college essay about philosophy

How to Write a Philosophy Essay: Ultimate Guide

What Is a Philosophy Essay: Definition

Philosophical writing isn't your typical assignment. Its aim isn't to provide an overview of professional philosophers' works and say whether you agree with them.

Philosophy demands becoming a philosopher for the time of writing, thinking analytically and critically of ideas, pondering the Big Questions, and asking 'Why?'. That's why it requires time and energy, as well as a lot of thinking on your part.

But what is philosophy essay, exactly? If you're tasked with writing one, you'll have to select a thesis in the philosophical domain and argue for or against it. Then, you can support your thesis with other professional philosophers' works. But it has to contain your own philosophical contribution, too. (This is only one definition of philosophy essay, of course.)

What's a Good Philosophy Paper Outline?

Before you start writing your first line, you should make a philosophy essay outline. Think of it as a plan for your philosophy paper that briefly describes each paragraph's point.

As for how to write a philosophy essay outline, here are a few tips for you:

• Start with your thesis. What will you be arguing for or against?
• Read what philosophical theory has to say and note sources for your possible arguments and counterarguments.
• Decide on the definitions of core concepts to include precise philosophical meanings in your essay.
• After careful and extended reflection, organize your ideas following the structure below.

How To Structure a Philosophy Paper?

Like any other essay, a philosophy paper consists of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Sticking to this traditional philosophy essay structure will help you avoid unnecessary stress.

Here's your mini-guide on how to structure a philosophy essay:

• Introduction - Clarify the question you will be answering in your philosophy paper. State your thesis – i.e., the answer you'll be arguing for. Explain general philosophical terms if needed.
• Main body - Start with providing arguments for your stance and refute all the objections for each of them. Then, describe other possible answers and their reasoning – and counter the main arguments in their support.
• Conclusion - Sum up all possible answers to the questions and reiterate why yours is the most viable one.

What's an Appropriate Philosophy Essay Length?

In our experience, 2,000 to 2,500 words are enough to cover the topic in-depth without compromising the quality of the writing.

However, see whether you have an assigned word limit before getting started. If it's shorter or longer than we recommend, stick to that word limit in writing your essay on philosophy.

What Format Should You Use for a Philosophy Paper?

As a service we can attest that most students use the APA guidelines as their philosophy essay format. However, your school has the final say in what format you should stick to.

Sometimes, you can be asked to use a different college philosophy essay format, like MLA or Chicago. But if you're the one to choose the guidelines and don't know which one would be a good philosophy argumentative essay format, let's break down the most popular ones.

APA, MLA, and Chicago share some characteristics:

• Font: Time New Roman, 12 pt
• Line spacing: double
• Margins: 1" (left and right)
• Page number: in the header

But here's how they differ:

• A title page required
• Sources list: 'References' page
• No title page required
• Sources list: 'Works cited' page
• Sources list: 'Bibliography' page
• Footnotes and endnotes are required for citations

Have a Tight Deadline?

Our PRO writers will quickly produce a unique paper for you based on your specifications!

Guideline on How to Write a Philosophy Essay

If you still don't feel that confident about writing a philosophy paper, don't worry. Philosophical questions, by definition, have more than one interpretation. That's what makes them so challenging to write about.

To help you out in your philosophical writing journey, we've prepared this list of seven tips on how to write a philosophy essay.

• Read Your Sources Thoughtfully

Whether your recommended reading includes Dante's Divine Comedy or Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism Is a Humanism , approach your sources with curiosity and analytical thinking. Don't just mindlessly consume those texts. Instead, keep asking yourself questions while you're reading them, such as:

• What concepts and questions does the author address?
• What's the meaning behind key ideas and metaphors in the text?
• What does the author use as a convincing argument?
• Are there any strange or obscure distinctions?

As for which sources you should turn to, that all depends on your central question; philosophy topics for essay are diverse and sometimes opposed. So, you'll have to do your fair share of research.

• Brainstorm & Organize Your Ideas

As you're reading those texts, jot down what comes to your mind. It can be a great quote you've stumbled upon, an idea for an argument, or your thoughtful, critical responses to certain opinions.

Then, sort through and organize all of those notes into an outline for your essay in philosophy. Make sure that it holds up in terms of logic. And ensure that your arguments and counterarguments are compelling, sensible, and convincing!

Now, you might be wondering how to write a philosophy essay introduction. Don't worry: there's an explanation right below!

• Craft Your Introductory Paragraph

Think of your introduction as a road map preparing your reader for the journey your essay will take them on. This road map will describe the key 'stops' in your essay on philosophy: your topic, stance, and how you will argue for it – and refute other stances.

Don't hesitate to write it out as a step-by-step guide in the first or third person. For example: 'First, I will examine... Then, I will dispute... Finally, I will present….'

Need an example of an excellent introduction for a philosophy paper? You’ll be thrilled to know that we have one of our philosophy essay examples below!

• Present Your Key Arguments & Reflections

Philosophy papers require a fair share of expository writing. This is where you demonstrate your understanding of the topic. So, make your exposition extensive and in-depth, and don't omit anything crucial.

As for the rest of the main body, we've covered how to structure a philosophy essay above. In short, you'll need to present supporting arguments, anticipate objections, and address them.

Use your own words when writing a philosophy paper; avoid pretentious or verbose language. Yes, some technical philosophical terms may be necessary. But the point of a philosophical paper is to present your stance – and develop your own philosophy – on the topic.

