Final Paper Prompt Justice (PHIL / PSCI 1103) Fall 2024

The Assignment. Write a short paper in response to one of the prompts below. The paper should be

between 1800 and 3000 words in length, typed and double-spaced. AI assistance is prohibited. The paper

must be submitted to your TA via email by Noon on Friday, December 6.

The point of the paper is to demonstrate two things: first, that you have understood the class readings and

reflected on the lectures and discussions; second, that you are able to articulate a philosophical position of

your own that makes use of what you’ve learned. Accordingly, a paper that’s merely a review of what

was said in the readings or in class will be less successful than a paper that, in addition to accurately

depicting ideas and arguments presented in the readings, also presents some of your own original ideas.

In short, the paper is an opportunity for you to engage in some targeted philosophical thinking of your

own. The truth of your conclusion is not as important as the depth of your reflection.

A successful paper will achieve six things. First, it will begin with a paragraph that clearly states a thesis

and describes how the argument in support of the thesis will proceed. Second, it will accurately portray

the ideas and arguments of those whose work is being discussed. Third, it will articulate an original

philosophical response to its topic. Fourth, it will consider at least one likely and reasonable criticism.

Fifth, it will assess that response and (sixth) draw a conclusion.

You are not required to consult outside research, but you are permitted to do so. The normal rules about

plagiarism and academic citation are in effect. Remembet that use of AI assistance is prohibited. When

directly attributing a view to an author, you must include a citation. You may use the “author-date”

system of citation (the “APA style”), or any other standard system.

If you would like further guidance, please see me or your TA during office hours

The Topic. Select a topic from the options below.

1. Consider the following quotation from Winston Churchill: “Democracy is the worst form of

government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Is that the best that

can be said in defense of democracy? If not, what else can be said? If so, so what? Does democracy

need more of a defense than Churchill’s? In your response, include discussion of at least three of the

following: Plato, Benhabib, Du Bois, Brennan, Arneson, and Estlund.

2. One could read Iris Young’s “Activist Challenges to Deliberative Democracy” as a challenge aimed

specifically at Rawls’s idea of public reason. Explain Rawls’s idea of public reason and the criticism that

Young raises. What is Rawls’s best line of response? Does this response succeed?

3. Imagine the following scenario: You don’t know it, but someone is monitoring you. They have the

power to interfere with you, should they choose. If they do choose to do so, their interference would be

costly – they could arrest you and place you in a cell at any time they wish. You would have no way of

defending yourself against this, should it occur. But, lucky for you, it never does. It turns out that the

person who is monitoring you is busy and happens not to pay much attention to you. So you in fact never

suffer their interference. Each day, you go about your business just as you do now. Nonetheless, someone

is monitoring you and could arbitrarily interfere at any time should they wish. Under these conditions,

are you free?