I look forward to reading your contribution :)

My advice would be to start with a concise paragraph expressing the point of the essay. — Wayfarer

:up:

I'm going through various sources, including Dr Matt Williams' breakdown of how an essay may be graded, which I found useful.

However, I feel that even though an amateur cook and Michelin chef both follow the same New York Cheesecake recipe, the cheesecakes they end up making are more than likely to be significantly different.

Therefore, there must be something over and above the recipe itself that accounts for the difference, and that is what I am looking for.

Somethimg which you alone can provide, hence the point of the exercise!

Somethimg which you alone can provide, hence the point of the exercise! — Wayfarer

True. Perhaps this is the search. The search for how to transcend one's own innate and inherent abilities.

Is there any way to avoid writing on something too similar to someone else given the anonymity? Or do we not care?

Is there any way to avoid writing on something too similar to someone else given the anonymity? Or do we not care? — AmadeusD

We don't care -- it's more important that the writer wants to write it because that'll be the motivation for finishing it and also looking it over a bit.

Is there any way to avoid writing on something too similar to someone else given the anonymity? Or do we not care? — AmadeusD

I'd say this would be more interesting as we would get two perspectives on a similar topic.

Since many aren't academics in philosophy and we've not had any rules of essay formatting for this forum, are there any good sources of inspiration for how to structure an essay in more detail?

@Moliere

Since many aren't academics in philosophy and we've not had any rules of essay formatting for this forum, are there any good sources of inspiration for how to structure an essay in more detail? — Christoffer

I posted this earlier and in the original discussion. Perhaps, it would be an idea to include in the OP? Or simply cut to the chase [*]?

How to Read Philosophy
https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/texts/pryor-guidelines-on-reading-philosophy

How to Write Philosophy
Includes 7 links - one pdf by the highly recommended Pryor.
https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/resources/writing — Amity

***

From the latter:

You needn't follow all this advice, of course. Yet some of it is likely to help. For more advice, see the following guides to writing philosophy. To be sure, there is a lot available here: Start with Lenman's "How to Write a Crap Philosophy Essay" to quickly learn what not to do; follow up with Pryor's superb "Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper".

"A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper" Harvard College Writing Center (pdf)
Peter Horban, "Writing A Philosophy Paper"
Michael Huemer, "A Guide to Writing"
James Lenman, "How to Write a Crap Philosophy Essay" (pdf, highly recommended)
Peter Lipton, "Writing Philosophy"
Adrian M.S. Piper, "Ten Commandments of Philosophical Writing" (pdf)
James Pryor, "Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper" (pdf, highly recommended)

The above sources are live links in the original article.

***

[*] To cut to the chase:

https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/graphics/berkich/texts/james-lenman-how-to-write-a-crap-philosophy-essay.pdf

https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/graphics/berkich/texts/james-pryor-guidelines-on-writing-a-philosophy-paper.pdf

I'd say this would be more interesting as we would get two perspectives on a similar topic. — Christoffer

I agree.
It's why I originally suggested a single topic for all to chew over. Like 'Imagination'.
However, an open choice gives more flexibility and whotnot.

I hope we will see a variety of views and approaches. Looking forward to reading yours, also @AmadeusD and others who are up for the challenge!

:smile: :cool:

Will you be along for the ride? I hope so :sparkle:

My advice would be to start with a concise paragraph expressing the point of the essay. Then sketch out headings and sub-headings, representing the progressive stages of building the argument and the steps required to establish each step. That step of building level 1, 2 and 3 headings is often helpful in structuring your content.

Also consider likely objections and your counter to them.

End with a conclusion which should state the paragraph you started with but now as a conclusion based on the preceding paragraphs. — Wayfarer

Thanks. I missed this good piece of advice. All easier said than done.
Do you have an example of an essay, along with its structured Outline?

Some university sites are worth checking out. But possibly a bit too much and off-putting?
From Southampton Uni:
Posing the Question - An Academic Guide to Planning Essays
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/~assets/doc/University_life/learning_teaching/posing_the_question.pdf

And @Amity @Wayfarer

I've appended these guides to the original post. Are they sufficient for you Christoffer?