• Don't Shy Away from Critical Ideas

Whenever you examine a philosophical theory or text, treat it with a fair share of criticism. This is what it means in practice – and how to structure a philosophy essay around your critical ideas:

• Pinpoint what the theory's or idea's strengths are and every valid argument in its support;
• See the scope of its application – perhaps, there are exceptions you can use as counterarguments;
• Research someone else's criticism of the theory or idea. Develop your own criticism, as well;
• Check if the philosopher already addressed those criticisms.
• Ponder Possible Answers to Philosophical Questions

Writing an essay in philosophy is, in fact, easier for some students as the topic can always have multiple answers, and you can choose any of them. However, this can represent an even tougher challenge for other students. After all, you must consider those possible answers and address them in the paper.

How do you pinpoint those possible answers? Some of them can come to your mind when you brainstorm, especially if you'll be writing about one of the Big Questions. Others will reveal themselves when you start reading other philosophers' works.

Remember to have arguments for and against each possible answer and address objections.

• Write a Powerful Conclusion

The conclusion is where you sum up your paper in just one paragraph. Reiterate your thesis and what arguments support it. But in philosophical writing, you can rarely have a clear, undebatable answer by the end of the paper. So, it's fine if your conclusion doesn't have a definitive verdict.

Here are a few tips on how to write a conclusion in a philosophy essay:

• Don't introduce new arguments or evidence in conclusion – they belong in the main body;
• Avoid overestimating or embellishing the level or value of your work;
• Best conclusions are obvious and logical for those reading the paper – i.e.; a conclusion shouldn't be surprising at all;
• Stay away from poorly explained claims in conclusion.

Philosophical Essay Example

Sometimes, it's better to see how it's done once than to read a thousand guides. We know that like no one else, so we have prepared this short philosophy essay example to show you what excellent philosophy papers look like:

Like this example? Wondering how to get a perfect philosophy essay as great as it is? You're in luck: you can leave " write my philosophy paper " request and buy online essay at EssayPro without breaking the bank! Keep in mind: this example is only a fraction of what our writers are capable of!

30 Philosophy Paper Topic Ideas

Philosophical writing concerns questions that don't have clear-cut yes or no answers. So, coming up with philosophy essay topics yourself can be tough.

Fret not: we've put together this list of 30 topics for philosophy papers on ethics and leadership for you. Feel free to use them as-is or tweak them!

15 Ethics Philosophy Essay Topics

Ethics deals with the question of right and wrong. So, if you're looking for philosophy essay topic ideas, ethics concerns some of the most interesting – and most mind-boggling – questions about human behavior.

Here are 15 compelling philosophy essay topics ethics has to offer you:

• Is starting a war always morally wrong?
• Would it be right to legalize euthanasia?
• What is more important: the right to privacy or national security?
• Is justice always fair?
• Should nuclear weapons be banned?
• Should teenagers be allowed to get plastic surgery?
• Can cheating be justifiable?
• Can AI algorithms behave ethically?
• Should you abide by an unfair law?
• Should voting become mandatory?
• When can the right to freedom of speech be limited?
• Is it the consumers' responsibility to fight climate by changing their buying decisions?
• Is getting an abortion immoral?
• Should we give animals their own rights?
• Would human gene editing be immoral?

15 Leadership Philosophy Essay Topics

You're lucky if you're tasked with writing a leadership philosophy essay! We've compiled this list of 15 fresh, unconventional topics for you:

• Is formal leadership necessary for ensuring the team's productivity?
• Can authoritative leadership be ethical?
• How do informal leaders take on this role?
• Should there be affirmative action for formal leadership roles?
• Is it possible to measure leadership?
• What's the most important trait of a leader?
• Is leadership an innate talent or an acquired skill?
• Should leadership mean holding power over others?
• Can a team function without a leader?
• Should you follow a leader no matter what?
• Is leader succession necessary? Why?
• Are leadership and power the same?
• Can we consider influencers contemporary leaders?
• Why do people follow leaders?
• What leadership style is the most ethical one?

7 Helpful Tips on Crafting a Philosophical Essay

Still, feeling stuck writing a philosophical essay? Here are seven more tips on crafting a good philosophy paper that can help you get unstuck:

• Write the way you would talk about the subject. This will help you avoid overly convoluted, poor writing by using more straightforward prose with familiar words.
• Don't focus on having a definitive answer by the end of your philosophical essay if your conclusion states that the question should be clarified further or that there are multiple answers.
• You don't have to answer every question you raise in the paper. Even professional philosophers sometimes don't have all the answers.
• Get straight to the point at the start of your paper. No need to warm up the reader – and inflate your word count.
• Avoid using quotes. Instead, explain the author's point in your own words. But if you feel it's better to use a direct quote, explicitly state how it ties to your argument after it.
• Write in the first person unless your assignment requires you to use the third person.
• Start working on your philosophical essay well in advance. However much time you think you'll need, double it!

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Philosophy Writing

Sometimes, knowing what you shouldn't do in a philosophical essay is also helpful. Here are seven common mistakes that often bring down students' grades – but are easily avoidable:

• Appealing to authority – in philosophy, strive to develop your own stance instead;
• Using convoluted sentences to appear more intelligent – instead, use simpler ways to deliver the same meaning;
• Including interesting or important material without tying it to your point – every piece of evidence and every idea should explicitly support your arguments or counterarguments;
• Inflating your word count without delivering value – in the writing process, it's crucial to 'kill your darlings';
• Making poorly explained claims – explicitly present reasons for or against every claim you include;
• Leaving core concepts undefined – explain what you mean by the words like 'free will' or 'existentialism' in the introduction;
• Worrying about being wrong – no one can be proven wrong in philosophy!

Realize that your draft contains those mistakes, and it's too late to fix them? Then, let us help you out! Whether you ask us, 'Fix my paper' or ' Write my paper from scratch,' our philosophy writers will deliver an excellent paper worth the top grade. And no, it won't cost you a fortune!

