Topic: Topically please consider the recommendations made by Laotzu, Buddha,
Socrates and Jesus on how to live well and what kind of guidance is available.
Regarding the maybe-sages, I have emphasized the pervasive recommendation
to detach from earthly/self concern as a guide to choice and action and to submit
to an alternative that will make earthly life better (Tao, Middle Way, Logos,
Shamayin). Is there anything to this? Why or why not? In addition, each of the
maybe-sages make many more specific recommendations about what to pursue
or avoide which you could take up for defense or criticism.
2) Form of essay: Your essay should be argumentative. That is, your essay should
state clearly a conclusion (that will be introduced in the first paragraph as a
thesis), and the body of your paper should be focused on supporting the truth
of your thesis. This thesis should target something in the content that we found
in any of the above readings. You could target a single statement made, an
argument given, themes more pervasively encountered, contrasts found
between some of the above, interpretive questions about meaning, implicit or
hidden considerations.
a) Thesis: It should be precise and clear (tell the reader what they are about to
be persuaded of), and the thesis should be minimally controversial. By the
latter I mean that there should be reason to do some intellectual work on the
topic chosen because there is a diversity of opinion on it, its truth is not
obvious, and so it is worth investigation.
b) Body: the body of your paper should be taken up with reasons in favor of the
truth of your thesis. It should not wander from one to another topic without
connection to the original thesis.
c) Two ultimate forms of argument: show the truth of what is questionable to
audience OR show the falsity of what the audience holds to be true. These can
be called defense/confirmation of truth of questionable claim or
critique/falsification of claim taken as unquestionably true. What do you Want to show ?
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