The text here is fairly brief: the first four paragraphs of the Third Section of the Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (from the middle of p. 285 to the top of p. 287).

Your assignment is to reconstruct and critically discuss the argument that Kant offers in those paragraphs.  This is in large part an expository paper: try to make clear to your reader just what Kant is saying, what his conclusion is, and what his argument for that conclusion is.  But notice that he is offering an argument. He’s not just saying a bunch of stuff, but he’s trying to prove something.  Explain what it is he is trying to prove, and what the proof is.  You should, insofar as you can, try to make some critical remarks. If you want to discuss the relationships between this passage and other bits of Kant we have read, that is fine.  If you want to offer an objection to the argument, that is fine as well.

There’s a lot of jargon in this passage (there’s a lot of jargon in Kant generally, as you now know) and try to avoid the jargon as much as possible. Try to make Kant clear—explain his jargon, put the thoughts into your own words, don’t merely repeat the Kantese.

Your paper should be typed, double-spaced, and 3-5 pages in length.  Please give your paper a title.  This is not a research paper.  When you quote from our text, please put the passages in quotation marks, and give the page reference.  As with all papers you write, don’t think of me as your audience.  Rather, think of your audience as a moderately intelligent person who has not read this bit of Kant.  Think of yourself as teaching them about what Kant says.

Papers are due in class on Friday 28 April.