Worried About All of the Approaching Assignments?

We provide the top writing services you've been searching for! Our experts can deliver your coursework swiftly!

Related Articles

How to Write a Philosophy Paper: Bridging Minds

Table of contents

• 1 What is a Philosophy Paper?
• 2.1 Philosophy Research Paper Introduction
• 2.2 Body Sections
• 2.3 Writing a Philosophy Paper Conclusion
• 3 Template for a Philosophy Essay Structure
• 4 How to Format a Philosophy Research Paper
• 5.1 Choose a Topic
• 5.2 Read the Material and Take Notes
• 5.3 Think about Your Thesis
• 5.4 Make an Outline
• 5.5 Make a First Draft
• 5.6 Work on the Sections
• 5.7 Engage with Counterarguments
• 5.8 Don’t Niglet Citations
• 5.9 Check Formatting Guidelines.
• 5.10 Revise and Proofread
• 6 How to Select the Best Philosophy Essay Topic?
• 7.1 Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics
• 7.2 Plato Essay Topics
• 7.3 Worldview Essay Topics
• 7.4 Transcendentalism Essay Topics
• 7.5 Practical Philosophy Essay Topics
• 7.6 Enlightenment Essay Topics
• 8 Let Your Philosophy Paper Shine

As a college student who has decided to take a philosophy course, you may be new to this science. A philosophy assignment may seem hard, and this subject is indeed pretty difficult. You read some text, but what you read is just one level of the text, as you need to think critically and analyze what the author is trying to get across. It also involves a lot of analytical and deep thinking. Thus, it is difficult to do an assignment unless you fully understand the text. Don’t freak out if you have little experience with this subject, as we have prepared a comprehensive guide on how to write a philosophy paper, from which you will know:

• The essence of philosophy paper, its structure and format
• Why it is important not to omit the outline stage
• Practical tips on writing a philosophy research paper.

What is a Philosophy Paper?

A philosophy research paper is an academic work that presents a comprehensive exploration of a specific philosophical question , topic, or thinker. It typically involves the analysis of arguments, the articulation of one’s own positions or perspectives, and the evaluation of philosophical texts and ideas. The primary objective of such a paper is to contribute to the understanding of philosophical issues by critically examining existing views, offering new interpretations, or developing novel arguments. The paper is characterized by rigorous logical reasoning, clear articulation of ideas, and grounding in relevant philosophical literature.

Drafting a philosophy essay begins with appreciating precisely what a philosophy research paper entails. It involves taking a definite position on a philosophical topic and defending that viewpoint with a logical, irrefutable claim. A good research essay generally uses rational arguments to lead readers down a path to a conclusive, hard-to-contradict resolution.

Philosophy Paper Outline Structure

Writing a quality philosophy paper means beginning with a first-rate outline. The best philosophy paper outline is straightforward in its intent, takes up a position, and is uncomplicated in its language. A proper outline makes drafting easier and less time-consuming. Moreover, philosophical writing with a clear-cut outline will lend assurance that your end result is condensed yet enlightening.

After determining a format, you are ready to begin writing out your philosophy paper outline. The first step in this process is to determine how to choose a topic for a paper. Great papers are those that the writer is most interested in. Once your topic has been chosen, your outline can be written with specific details and facts. Said specifics will take your introduction, body, and conclusion through an easy-to-follow guide.

Philosophy Research Paper Introduction

Your research essay should begin with a striking and  attention-grabbing hook . It should identify your topic of focus in some way and ensure that readers have the desire to continue on. The hook is intended to smoothly transition to your thesis statement, which is the claim your thesis is venturing to prove. Your thesis statement should lead readers to  the question of research – the distinct question that will be wholly explained in the body of writing. Finally, your  introduction for the research paper will close with your stance on the question.

Body Sections

The body aspect of a philosophy thesis is considered the meat of any paper. It is hard unless you find someone to  write my philosophy paper for me . This element is where most of the logic behind your stance is contained. Typically, bodies are made up of 3 sections, each explaining the explicit reasoning behind your position. For instance, the first chunk of the body will directly and logically answer the question posed.

In your second body section, use statements that argue why your position is correct. These statements should be informed, prudent, and concise in their reasoning, yet still presented without overly fancy lingo. The explanation of your argument should not be easily opposed. It should also be succinct and without fluff, insulating the explanatory material.

The third portion of the body section should defend your thesis against those that may have counterarguments. This will be the backbone of the essay – the portion that is too hard to refute. By ensuring that criticisms are properly and utterly denounced and the thesis is ratified, philosophical writing will begin to reach its end – the conclusion.

Writing a Philosophy Paper Conclusion

The conclusion is ultimately meant to tie the entire work together in a nice, coherent fashion. It should start with a brief rehash of the body section of your essay. Then, it will move into explaining the importance of the thesis and argument as a whole.  Quality conclusions are ones that will offer a sense of closure.

Template for a Philosophy Essay Structure

A suggested template to help guide you when writing out a philosophy outline is as follows:

The use of the above outline template is sure to help with the overall drafting procedure of philosophical writing. Understanding the proper use of the outline is ideal for the best end product.

Putting an outline to use makes the process of writing a philosophy paper much more simple. By using an outline to navigate your thoughts as you write, your essay nearly composes itself. The addition of detail to an outline as it is written provides pronounced facts and a full outline. Take the outline chock full of thoughts and ideas, add words and transitions, and you have a complete paper.

How to Format a Philosophy Research Paper

Formatting a philosophy paper starts with choosing a citation style . The choice between APA, MLA, and Chicago styles simply lay out citations in contrasting manners for your philosophical writing. Each of these styles requires a differing method of citing sources and varying types of organization. Most commonly, philosophy research paper citations are done in MLA or Chicago. While both are accepted, it may be best to choose which your supervisor requires.