:cool:

Are they sufficient for you Christoffer? — Moliere

The links provided are only a few from all that is available. People will use whatever suits them.

I know from the Lit. Activity that @Christoffer has experience in using AI and ChatGPT for research (and editing). So, easy to find answers to the question:

...are there any good sources of inspiration for how to structure an essay in more detail? — Christoffer

Since many aren't academics in philosophy and we've not had any rules of essay formatting for this forum, — Christoffer

To re-iterate. This challenge is for all. It is flexible. Open to all kinds of philosophy writing. It does not impose rules for essay formatting. However, for those that wish to use the academic form, there is plenty information out there.

Most here can find out stuff for themselves. Personal research is part of the fun of writing.

***
A simple Google for 'examples of philosophy essays: outlines' immediately brought up an AI generated Overview:

A philosophy essay outline typically includes an introduction with a clear thesis statement, a body with well-structured arguments supporting the thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points and reiterates the argument; here are a few examples of philosophy essay outlines covering different topics:

Example 1: "Is there a moral obligation to help the poor?" (Utilitarian perspective)
Introduction:
Define key terms: morality, obligation, poverty, utilitarianism.
Thesis statement: "Utilitarianism provides a strong moral argument for helping the poor, as maximizing overall happiness requires addressing systemic inequalities."

Body:
Argument 1: Principle of Utility:
Explain the core concept of maximizing happiness in utilitarianism.
Illustrate how poverty significantly reduces happiness for many individuals.
Provide examples of how helping the poor can lead to greater overall happiness.

Argument 2: Addressing Objections:
Counterargument: "Helping the poor can incentivize dependency."
Rebuttal: Discuss potential solutions to address dependency while still providing necessary aid.
Counterargument: "Focus on individual responsibility, not systemic issues."
Rebuttal: Explain how systemic factors often contribute to poverty, requiring collective action.

Conclusion:
Summarize the main points, emphasizing the moral imperative to help the poor based on a utilitarian framework.
Acknowledge limitations or complexities of the argument, if applicable.
Conclude by reiterating the thesis statement.

***

Example 2: "Can artificial intelligence achieve consciousness?" (Philosophy of Mind)
Introduction:
Define "consciousness" and key aspects of the concept.
Thesis statement: "While AI can mimic certain aspects of consciousness, it is unlikely to achieve true consciousness due to the lack of subjective experience and qualia."

Body:
Argument 1: The "Hard Problem" of Consciousness:
Explain the challenge of explaining the subjective "what it is like" quality of experience.
Discuss how current AI models primarily focus on computational processes, not subjective experience.

Argument 2: The Turing Test and its Limitations:
Explain the Turing Test as a criterion for AI intelligence.
Argue that passing the Turing Test does not necessarily indicate consciousness.
Discuss limitations of the Turing Test in assessing subjective experience.

Conclusion:
Summarize the main arguments against AI consciousness, highlighting the lack of a clear understanding of the nature of consciousness itself.
Discuss potential future directions in AI research related to consciousness.

Key points to remember when creating a philosophy essay outline:
Clearly state your thesis:
Your thesis should be a focused argument that you will defend throughout the essay.

Logical structure:
Organize your arguments in a coherent manner, addressing potential counterarguments and objections.

Support with evidence:
Use relevant philosophical concepts, examples, and scholarly citations to strengthen your claims.

Precise language:
Employ clear and concise terminology when discussing philosophical ideas.

Generative AI is experimental.

Great advice. Simple yet powerful, just a little bit of structure puts you miles ahead of people who don't even try to plan out a structure.

We owe so much to Baden and the Literary Activity team. They provided the basic core which evolved over the years to showcase and encourage the imagination and creativity of members. Fantastic job, well done! :fire: — Amity

Thank you. I've been on hiatus. But this has great potential and I look forward to seeing the contributions.

Good to see you back! :smile:
Thanks for your support and encouragement. You've been missed. Terribly.

