Writing Philosophy research papers in School, High School, College and University is a rather popular academic activity which is used by professors to check up students’ knowledge in Philosophy studies. There are a lot of different free Philosophy research paper topics online which can be chosen by students for preparing their Philosophy papers.
Here’s a list of good Philosophy research paper topics. You can pick up any topic for writing your research paper in Philosophy:
- Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Descartes and Material Substance
- William James and Friedrich Nietzsche
- Socratic Confession of Ignorance
- The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life
- Max Weber and Bureaucracy
- Capital and Labor According to Marx
- Augustine and Sextus Empiricus
- A Vindication of the Rights of Women
- Philosophy of the Kama Sutra
- Plato’s Apology
- Allegory of the Cave
- Identity Theory
- Levinas’ Meaning and Sense
- Kant and Utilitarianism
- John Locke as Empiricist Read more…
Jean Jacques Rousseau first became famous for his answer to the question set by the Academy of Dijon, “Whether the Restoration of the Arts and Sciences has had the effect of purifying or corrupting morals”. Rousseau, of course, answered with a resounding no, for which he won the prize, and thus began his life as a political philosopher.
From the initial essay, and the subsequent clarification of it required by numerous criticisms, Rousseau developed the Discourse on the Origins of Inequality. Hampsher-Monk sees the Discourse as a natural development from the first essay, for in his view the Discourse seeks to deal with the question “implicit in his earlier criticism of contemporary culture - if modern society is false and artificial, what would it be to be true and natural?”. Here we have the essence of the Social Contract - Rousseau’s desire to design a society which is free from the inequality which the arts and sciences has created, and the subsequent dependence this has created. Daniel Cullen, in his book, Freedom in Rousseau’s Political Philosophy argues that the Social Contract is intended to find a form of association that avoids the natural inclination of social relations to create a condition of domination and submission, and instead create a society where all are equal, and remain as ‘free as before’. Rousseau, himself, states the problem in chapter 6 of Book 1:- “‘How to find a form of association which will defend the person and goods of each member with the collective force of all, and under which each individual, while uniting himself with the others, obeys no one but himself, and remains as free as before.’ This is the fundamental problem to which the social contract holds the solution.” Read more…
In A Nietzsche Reader, Nietzsche’s views on morality are outlined. Although his ideas are bold and pointed, they also are at times contradictory. Many of his concepts and arguments are more thought provoking than practical. It would be a difficult task to maintain a strong set of ethics, while at the same time be a true follower of Nietzsche. Not only would it be difficult because of the wide variation in the way he defines morality, but it would also be difficult to find the median between the propositions he requires one to adhere to. However it does seem that there possibility of reaching.
When Nietzsche first defines morality, he states “Morality is nothing other than obedience to customs.” (pg. 87) These customs are formed from tradition which is “A higher authority which one obeys, not because it is useful but because it commands.” (pg. 87) However Nietzsche acknowledge that laws which do not make sense should not be law, as they cause more trouble then they would impede. Essentially, when one abides by the law which one is command to, they are furthering the good of the community, but not necessarily themselves. Read more…
The first time I read Crito, I could not understand how Socrates could choose to die when he had a chance to escape. Plato’s stylistic choice to personify the Laws of Athens gave more validity to the arguments that Socrates was making to justify his decision. Many ethical questions arise through Socrates arguments. At the end it makes me wonder if Socrates is actually indirectly committing suicide, like some would say, or if there is an underlying purpose to his death?
Socrates argues that citizens are bound to the laws of Athens, therefore Plato makes the audience wonder if arranging an escape to save Socrates life is “honorable and just?” Socrates tells Crito that “the really important thing is not to live, but to live well.” Socrates feels that he has lived well “and that to live well means the same thing as to live honorably or rightly.” If Socrates decides to escape he will be acting unjustly towards one individual, the law of Athens. Plato gives the laws a voice, and has them show Socrates that the only right path is to obey the laws. The personified laws state, “We have brought you into the world and reared you and given you and all your fellow citizens a share in all the good things at our disposal” Socrates and the people of Athens owe everything they have to the rule of law, and escaping illegally would be a complete abdication of this important aspect of Athenian society. Socrates has a duty as a citizen of Athens to obey the laws. The laws tell Socrates, “You have undertaken, in deed if not in word, to live your life as a citizen in obedience to us.” By choosing to live in Athens, Socrates has decided that he agrees with the rule of law. His whole life he had the opportunity to leave, but he never did; therefore now he has to obey the sentencing of the law. Read more…
Today we are talking about writing a good Philosophy dissertation. Most degree programs at the Masters’ and Doctorate levels require dissertations for graduation. Typically, you will receive information about the requirements of your Philosophy dissertation at the beginning of your program and even be assigned a mentor or tutor who will work with you, guiding you, as you complete your Philosophy dissertation. The most effective use of this source, your mentor or tutor, is to complete sections of the work for their review early in your program in order to create the best Philosophy dissertation possible. You can do this by developing research and keeping a file that you will be able to present.
Start with a Philosophy dissertation template or a document you format yourself. Be certain to check the formatting to match the requirements of your school – APA and MLA use slightly different page formatting requirements. While you work, always add your sources or references into the appropriate page, you can lose points on your Philosophy dissertation if it appears to be plagiarized in any way. Read more…
