Doing Philosophy
1. Reading it

Reading philosophy is difficult – philosophers tend to aim for absolute clarity at the cost of style or humor, so reading philosophy can often be tedious at first. However it is rewarding in the end – you are reading it for content – for arguments and conclusions, not for poetry. Bear that in mind – look for the arguments, and try to assess the arguments. Don’t give up if you don’t understand a piece the first time you read it – everyone has to read philosophy articles a few times before fully understanding them. It might help to keep  a couple of questions in mind as you are reading: what is the author trying to show? Where is the actual argument for that view?

2. Writing it

a. Use a draft! There is a huge difference between essays that have taken two or three drafts and essays that have been written in one sitting. A well organized essay is a clear essay. You might start by noting down the arguments you want to discuss, and the points you have to make about those arguments. Then you can put them into an order that makes sense.

b. Stick to the point! Don’t pad your essay with irrelevant rambling. There is no need to write a lengthy introduction including biographies and eating habits of the writers you are discussing. Keep it simple and to the point. Keep your sentences short and clear. There is no need to look for synonyms – use the same word again and again if that is the clearest way to say what you are trying to say.

c. Don’t be too hostile! It is more than likely that in studying philosophy you will come across views that are distasteful to you. It is your job as a student of philosophy to argue against these views rather than to simply ignore them, or dismiss them as ‘stupid’. In order to argue against a view most effectively it is important to try to see why anybody might find that view attractive in the first place. What arguments does the author offer for that view? Try to refute those arguments. Philosophy essays are not a forum for expression of personal opinions, they are a forum for publicly assessable arguments.

d. Define philosophical terms! You should think of your target audience as being your non-philosopher roommate. If she could understand your essay and learn some philosophy from it, then you are doing well.

e. Point out what you are doing! It is better to repeat yourself than to leave the point of a paragraph or section ambiguous. For example, if you are about to criticize an argument, it is a good idea to write something like: “I will present Descartes’ argument for the distinctness of mind and body, and then I will criticize it.”.

f. Your contribution - it might be hard to see how there is scope for originality in a philosophy essay. At undergraduate level there are really two ways that you can be original. First, there is your presentation of the arguments. A good philosopher can explain someone else's arguments in a clear and illuminating way. This is what you should be aiming for. It is not enough to use quotations and paraphrases. (see section on plagiarism below). Second, you should try to criticize those arguments. Of course, we will discuss criticisms of arguments in class, and we will often be looking at two writers who argue against each other. You are not expected to be entirely original all the time!

g. Proof read! It is so easy and so worth it!

2b. Plagiarism  

a. Quotations must be in quotation marks, and citations must include the author’s name, the title, the publisher and the page number.

b. If you paraphrase an author’s work, you must acknowledge that this is someone else's work, and the citation should be as for quotations.

c. Examples of paraphrasing that would count as plagiarizing:

       i. I am a man and consequently I am in the habit of sleeping and representing to myself in dreams those same things, or sometimes even less likely things, which insane people do when they are awake.

       ii. Descartes was a man and consequently he was in the habit of sleeping and representing to himself in dreams those same things or sometimes even less likely things, which insane people do when they are awake.

      iii. Descartes was in the habit of sleeping and representing to himself in dreams those same things which insane people do when they are awake.

 All of the above are examples of plagiarism, though none of them use Descartes’ exact words.
 

 3. Talking it

• Keep calm! Many topics in philosophy may enrage you, but you must try to express your reasons, not your anger.

• Don’t make personal remarks, either about your classmates or the philosophers we discuss. This is the ad hominem fallacy. Descartes may have bad hair, but that doesn't mean he has bad arguments.

• Don’t take other's disagreements with you personally – philosophers disagree with each other all the time, but rarely do they fall out over it! Philosophers like to disagree – defending their views helps them to improve their views.

• Don’t be afraid to talk in class – usually there is no one ‘right answer’ that the teacher is looking for – the point of philosophical discussion is to make progress towards right answers. We will make useful mistakes along the way.
 

 4. Enjoying it

Students often complain that philosophy asks a lot of questions, but it doesn't deliver many answers. You must remember that in one or two undergraduate courses, or even as a philosophy major, you are only scratching the surface of philosophy. There are more answers than you might think, but they are hard to get to. In the meantime, try to enjoy the ride – enjoy the challenge!