It's a nice idea. I hope it gets plenty of interest and participation. You and, if willing, Moliere (who is a moderator) can lead, and I'll do anything that you are unable to do yourselves, like creating categories. I suppose we need a new category; once that's created you can go ahead and post in it. — Jamal

Thanks, Jamal, for your support and approval. Much appreciated :smile:

I'm delighted to see that, so far,12 people have voted. To participate as:
Writer - 8%
Reader - 50%
Both - 42%

I hope that more can contribute their ideas and views. There are plenty things to consider and get as near a good fit as possible. To make it work and be attractive to all, or mostly all.

As for me taking a lead...

Yes, that would make sense. I am keen to follow this idea through - along with @Moliere and any others more experienced in the field. However...given my uneven participation in TPF for a variety of reasons - including poor health - I am not convinced of my reliability or capacity, at any given time.

As things stand, I have been resorting to audio rather than reading text. Hey, now there's an idea.
Podcasts?! Or possibly I could try text-to-speech.

My point is:
I think it would be an idea to have more than 2 'hosts' of this challenging activity.
Collaborating to ensure its success. Having no previous experience, I'm not sure how this would work.

I look forward to hearing from @Moliere as to his willingness and the next step. Thanks, again!

The advice, as in writing short stories, is that before you write a philosophy essay, you should read a variety. How different topics are approached. Types of essay include the expository and the argumentative.

I haven't read a philosophy essay in a while. However, I have read articles in Philosophy Now. You can read 4 for free, per month: https://philosophynow.org/

For examples of essays in a wide range of philosophy categories:
https://1000wordphilosophy.com/all-essays/

Here's an 1,000 word essay in text and audio. In Philosophy of Religion:
https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2024/11/21/james-mystical-experience/

***
I'd be interested to hear from others as to what kind of philosophy essays/articles they have read or are attracted to. Also, if they have written one recently. What are the stumbling blocks to writing or reading an essay? What puts you off? Word count?

Any recommendations for websites with thought-provoking, substantive, exploratory articles?
Looking for inspiration and some heat. It's snowing out and I'm on the point of hibernation :yawn:

I recommend a length requirement, say one page. And how do you deal with AI? Perhaps open it up to AI with each participant asking for a short essay on a particular uniform subject, but in different ways. For example, one asks for an essay "on the nature of being" and another asking "what is being". That way the contest reduces to the cleverness of the request. Just a thought. :smile: — jgill

@jgill Sorry, I only responded briefly to the important point of how to deal with or use AI.

I don't know much about it. Apparently, students are finding it extremely useful in writing essays.
Instead of practising writing skills and coming up with own ideas.

How it can be used in education as a tool in EFL:
https://educraft.tech/chatgpt-a-game-changing-powerful-ai-for-efl-5-ways-to-use-it/

How to identify use of AI in an essay:
https://educraft.tech/identifying-ai-written-essays/

@Jamal Is there a TPF policy on AI - it's use and abuse?

Yes, @fdrake had a post pinned to the top of the forum for a while quite recently.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/15480/site-rules-amendment-regarding-chatgpt-and-sourcing/p1

Extra stuff was added to the guidelines later.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/480/site-guidelines

Thanks for the links. Have taken a quick look. Excellent work by @fdrake.
I don't know how much that would affect any 'judging' in the Philosophy Activity? I've never used ChatGPT. Somehow, it makes me feel uncomfortable...

In terms of running things -- like anonymizing authors and posting submissions and intaking submissions -- I'm fine with taking over those tasks. How exactly do you do it @Jamal for the literary activity? Set up an email for submissions and then post them after a set date?