Luckily, you can  APA research papers for sale and forget about this stress.

10 Steps to Write a Great Philosophy Paper Like a Pro

Learning how to write a philosophy research paper outline is a skill that can be carried over to numerous other subjects. While philosophical writing is a bit different than most other topics of discussion, the outline can be applied to others fairly easily. Proper utilization of outlines makes for a well-thought-out and structured thesis work that a writer can be proud of.

Choose a Topic

One of the primary steps is choosing a topic, and that is the first thing college students get stuck on. If you can not choose a topic you are interested in, talk to your university professor. You can also take a look at different lists of ideas on the Internet.

Read the Material and Take Notes

Read all materials carefully and take notes of important ideas. It is a good idea to read the material a couple of times as there will always be something you don’t notice at first. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you read to nail your assignment. If you feel like you don’t understand anything, then Google ‘ write my philosophy paper for me ’ and get help from real professionals.

Think about Your Thesis

Before you start writing, realize what you are going to show. Your work should have a strong thesis that states your position. The central component of the work is a clear thesis statement followed by supporting claims.

Make an Outline

An outline should include your ideas for the introduction, your thesis, main points, and conclusion. Having a philosophy paper outline before working on the assignment can help you stay focused and ensure you include all major points.

Make a First Draft

Don’t worry about perfection at this stage. Instead, focus on getting your ideas on paper. Following your outline, start building your arguments. Make sure to provide evidence or reasons for your claims.

Work on the Sections

Introduction: An introduction for a research paper is an essential part of any assignment because it gives your readers an overview of your work. It is your opportunity to grab their attention, so take this step seriously. Remember the thesis statement? You should present it here.

Main body: In this part, you need to present arguments and support your thesis. Start with providing a clear explanation of the philosopher’s ideas and move to the evaluation. Support your thesis by using examples.

Conclusion: A conclusion for any research paper is where you restate your central thesis. It should look like a mirror image of the introduction. Here you need to summarize the major points of your work.

Engage with Counterarguments

A good philosophy paper acknowledges opposing views. Make sure to address these counterarguments and provide reasons for why you believe your stance is more compelling.

Don’t Niglet Citations

Citations serve as a bridge. They link your ideas to the broader world of philosophical discourse, allowing readers to trace back your sources and delve deeper if they wish. Always remember, that citations are more than a mere formality. They correspond to specific ideas, arguments, or facts you present in your paper. This means every claim, idea, or quote you borrow from a philosopher needs to be clearly linked to its source. In this way, you will be sure that your work will be free of plagiarism .

Check Formatting Guidelines.

It’s also crucial to maintain consistency in your citation style. Whether you use APA, MLA, or Chicago, stick to one style throughout your paper.

Revise and Proofread

Once you finish your masterpiece, it is time to  edit and proofread the research paper . We recommend you put your work aside for a few days to have a fresh perspective when start editing it.

How to Select the Best Philosophy Essay Topic?

First of all, we recommend deciding on a direction that interests you more. It can be a theoretical aspect, applicative use of philosophy or even the integration of this science with others – for example, ontology or metaphysics. After all, it is essential to reflect your thoughts correctly in writing for any direction. You will need to use writing tools for students to show your judgments accurately in the essay. Sometimes this can be a difficult task when the authors of the papers get into a so-called flow state.

Secondly, choosing a good topic that can be compared with the opinions of already-known thinkers is necessary for a deeper justification of your point of view. To do this, use the appropriate essay quotation format to make your paper easy to read. After all, while we are not recognized philosophers, proving our claims will be helpful to get the highest score.

If you still need to get philosophy essay ideas, continue reading this article. Here you will find 70 interesting topics that you can use as a topic for your essay or get inspired to create your own.

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

Often we want to avoid reinventing the wheel. We are interested in writing an exciting but easy essay. So, if you were looking for simple philosophical essay topics, here is the list of the top 10 topics in philosophy for your paper:

• Human Responsibilities in Different World Religions: Why are They Distinct?
• Good and Evil: Do They Have Anything in Common? Will They Be Able to Insulate One without the Other?
• Advantages and Disadvantages of a Hedonistic Approach to Life
• Life after Death: Should We Endure the Circumstances of the X-axis for a Better Future on the Y-axis?
• Why Ancient People Asked Themselves the Same Questions as We Do: Isn’t Humanity Progressing?
• Do We Fulfill Our Moral Obligation to Parents by Helping Children?
• Three Features: Each from an Animal and an Angel. What is the Nature of Man?
• Is Genetic Engineering Ethical with Respect to the Laws of Nature?
• How Society Can Influence the Personal Choice of the Sense of Life for Each of Us
• Self-Determination of a Person & the Formation of our Microuniverse

Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

If you think more analytically, use it to your advantage. The argumentative type of philosophy essay is an unusual and exciting option for such papers since it requires strong thesis statement points. If you want to write exactly this sort of essay, these essay topics ideas will come in handy to decide on the topic of your work:

• Peaceful Protests/Desperate Battle: a Critical Analysis of the Philosophy of Resistance
• The Borderland Situation and Absurdity: Analytical Review.
• Explanation of the Path of any Subject to the Point of No Return. A Critical Analysis of “The Myth of Sisyphus” 1942.
• The Paradox of Absurdity and How to Find a Way Out of It: Follow the Rules or Set Yours
• Comparative Analysis of Forms of Globalization from the Point of View of Philosophy
• E. Leroy, P. Teilhard de Shader and Volodymyr Vernandskyi: Together About the Noosphere, Separately About its Functioning.
• Analysis of the Origins of the First Thinkers from the Point of View of Metaphysics.
• The Legal Aspect of Organ Cloning and Entire Human Cloning. Does it Make a Difference?
• Are People Obliged to Always Tell the Truth and Nothing But the Truth?
• Is Experience Acquired through Lived Years or Situations? Explanation of Each of the Parties.

