Paper Assignment no. 3

Write an essay of 3–5 pages on one of the following two topics. Your essay should make ample use of the relevant texts, not only representing authors’ views accurately, but also citing and interpreting specific passages where appropriate. It should also go into as much depth and detail as an essay of 3–5 pages can. Finally, your essay should conform to the instructions provided in “Guidelines for Writing a Philosophy Paper.” No rough draft is due; the final draft will be due at the beginning of your recitation section on Tuesday, November 11.

1. Berkeley argues for a version of empiricism known as idealism. Clarify and evaluate Berkeley’s idealism by writing a paper that answers the following questions in an organized and coherent way:

1. What does Hylas mean when he claims, “To exist is one thing, and to be perceived is another”?
2. How does Hylas support this claim?
3. How does Berkeley, speaking through Philonous, reply to this claim?
4. Is Berkeley’s reply convincing?

2. Hume claims that our belief in the uniformity of nature ultimately has no rational basis. Clarify and argue for or against this claim by writing a paper that answers the following questions in an organized and coherent way:

1. Why does Hume think that our belief in the uniformity of nature is important enough to worry about?
2. What is Hume’s reasoning for his claim that our belief in the uniformity of nature ultimately has no rational basis?
3. Is Hume’s reasoning sound?