Course Paper Assignment
HU3700 – Fall 2005
Instructions and Guidelines
1) Choose one of the 5 topics below for your paper.
2) Read your topic carefully and do exactly what it says. Do no more and no less than you are directed to do.
3) Your paper will be graded mainly on how well your dialogue shows that you recognize and understand the
relevant issues and arguments relating to your topic. You will also be rewarded for your creativity in advancing
toward a reasonable resolution of the issue you are addressing.
4) Your paper should be long enough to discuss your topic sufficiently—and no longer. Do not pad your paper to
reach some predetermined length. If you find that you are having to write an inordinately long paper, consider
narrowing your topic by focusing on a significant part or aspect of it. Ask the instructor for help in doing so.
5) You may give a draft of your paper to the instructor for his comments and suggestions for revision. Drafts are
due no later than November 29, 2005.
6) Your paper must be written clearly using correct diction, punctuation, and spelling. However, since you are
writing dialogue you may take liberties appropriate to writing in a conversational style. Points will be deducted
from your grade for numerous and/or serious writing errors.
7) You are responsible for eliminating grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors from your paper. The
instructor will not inspect your draft for such errors.
8) If your paper contains any material directly quoted from your textbook or any outside source, be sure to use
quotation marks and to endnote each quotation.
9) Your paper must be typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins – top, bottom, and sides. Use Times New Roman
size 12 font or equivalent.
10) Consider going to the Writing Center (107 Walker) for help in writing your paper. (Walk-in hours are 12 noon
to 3 PM, Monday–Friday.)
11) Carefully proofread your final paper before turning it in to be graded.
12) Keep a copy of your final paper for yourself.
13) You must submit a paper copy of your final paper. Electronic (including email) submissions will not be
accepted.
14) Final papers are due at classtime Thursday, December 8, 2005. (last class)
Topics for HU3700 Course Papers
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5.
Write a fictional dialogue between Alex, who believes that progress in science consists in its getting closer and
closer to a final true theory of nature, and David, who denies that this is what science is striving for. Assume
that Alex and David are familiar with the most important arguments for and against their views, and try to
imagine how a real face-to-face debate between them might go. It is up to you to decide whether the debate has
a “winner.”
Write a fictional dialogue between Robert, who believes scientific laws or theories can sometimes be
conclusively falsified, and Andrew, who accepts the Duhem-Quine thesis and therefore denies that it is possible
to conclusively falsify any scientific law or theory. Assume that Robert and Andrew are familiar with the most
important arguments for and against their views, and try to imagine how a real face-to-face debate between
them might go. It is up to you to decide whether the debate has a “winner.”
Write a fictional dialogue between Emily, who believes that in science only purely naturalistic explanations
should be allowed, and Harriet, who believes that non-naturalistic explanations should not be precluded, even in
science. Assume that Emily and Harriet are familiar with the most important arguments for and against their
views, and try to imagine how a real face-to-face debate between them might go. It is up to you to decide
whether the debate has a “winner.”
Write a fictional dialogue between Jennifer, who believes that there is a single, universal scientific method, and
Karen, who denies that any such method exists. Assume that Jennifer and Karen are familiar with the most
important arguments for and against their views, and try to imagine how a real face-to-face debate between
them might go. It is up to you whether the debate has a “winner.”
Topic of your choice: It must fit the format of the first 4 topics—i.e., it must be written in dialogue form and be
an original, fictional debate on some important, controversial question in the philosophy of science. Your topic
must be approved in advance by the course instructor.