June 1st is just around the corner...

Wishing everyone all the best in this new TPF venture. Something positive to look forward to. :pray: :flower:

I'm thinking about participating in this but haven't made up my mind. I would encourage people to participate, especially if they enjoy philosophy.

I would encourage people to participate, especially if they enjoy philosophy. — Sam26

I encourage you to participate on that basis, else fall into performative contradiction ;)

But, yes -- my thinking is that it ought be a celebration of the philosophical creative mind, and not necessarily the "greatest" paper ever or whatever that might mean. I promise to give constructive feedback to any entrant, as in I'll try to improve the essay from the perspective of the writer writing it, as the "hook".

But I say that because I look forward to reading lots of brave and original philosophy essays from our people.

I have gone from one probable topic to four possibles. I've done a little bit of research on all of them. ATM, I'm leaning toward the last. *sigh* More reading. But the very idea is a great motivator to learn, and I'm sure there will be a heap more learning when the essays are in.

I do empathise because I have thought about topics and rejected these later. It is so hard because so many philosophy issues are or have been tackled in threads.

Also, with an essay it seems that there is a need to come up with an independent view. I had one idea but have since decided it is a bit sensitive to tackle on a public forum. If I do write it I would have to write it with care, which would be more important than using artificial intelligence to edit it.

I definitely hope to contribute to the activity as a writing challenge, but it feels a bit daunting. At the time thè competition was posted it seemed such a long way away but we are in late March already. I will enter if I have something specific to say, and at the moment I am waiting for inspiration.

As having difficulty choosing a topic, I do wonder if having a theme (or several) would have made the activity seem less daunting. At one point, I remember that I'magination' was suggested but I think it was dismissed. Anyone could choose to use it as a prompt although it may be seen as unimaginive to do so.

Do you think that some prompt topics or questions would help more people to participante? When I go to a creative writing group some prompts are given and everyone finds it helpful in getting started. I am not suggesting that the use of the prompts should be obligatory, but just wonder if it would help rather than being in front of a blank page, with the whole field of philosophy for choice.

I have gone from one probable topic to four possibles. I've done a little bit of research on all of them. ATM, I'm leaning toward the last. *sigh* More reading. — Vera Mont

Hey, yes! I've found it is easy to swerve from one topic to another in the middle of doing the research. Research is, of course, never wasted - it just means you begin to know more about a topic and realise there's more to it than you thought! You either dig in and keep to your original 'passion' or move on.
It's good to have more background and knowledge under your belt, all the better to respond to readers.

But the very idea is a great motivator to learn, and I'm sure there will be a heap more learning when the essays are in. — Vera Mont

Absolutely! As readers, we can focus on the ideas, appreciate the effort and ask questions if we don't understand what is being presented.

As having difficulty choosing a topic, I do wonder if having a theme (or several) would have made the activity seem less daunting. At one point, I remember that I'magination' was suggested but I think it was dismissed. Anyone could choose to use it as a prompt although — Jack Cummins

Of course, you can use your imagination to discuss or explore 'Imagination' or 'Creativity' any way you want. You are interested in Art and Music and all kinds of psychology/philosophy. Perhaps look for any links and follow a quote or lyric from a song. 'All you need is love' - Discuss. :wink:

it may be seen as animaginive to do so.
Do you think that some prompt topics or questions would help? When I go to a creative writing group some prompts are given and everyone finds it helpful in getting started. I am not suggesting that the use of the prompts should be obligatory, but just wonder if it would help rather than being in front of a blank page, with the whole field of philosophy for choice. — Jack Cummins

It is so hard because so many philosophy issues are or have been tackled in threads. — Jack Cummins

You can use previous discussions as a springboard. Similar issues from a different perspective.
TPF posters who have a passion for particular topic/s can use their past, present thoughts and writings - but not to simply copy and paste, otherwise what's the point.

