Write an essay (of roughly 4-5 pp. or 1200-1500 words) focused on a pair of passages from the more recent parts of the course. (In general, anything since the first section of Loux is permissible; but, if you wrote on something since then for your first paper, you should not repeat the same topic.)

In this essay, you should do the following:

•describe the view presented in one of these passages,

•describe a different view, which is found in the second passage, and

•discuss the relation between the two views.

The views you consider may be opposed; and, if they are, this paper will be much like your first one, with the exception that you are giving an exposition of a pair of passages rather than a single one. But other relations between passages and views are possible. The two passages might support the same position but in different ways, they might present analogous views of different issues, or one might develop ideas from the other in new ways; and there are many other possibilities. Clearly, in these latter cases you will need to devote a significant part of the paper to explaining the relation you see between the views you find in the two passages. But the same is true if the two passages simply represent opposed positions: as in the first paper, you will then need to evaluate the relative strength of the two.

In choosing material to write about, be careful to keep your focus narrow. Of course, you should discuss the two passages only in light of the relation between them you are concerned with. But, even though this is longer than the first paper, it is still a relatively short paper, and you may not be able to speak of everything that is relevant to the relation between the passages. (In addition, please consult the first assignment for general comments on papers that I have not repeated here.)

Although I’ll be willing to accept your essay on paper, I’d prefer that you submit it by e-mail (either as an attachment or, if there is no special formatting, in the body of a message).