Nietzsche’s Theory of the Eternal Return (Chapter 8)
[Be aware that we may not have discussed this topic before the due date of the paper. Only students
with a special interest in Nietzsche should choose this topic.]


Explore Nietzsche’s philosophy of the Eternal Return of the Same. What is his point? Do
you agree? Explain.
Does Nietzsche have something to say to 21st century people? Why or why not?
PLAGIARISM POLICY:
What is plagiarism in a research paper? Copying from someone else’s paper; having someone else write your paper;
copying/quoting from an outside source (such as a book, a journal, or a webpage/other Internet source), or from the textbook,
without stating the source. Changing a word here and there is not sufficient! Whenever you quote or use information from a text
other than your own, the proper procedure is to reference it. Plagiarism will not be tolerated, and will be reported according to
SDCCD policy.