In this essay, you will demonstrate your ability to answer two basic questions about works of philosophy, literature, and art: 1) What do these materials have to say about knowledge? 2) How does that message about knowledge reflect current ideas and change future ones?
Procedure:
Choose philosophical text(s) from those assigned for class and possibly a piece of literature/art.
Read/study those materials carefully, several times, noting thought patterns and use of images.
Ask: What insight into knowledge do these authors/artists offer?
Formulate a working thesis and then generate ideas for writing your analysis.
Topic Suggestions:
Choose 3 of the literary/artistic works from this class (1 from each unit—Ancient, Medieval, and Postmodern). How does imagery of light and dark and that imagery’s connection to TRUTH differ between time periods? Use the philosophical texts throughout the course to support your arguments.
Chaucer and Boccaccio use satire to undermine the institution of the Catholic church as the repository for society’s ideas of truth and righteousness. The Postmoderns use language to undermine what society has considered fundamental truths. Pick 3 of the literary/artistic works from this class (1 from each unit—Ancient, Medieval, and Postmodern)? How do they reflect norms in their society and what is the alternative or the implied alternatives they posit? Use the philosophical texts throughout the course to support your arguments.
Find an artwork or artworks from the cultures and time periods we have covered thus far in class. How do different ideas on epistemology change the forms and aesthetics of art? Use philosophical texts from all 3 units (Ancient, Medieval, and Postmodern) to interpret the same artwork or set of artworks 3 different ways.
How are the terms and concepts we studied for Plato and Aristotle, Augustine, and Postmodernism reflected throughout Oedipus the King. View the play through each of these perspectives in terms of knowledge. How does these different ideological lenses change the way we read and understand Oedipus? (For a postmodern reading, for example, talk about the ambiguity of language.)
How would the differences between ancient, medieval, and postmodern philosophies on knowledge affect the way a specific social problem is viewed and resolved? (Describe a current social problem and then outline the different strategies to resolve the problem based on the different philosophies.)
If there is another topic you would like to explore, run it by me first.
Requirements:
1,000 words minimum
1”margins
Last Name & Page Numbers in the upper-right corner of the Header
Heading in the upper-left corner of the 1st page that includes
Your Full Name
Course
Professor Name
Date
A clear, relevant, interesting title
Double-spaced (no extra space between paragraphs)
A correct MLA Works Cited page of all sources
Correct MLA Citations throughout the text of your essay for all material referenced
NO sentence-level errors
A coherent structure—the ideas in your essay should flow (OUTLINES SAVE LIVES!)
NO irrelevant points or wordiness