Plato Essay Topics

Plato and Aristotle were the founders of philosophy in their classical sense. That is why writing an essay that will outline or refute Plato’s reasoning is a surefire option to impress your teacher and stand out from the rest of the group. If you still don’t know what to write about, below are the topics in the philosophy type of paper:

• Understanding a Being as a Multiplicity of Organic Elements According to Plato’s Postulates.
• Reflection of the Philosophy of Truth As an Idea: Plato’s Teaching
• Plato’s way of Familiarizing themself with the Truth through Memories
• Is It Possible to Trace the Influence of Socrates on Plato’s Philosophy: a Detailed Analysis
• Truth Exists, but It does not Exist until Being Developed – the Main Contradiction of Plato’s System of Philosophy Understanding
• “Phaedo”: Philosophy is the Science of Death.
• Plato’s Dialectic: Philosophy is the Cornice that Crowns All Our Knowledge
• Platonic Vision of Four Types of Dialectics as Four Modes of the Soul Activity
• A Move Against Democracy from the Platonic Postulates of Understanding the State and Society According to Personal Philosophy
• Plato and the “Ladder of Love” in the “Banquet”: Beautiful Bodies, Souls, Tempers and Sciences.

Worldview Essay Topics

Worldview and philosophy are similar concepts; they are rooted in the history of the human race. That is why this type of essay is interesting for both writing and reading. Choose your worldview essay topic from the options below to create your perfect piece of writing:

• Three-Aspect Structure of Worldview: Elements, Levels, Main Subsystems
• Mythological and Religious Types of Worldview: What do They Have in Common?
• Worldview as an Individual Prism of Multilevel Interaction Between Man and the World
• The Influence of Previous Generations on Modern Prejudices of our Outlook
• Ideological Form of Globalization. How does Social Media Affect It?
• The Noosphere as a Part of Countering Global Warming
• Modern Beauty Standards and the Bodily Phenomenon of Existence: What is the Connection between Them?
• Human Rights. Philosophy and Ethics
• Religious Beliefs as a Form of Philosophy Existence
• A Complex and Fragmented Approach to Studying the Worldview of Different Nations

Transcendentalism Essay Topics

Transcendentalism, as a new stage in the formation of philosophy, played a key role in its modern appearance. If you are more inclined towards more modernist lines of philosophy, these topics will suit you perfectly:

• Classical German Philosophy. Rational and Intelligent Thinking
• Subjectively Realistic Description of the Environment According to Categories of Philosophy
• The Influence of Transcendentalism on the Ongoing Development of Philosophy Accordingly to the Categories of Multiplicity and Necessity
• 10 Categories Denoting Deep Connections in being Relative to Transcendentalism: What Unites and Distinguishes Them
• Scientific Contemplation as a Mental Category through the Prism of the 20s Years of the 20th Century
• Life at the Intersection of the Past and the Future: Influence on Currents of American Transcendentalism Philosophy
• Modes of Perception of Time & Time as Duration: New ideas of Transcendentalists or Paraphrasing of Hegel’s Postulates?
• Ontological Doctrines and their Essential Characteristics: Henry David Thoreau
• Concepts of Understanding Space and their Qualitative Changes Relative to New Views on Philosophy
• Nature for Self-Sufficiency as the Main Myth of Philosophy Currents at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Practical Philosophy Essay Topics

The theory is great. However, any science’s practical and applied meaning is interesting for each of us. If you are interested in delving into the use of philosophy in modern society, these topics will not leave you indifferent:

• Everyday/Life Level of Philosophy
• Philosophy of Principles. What does It Mean to be Guided by a Certain Life Principle?
• Approach of Philosophy to the Life of Tibetan Monks – does It Correlate with Reality?
• Prejudice against Residents of Third World Countries: Reasons for Contempt for Their Mentality and Lifestyle
• Unpreparedness of College Teachers for Changes in the Education System: What are They Afraid of?
• Truth as the Last Instance of Communication with People. Is It Always Necessary?
• The Philosophy of Excessive Consumption in the USA. What Basis does it Have?
• Does the Concept of One’s Opinion Exist in the Era of Oversaturation of Information?
• The use of Ancient Greek Postulates in Philosophy Today – is the Appeal to Classical Canons Still Relevant?
• The Concept of Ethical and Moral Principles in the Era of Excessive Permissiveness.

Enlightenment Essay Topics

Enlightenment played a huge role in all sciences and spheres of human life. It’s a mind-blowing theme to write about. So, if you were looking for some ideas for your Enlightenment essay topic, we’ve prepared the best ones for you:

• Does the Urge to Study and Develop the Beautiful in Man Still Influence Modern Philosophy?
• Empiricism and Rationalism: Julien Aufre de Lametre’s Attempt to Unite Them
• The Concept of Atheistic Speech of Enlightenment: Religious Dogmatics Debunktion by Voltaire
• Voltaire: Ignorance, Fanaticism, Delusion and Lies Are Cultivated by Christianity
• The State as a Level of Inequality between the Rich and the Poor, According to Rousseau’s Views.
• The Immense Book of Nature as an Object of Knowledge According to Denis Diderot
• The Structure of Existence through Its Concepts: Elements, Substratum, Substance, Objective Reality beyond Human Consciousness and the Condition of Multiplicity.
• Concepts of Understanding Space and Time in Enlightenment Philosophy
• “Molecular Motion” by Paul Holbach: What is It?
• Social Life Based on the Principles of Reason and Justice – “About Reason” Andrian Helvetius

Let Your Philosophy Paper Shine

Good philosophy research paper writing requires some craft and care. Edit your work until it feels right, and make sure you are confident about your claims. If this science is just not your thing, or you struggle to understand it and doing assignments is sheer torture for you, then order a philosophical work crafted by real professionals! The best way to do your assignment is to leave it to experts and forget about your problems.

