Some Helpful Hints for Writing Philosophy Papers

by Andrea Rufo
 

1. Don't Panic -- Philosophy is no easy subject. A lot of philosophers are notoriously bad writers, and a lot of texts ari extremely old so you may have a hard time just understanding what someone is trying to say much less whether what they are saying is valid, or something you agree with. Remember that no one always gets it, and few people get it the first time. Whatever you do though, don't think that you can't handle it or that you aren't smart enough. Everyone can read and write about a philosophical text.

2. Read Carefully -- Most of Philosophy is about making distinctions, even of the most minute kind. So sometimes a lot can get packed into a short piece. Try to read each text at least two times. Once for the general overview of what is being argued and once for a more detailed context. Leave yourself enough time to read it over as many times as you need.

3. Have an argument -- This seems obvious because every paper should have a thesis. When writing a paper about a philosophical text, your argument needs to be relevant to that philosophical position. You don't want to simply write an exegesis of the text, you want to engage the text. Ask a question about the theory maybe centering around its logical consistency, its application to reality or its relation to a different philosophical position. It is important to explain the text you are writing about correctly, but it is the most important that you have an argument of your own regarding that text.

4. Use Your Logic Skills -- An Intro, to Logic class is required for the major for a reason. Philosophy is very concerned with texts that are logical, meaning the arguments being advanced make sense when placed together., For example, if your roommate tells you that the next time you borrow their toothbrush they are going to punch you, then it would follow logically that if you borrowed your roommate's toothbrush again then you would get punched. Okay, so this seems obvious,, but you'd be surprised how quickly logic can fall out the window when reading and writing. Try to identify each of the points to your argument and see if they follow from each other. This is an immensely useful tool in writing anything but especially in philosophy.

5. You Can Never Be Too Clear -- Philosophy can be so opaque sometimes even to the most die-hard scholar. Try to be excruciatingly clear in your writing. Define concepts, especially if it is a concept unique to the text you are writing about. You can never explain something too much. If you aren't sure if it is explained too much, try reading the paper out loud. If you get caught up somewhere, or something doesn't flow right you might not to clarify that area. You could also try giving the paper to someone who is not as familiar with the material as you are and see what their reaction is.

6. Use Evidence -- You need to back up your claims with evidence. Evidence can be parts of the text, infonnation from secondary sources, examples of how something might look or turn out in a given situation, or simply a rational argument (the importance of logic rears its head again). Be careful not top overdue your quotes from sources though. You may think that everyone says it and writes it better than you do, but it s your paper

7. Remember Why We're Here -- Did I mention that philosophy can be really opaque sometimes? Sometimes it may seem like a text has no point whatsoever and certainly no relevance to your life or thought process. When writing your paper you should ask yourself that question. What is the point of this text? Think of the text not just as the unique argument being made but as a text within a certain history. It helps to think of when the author was writing; maybe what he or she is responding to or reacting to. Think of how the text affects the rest of philosophy. How does it affect the rest of society's thoughts or actions? For example, Descartes called ways of knowing into question but he has been consistently beaten up ever since for being circular (illogical) in his arguments. This may be true, he may not have been the logic god we would have liked, but despite being a human punching bag for philosophy scholars around the world, Descartes did change the entire field of inquiry. No one really thought the same or in the same way after that. So even a text that may not be so wonderful itself can have a lot of impact.

8. Don't Become Wed to the Thesaurus -- So, I think we already covered that philosophy texts can sometimes be a bit on the opaque side. This is often because the language is convoluted and complicated. Make sure you keep a dictionary with you when reading, and don't be afraid to use it. When you're writing though, don't feel you have to match the text word for word with clever unheard oKords with lots of syllables. Write clearly with clear language you understand.

9. Ask, Just Ask -- If you're confused about the text, if you are confused about the assignment, if you just want someone to read over your paper or to discuss your idea with, just ask. Ask your professor, your teaching assistant~if there is one, or other people in the class. And use the writing center. The dirtylittle secret of all philosophy scholars is that we don't really understand it all either. And if they tell you they do, they are lying. So don't feel you need to sweat it alone. Engage the text, ask if you need help and most of all be confident in yourself.

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