Philosophy 210/310 Early Modern Philosophy  Andrew Mills'  Homepage Course Resources Homepage Dept. of Religion and Philosophy

1. What problem is Descartes attempting to solve in these passages from the Fourth Meditation?

2. What is his solution to that problem?

Your statement of the problem and Descartes' solution to that problem should, in the first paragraph, be brief.  You will want, beginning in the second paragraph, to spell out answers to questions (1) and (2) in more detail.  Answering questions (1) and (2) is primarily an exegetical task.  That is, you should explain to the reader just what it is Descartes is up to in these passages.  It is important that you try to make clear what Descartes is doing.  Do not merely quote his words, but try to put his ideas into your own words.  Perhaps use an example of your own to get Descartes' point across.  Make sure that you answer both questions (1) and (2) in your paper. Do not turn to an exegesis of Descartes' solution before you have clearly stated what problem he is confronting.  And do your best to make the reader feel the force of the problem.  (Descartes' solution to the problem is more or less finished by the first column of p. 21.  The rest of the meditation involves clearing up some details and responding to some objections.)

You do not have a lot of space, so it is important to get right to the task at hand.  There is no need for you to evaluate Descartes' solution; your task is merely to tell the reader, as clearly as you can, what Descartes is doing in this meditation.

Essays will be graded according to the following criteria: (i) Accuracy and clarity of your statement of the problem Descartes is trying to solve. (ii) Accuracy and clarity of your exposition of Descartes' solution to that problem. (iii) Ability to separate what is central and important from what is tangential and parenthetical.  Not everything in this selection is relevant to the main line of argument. (iv) General stylistic and organizational matters--correct spelling, punctuation, no run-on sentences, etc.

In short, your paper should make it clear to someone who has not read the Fourth Meditation just what is going on there.  Toward that end, you should write in whatever style is most comfortable.  Most philosophical writing is in the first person (that is, the author uses "I" and talks to the reader), and if you find that style comfortable, you should use it.  There is no need for dramatic opening paragraphs ("Ever since the dawn of time, mankind has struggled with the problem of error....") nor sweeping conclusions.  Simply tell the reader what you are going to do, and then do it.  I find it best to conceive of your reader not as me, nor even as someone else in the class, but rather as an intelligent person who has read the other meditations but not this particular one.  Thinking of your reader in this way will force you to be clear and precise and fully explain yourself.

As to mechanics, your paper should be 500-750 words long (about 2 to 3 pages), and is due in class on 25 January 2001. Please turn in two copies of your paper. It must be typed, double-spaced, and in a reasonable font (something ordinary like 12 point Times New Roman), with one inch margins all around.  Your paper should have a title (and not something boring like "Descartes Paper"), and should be stapled (not paper-clipped) in the upper left-hand corner.  Elaborate report covers and folders are not necessary.  Please proofread your paper.  In the age of spell-checkers, there is no excuse for spelling errors, but you should read your paper over before handing it in--if you need to make a last minute correction by hand, that is fine.  Do make sure to keep a copy of your paper in case something unforseen should happen to the copy you hand in.  Late papers will not be accepted without previous approval from Prof. Mills.