Readers also enjoyed

WHY WAIT? PLACE AN ORDER RIGHT NOW!

Just fill out the form, press the button, and have no worries!

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.

Quick links

• Make a Gift
• Directories

Why Study Philosophy?

What is philosophy, and why should i study it.

“Philosophy” comes from Greek words meaning “love of wisdom.”  Philosophy uses the tools of logic and reason to analyze the ways in which humans experience the world.  It teaches critical thinking, close reading, clear writing, and logical analysis; it uses these to understand the language we use to describe the world, and our place within it.  Different areas of philosophy are distinguished by the questions they ask.  Do our senses accurately describe reality?  What makes wrong actions wrong?  How should we live?  These are philosophical questions, and philosophy teaches the ways in which we might begin to answer them.

Students who learn philosophy get a great many benefits from doing so.  The tools taught by philosophy are of great use in further education, and in employment.  Despite the seemingly abstract nature of the questions philosophers ask, the tools philosophy teaches tend to be highly sought-after by employers.  Philosophy students learn how to write clearly, and to read closely, with a critical eye; they are taught to spot bad reasoning, and how to avoid it in their writing and in their work.  It is therefore not surprising that philosophy students have historically scored more highly on tests like the LSAT and GRE, on average, than almost any other discipline.  Many of our students combine studying philosophy with studying other disciplines.

The most important reason to study philosophy is that it is of enormous and enduring interest.  All of us have to answer, for ourselves, the questions asked by philosophers.  In this department, students can learn how to ask the questions well, and how we might begin to develop responses.  Philosophy is important, but it is also enormously enjoyable, and our faculty contains many award-winning teachers who make the process of learning about philosophy fun.  Our faculty are committed to a participatory style of teaching, in which students are provided with the tools and the opportunity to develop and express their own philosophical views.  

Critical Thinking “It was in philosophy where I learned rigorous critical thinking, a skill that is invaluable when creating art.” - Donald Daedalus, BA ‘05, Visual Artist “Philosophy taught me to think critically and was the perfect major for law school, giving me an excellent start to law school and my career.” - Rod Nelson, BA ‘75, Lawyer

Tools for Assessing Ethical Issues “The courses I took for my minor in philosophy ... have provided a valuable framework for my career work in the field of global health and have given me a strong foundation for developing a structured, logical argument in various contexts.” - Aubrey Batchelor, Minor ‘09, Global Health Worker “Bioethics is an everyday part of medicine, and my philosophy degree has helped me to work through real-world patient issues and dilemmas.” - Teresa Lee, BA ‘08 Medical Student “The ability to apply an ethical framework to questions that have developed in my career, in taking care of patients ... has been a gift and something that I highly value.” - Natalie Nunes, BA ‘91, Family Physician Analytic Reasoning “... philosophy provided me with the analytical tools necessary to understand a variety of unconventional problems characteristic of the security environment of the last decade.” - Chris Grubb, BA ‘98, US Marine “Philosophy provides intellectual resources, critical and creative thinking capacity that are indispensable for success in contemporary international security environment “ - Richard Paz, BA ‘87, US Military Officer

Understanding Others’ Perspectives “... philosophy grounds us in an intellectual tradition larger than our own personal opinions. ... *making+ it is easier to be respectful of and accommodating to individual differences in clients (and colleagues)...” - Diane Fructher Strother, BA ‘00, Clinical Psychologist “... comprehensive exposure to numerous alternative world/ethical views has helped me with my daily interaction with all different types of people of ethnic, cultural, and political orientation backgrounds.” - David Prestin, BA ‘07, Engineer

Evaluating Information “Analyzing information and using it to form logical conclusions is a huge part of philosophy and was thus vital to my success in this position.” - Kevin Duchmann, BA ‘07, Inventory Control Analyst

Writing Skills “My philosophy degree has been incredibly important in developing my analytical and writing skills.” - Teresa Lee, BA ‘08, Medical Student

•   Twitter
•   YouTube
•   Facebook
•   Newsletter
•   More ways to connect

An Introduction to Philosophy

(7 reviews)

Russ W. Payne

Copyright Year: 2023

Publisher: BCcampus

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Glenn Tiller, Professor of Philosophy, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on 4/22/24

The text is suitably comprehensive and has chapters on the main branches of philosophy: logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. The author does a good job of discussing some of the main philosophical issues in these areas, such as logical... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text is suitably comprehensive and has chapters on the main branches of philosophy: logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. The author does a good job of discussing some of the main philosophical issues in these areas, such as logical arguments, the nature of scientific inquiry, free will, and how we should live our lives. It does not have an index, but terms are easily searchable with an e-text, and the text has a mini glossary at the end of each chapter with key terms for review. The text also does a decent job of providing historical context and a sense of the development of Western philosophy. Some significant topics are omitted, such as personal identity. On the other hand, some topics that are often not discussed (e.g., metaethics) are discussed at length.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The text engages with most of the standard philosophical issues and questions that students encounter in a typical Introduction to Philosophy course. The author seems to have no major biases or philosophical axes to grind. The author’s tone is teacherly, though not overly formal, and similar (at times, very similar) to many other introductions to philosophy in the analytic tradition. Broad in scope and short on detail, the text is meant to be supplemented, so it may be a useful basis for many teachers of first-year philosophy. The historical overview of philosophy is welcome, and the supplementary readings (e.g., Aristotle, Russell, and Chalmers) are well chosen. Some of the objections to traditional problems, such as Descartes’s Cogito argument, are somewhat narrow and do not plumb the depths of skepticism and the difficulties with Descartes's program of methodological doubt.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The author states in the introduction that "Philosophy has progressed dramatically as the sciences over the last century" (p.3). He also states that he aims to "remedy" the situation of a general lack of introductory texts that pay heed to recent developments in philosophy. However, the text is very much grounded in philosophy's history- in the Classic, Medieval, and Modern eras - and comparatively little attention to 20th and 21st C authors. This is not a fault of the text, but it is much more of a standard introduction to philosophy text than one that emphasizes current trends and philosophers. I believe this is a good pedagogical practice for a general introduction to philosophy.

