click here for my intro to moral norms,
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Friday, November 7, 2025
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Monday, November 3, 2025
Topics for your philosophy paper
NEVER CITE WIKIPEDIA IN YOUR PAPER; LOOK AT THE WIKIPEDIA CITATIONS AND CITE THEM.
Abortion vs. Pro-Life
The abortion debate—often framed as pro-choice versus pro-life—is a central issue in philosophy because it forces us to grapple with foundational questions about moral status, bodily autonomy, and the definition of a person. At its core, the debate hinges on a conflict between two deeply held ethical principles: the sanctity of human life and the right to self-determination.
Factory farms and/or Animal welfare
(Generally, it is little appreciated that this topic has ecological and human/animal dimensions: the link between animal-processed foods, environmental degradation, and vegetarianism, all tied to the still obscure field of animal ethics).
Gun control vs. Second Amendment
(A problem intersecting Second Amendment rights, civil rights, policy, government interference, mental health, and terrorism).
Social media & culture
(Privacy issues, information overload, cyberbullying, fake news, social isolation, net addiction, etc).
Climate change
(Global warming is at the forefront of today's scientific and sociopolitical discourse; many issues here are worth discussing: what is nature? Generational responsibility, presentism, economic growth, etc.
Capital Punishment vs. Abolitionism
Online free expression must yield when it causes social harm. Counter: Restricting speech online undermines democratic discourse. Urgent amid misinformation, hate speech, and debates over platform regulation.
AI (doomers vs. skeptics vs. pragmatists)
The ongoing debate surrounding the future of artificial intelligence is fundamentally shaped by three core perspectives: doomers, skeptics, and pragmatists, each playing a vital role in determining how humanity builds and regulates technology.
Paper proposal sample (this Thursday)
1- Heading (in Times New Roman, 12-point).
On the left side, write your name (last name first), "Philosophy Paper Proposal."
2- Write the title in bold letters, middle-aligned.
3- The first paragraph has your thesis, followed by a brief explanation supporting it. The second paragraph presents the counterthesis, followed by a brief explanation supporting it. So-and-so depends on your paper topic (e.g., Second Amendment advocates, Climate Change skeptics, etc.).
______________________________________________
Rodriguez, Juan
Philosophy Paper Proposal
Even in factory farms, animals should be protected against abuse
In this paper, I argue that animals being raised in factory farms in America deserve better treatment. My argument shows the public health risks associated with unregulated factory farming, while stressing that animal cruelty is ethically wrong.
Factory Farms advocates disagree, arguing that despite animals' suffering during slaughter, current regulations are necessary to provide much-needed food products at competitive market prices.
2- Write the title in bold letters, middle-aligned.
3- The first paragraph has your thesis, followed by a brief explanation supporting it. The second paragraph presents the counterthesis, followed by a brief explanation supporting it. So-and-so depends on your paper topic (e.g., Second Amendment advocates, Climate Change skeptics, etc.).
4- Try to mimic the model below.
______________________________________________
Rodriguez, Juan
Philosophy Paper Proposal
Phi 2010 Honors
Even in factory farms, animals should be protected against abuse
In this paper, I argue that animals being raised in factory farms in America deserve better treatment. My argument shows the public health risks associated with unregulated factory farming, while stressing that animal cruelty is ethically wrong.
Factory Farms advocates disagree, arguing that despite animals' suffering during slaughter, current regulations are necessary to provide much-needed food products at competitive market prices.