The creative spirit of the event is foremost. You are in a new moment and can take anything in a new direction. It's supposed to be enjoyed.
You have plenty of spark :cool:

with an essay it seems that there is a need to come up with an independent view. I had one idea but have since decided it is a bit sensitive to tackle on a public forum. If I do write it I would have to write it with care, which would be more important than using artificial intelligence to edit it. — Jack Cummins

To start with all you need is your view! Then look at what others have said. Reflect on similarities or differences and come to a conclusion.

Just a few thoughts. I'm sure others have more. Brainstorm stuff that is currently on your mind and how it makes you and others feel...

You can do this! :100: :sparkle:

Yes, imagination and creativity are possible topics. The other brainstorm ideas I have are the relationship between philosophy and psychiatry, as well as the autobiographical experience of philosophy.

I am wondering if others may wish to brainstorm too, but I realise many may wish to keep their ideas to themselves, for fear of others pinching them. Also, please note that, I am not disclosing what I am writing about because I have mentioned a few and others may choose to tackle them too. I also have some othier ideas and may come up with more before June. I hope to contribute but too much stress may prevent me. (Around lockdown I had so much more time and life seems more difficult than I have ever known in England, which may stifle so much creativity).

The topic of 'All You Need is Love' may be a good one because so much trouble in the world may possibly be killing love and compassion. This may be a sweeping statement but many people I know seem to be becoming far more self absorbed and self-centred after the pandemic and in the context of the cost of living crisis.

my thinking is that it ought be a celebration of the philosophical creative mind, and not necessarily the "greatest" paper ever or whatever that might mean. I promise to give constructive feedback to any entrant, as in I'll try to improve the essay from the perspective of the writer writing it, as the "hook".

But I say that because I look forward to reading lots of brave and original philosophy essays from our people. — Moliere

Yes. A celebration of creative minds and a mix of ideas. To write or read something that might slant you from your usual viewpoint. A topic not 'original' (how can it be?) but a new way of looking for you and others. Listening, even if it sounds discordant. Creating form and content, academic or different, using the imagination...

Even the ordinary can be 'brave', if it's a first attempt or one to make the mundane magical.
And challenging to keep it within the realms of philosophy. Depending on what you think that involves. There's a topic in itself!

Improving an 'essay from the perspective of the writer' - as the 'hook'?
I'm not sure what that means?
Do you mean to lead the discussion of the essay, to set it off in a positive direction, one of substance.
Rather than the trigger-happy knee-jerk reactions that can occur in threads?

Also, with an essay it seems that there is a need to come up with an independent view. — Jack Cummins

As I see it:

A philosophy essay is a specific thing and is not the same thing as a literary essay. This is a "Philosophy writing challenge". In a philosophy essay, one starts with a thesis about which one makes a claim and then defends it.

In fact, it is not even necessary to believe the claim that you are making, as long as you make a strong argument for it.

For example, the thesis could be "The public are better off under an Oligarchy than a Democracy" You could either defend this claim, oppose this claim or claim that sometimes Oligarchies are better than Democracies. Whichever claim you are making, you need to support your claim with a strong argument.

Perhaps a philosophy essay is more about your reasoned defence of your claim than the actual topic itself.

As regards independent view, I am assuming that an essay of say 2,000 words at undergraduate level will be more suitable than a PhD Dissertation of say 100,000 words. This affects what is meant by "independent view".

In an undergraduate philosophy essay, the writer is not expected to independently develop a new philosophical idea, but is expected to show independence of thinking in reasoning about existing philosophical ideas.

There is a difference between having a view that is independent of current philosophical ideas and having an independent view about current philosophical ideas.

For example:
1) You could begin with a declarative statement expressing your opinion "The public are better off under an Oligarchy than a Democracy"
2) Then i) give the main evidence that supports your claim and ii) your reasons why this evidence supports your claim.
3) Then give one or two main counter-arguments
4) Then give reasons why you rebut these counter-arguments
5) Finish by summarising your reasons why the evidence supports your claim and your reasons for rebutting the counter-arguments.

As an exercise in writing a philosophy essay, you could defend a claim that you don't even believe in, as long as you made a persuasive case.