Clarity rating: 5

Philosophy is often daunting to the newcomer, and it has its share of technical jargon, much of which must be explained so that issues can be inquired into. The text is written in a lucid, accessible manner that should appeal to newcomers to philosophy. Major terms (e.g., "Metaphysics") are put in bold and always defined (or at least given a working definition). Each chapter has a vocabulary section at the end, along with review and discussion questions and (in some chapters) "exercises." All of this is helpful. If supplementary definitions, instructors can easily link the text to, say, the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy or the (more challenging) Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Consistency rating: 4

The book is internally consistent in its use of terminology and its organization of thematic chapters. The sequencing of the chapters is helpful, with a nice introduction to the nature of philosophy given first, followed by a primer on logical reasoning, a quick tour through some major eras in philosophy, and later chapters building on the preceding ideas and articulation of historical trends. I think it would have been helpful to have a more detailed section on the so-called "linguistic turn" in philosophy and note other 20th-century trends in philosophy, such as Existentialism. The latter would have been particularly helpful for the sections on, say, "Love and Happiness." Of course, the topics and themes can be easily added with an open-source text like this.

Modularity rating: 4

The text's "modularity" is fine. Major thematic chapters are divided into smaller sections, each with a subheading. At the start of each chapter, a summary of what's to follow is briefly outlined, sometimes using bullet points for concision. Overall, the reader is guided through the thicket of philosophy in a nicely organized manner. Chapters could, I think, be read individually, but the sequencing of the books is purposeful, and later chapters build on earlier chapters, so readers are rewarded if they follow the book from start to finish.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The text is well organized, and the topics covered are given lucid overviews. The opening chapters are especially strong. It might have been more helpful to fully integrate the historical sections into the topics sections. As it is, the text is something of a hybrid. Again, the historical sections are welcome and will benefit students who often need a timeline of ideas to grasp the ongoing philosophical conversations and philosophy's perennial issues.

Interface rating: 5

The interface is excellent. There were no problems with external links, and the external readings and resources provided are top-notch (such as Early Modern Texts). Some chapters do not have links or as many as one might like, but again, these can be easily supplemented.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I found no significant grammar or prose problems, and the book appears to be generally well-edited.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Like most texts, it pays little attention to the philosophizing of women, minorities, and others who have generally been excluded from Western philosophy. The author rightly notes that "women in Descartes’ time were rarely given a thorough education or allowed to participate fully in intellectual life." To help correct persistent biases, it would have been beneficial to include more women philosophers, be they historically well-known figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft or contemporary philosophers such as Martha Nussbaum. The text also mentioned Hindus and Buddhists, but a few more words on the nature of Eastern philosophy - even if to point the reader in the right direction - would enhance the text (esp., say if there was a section on Personal Identity). In addition, sometimes a phrase here or there is a bit unnecessarily jarring. Spinoza is referred to as the “God intoxicated Jew,” for example, and there is a line stating that "Such was the influence of the outcast Jew of Amsterdam." I am not sure about the weight of emphasizing Spinoza being Jewish. Of course, it's a historical fact, but how does the last line, particularly, call for racial and/or cultural identification? Last, there is little to nothing discussing (or mentioning) current issues in philosophy and gender and sexuality.

Again, given that the book is open source and easily modifiable, all of the above criticisms can be remedied. The author has done many a philosophy professor a service by providing a free text that can at least be used as a helpful point of departure for teaching an introduction to philosophy course.

Reviewed by Sean Gould, Adjunct Professor, College of Western Idaho on 4/28/22

An Introduction to Philosophy provides a survey of central themes within the western, analytic tradition of philosophy. The book presents the fundamentals of logic and critical thinking, the Socratic method, and approaches to knowledge based in... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

An Introduction to Philosophy provides a survey of central themes within the western, analytic tradition of philosophy. The book presents the fundamentals of logic and critical thinking, the Socratic method, and approaches to knowledge based in the Rationalist an Empiricist movements. Through following a historical approach, topics including Plato’s Forms, Cartesian Dualism, Pantheism, and Idealism are introduced in the context of their development. The chapter of Philosophy of Mind further discusses the Mind/Body, while the Philosophy of Science section rounds out the epistemological theme of the initial chapters. The final four chapters focus on Ethics, Metaethics, and Social Philosophy. Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Virtue Ethics, Relativism, Social Contract Theory, and Divine Command Theory are all discussed, either in these final chapters or at points fitting a historical appearance in the early chronologically based chapters. Payne provides a comprehensive introduction to the boarder topics of Epistemology, Metaphysics, Logic, and Ethics as they are studied in the western, analytic tradition.

The survey of western philosophy provided by An Introduction to Philosophy is quite brief. Even within the adopted bounds of this tradition, large jumps over time periods and movements are made for the sake of compactness. For example, discussion of Descartes follows quickly upon Aristotle after a brief 2-page transition glossing over the Roman and Medieval contributions to the story. Kant does not appear until his ethical theory is picked up in the chapters on Metaethics and Right Action. There is little or no discussion of Existentialism, Feminism, movements within a broadly Continental Eurocentric tradition, or of any non-western philosophical traditions.

There is no glossary to the text; however, when viewed electronically the “find” function serves as a proxy tool for locating key words.

In general, the text remains safely within the bounds of established scholarship in its presentation of material. There are a few points where the author interjects some personal commentary into the material, but these are generally presented in a transparent way and can be isolated and treated as one would wish. However, an exception to the safe presentation of ideas occurs in the Meta Ethics chapter. Here, the chapter takes a thinly veiled argumentative approach promoting metaethical realism against anti-realism and relativism. As an introductory text, this approach risks portraying the subject in an overly simplistic and decisive manner to introductory students.

The safe and roughly historical approach of the text ensures that the content will not be dated for some time. The material of the text is highly relevant within the field of philosophy it the perennial issues it addresses, although there is little explicit reference to contemporary and topical issues.

Clarity rating: 4

An Introduction to Philosophy proceeds with a clear and approachable tone. The ideas are presented in a language that does not require prior familiarity with philosophical study and should be appropriate to most first-year college students.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistent throughout in its style, difficulty, and presentation of content.

Modularity rating: 3

The text can easily be divided into modular units to be adopted or passed over at an instructor’s discretion without harming the value of any given section’s use. However, the first five chapters do flow together into a historical narrative of ideas that some might find beneficial insofar as it helps provide some added structure to the introduction to the concepts. This beneficial structure would be lost were these early chapters to be taken in isolation. The Philosophy of Mind chapter also utilizes some reference to the prior section on Descartes.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The individual chapters of the text flow from chapter to chapter in a reasonable way. The presentation of material and tone of the text remains structurally consistent throughout. However, the text has detectable sections to its content.

An Introduction to Philosophy begins by providing a subject overview, while the second chapter on critical thinking supplies some methodological sideboards for the student. After this, the text moves through three phases. First, chapters 3-5 present a historical approach of Ancient Philosophy, Rationalism, and Empiricism. Concepts are organized by their association with a particular philosopher and that philosopher’s broad historical context. Chapters 6 and 7 roughly fit into the chronology established by presenting 20th C discussions of the Philosophy of Science and Mind.

Chapters 8-11 break this pattern and focus on ethics. Here, the ideas are presented thematically. Both in the focus ethic and the topical organization, the structure of the book changes. If one wanted to use the entire text for a course but did not want isolate discussion of ethics into one single block, then attempting to reintegrate these following, topic-centered chapters into a sequence parallel to the first would be challenging.

Interface rating: 4

An Introduction to Philosophy is all text. There are no images, figures, or other learning aids. The format of the text functions like a book. The table of contents does not contain internal links. There are some hyperlinks to further readings and materials, but these are often broken. When viewed through a web-browser, the browser’s page selection and “find” features can assist in navigating the material.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

There are a few typos or grammatical errors in the text, but generally the text is clean and presented to professional standards.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

With some exceptions, the text primarily presents the views of dead, white, male Europeans, and its cultural relevance suffers from faults of omission. As an introduction to philosophy, greater transparency regarding its limited content would have helped the text inform readers that this narrowness reflects a decision for the text rather than speaking to the scope of philosophy itself. There are no explicitly insensitive or offensive remarks in the text. When mentioned explicitly, the few acknowledgements of diversity from the narrow scope of the text are done appropriately, with one minor exception that warrants flagging. Elizabeth Simmern van Pallandt is given due attention for her critical correspondence with Descartes regarding the Mind/Body problem. At this point, Payne provides a well-intentioned interjection to identify and condemn the patronizing nature of some of Descartes’s communications with Pallandt. Payne also suggests that Pallandt, “provides a brilliant illustration of how to deal most effectively with patronizing behavior whether it is of sexist variety or some other kind: just be competent and this will show that you deserve to be taken seriously” (p 72). Rather than place full responsibility and condemnation for patronizing behavior on the perpetrator, some might worry that Payne’s interjection places some responsibility for patronizing behavior upon those who have yet to prove they deserve being taken seriously. This is an issue with the text that people might want to be aware of. I have had to interject on this passage for my students and have repeatedly received thankful comments from students for doing so. However, besides this gaffe and the narrowness of scope, An Introduction to Philosophy remains appropriate in what it does present.

Reviewed by Shalon van Tine, Adjunct Instructor, Thomas Nelson Community College on 4/9/21

Payne has written a solid introduction to philosophy for students with little to no background in the subject matter. His text covers the core ancient philosophers, basic logical reasoning, explorations in the philosophy of science and mind, and... read more

Payne has written a solid introduction to philosophy for students with little to no background in the subject matter. His text covers the core ancient philosophers, basic logical reasoning, explorations in the philosophy of science and mind, and the main branches of ethics. It is a short text, so therefore Payne has left out some key branches of thought, such as aesthetics, structuralism, or critical theory. Additionally, there is no index or glossary with this text. Still, he does a good job introducing the basics within his limited space.

As far as accuracy is concerned, there were no glaring mistakes, although sometimes the author’s personal views are embedded within the text.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

There are some instances within the book that are dated, such as examples that point to public figures at the time the book was written. Additionally, Payne’s lack of Marxist or sociological analysis in his section on social justice is a stark oversight. This omission leaves him struggling to explain atrocities like racism or genocide in individualistic ethical terms, as if these social problems are the cause of individuals with personal bad ethics rather than products of larger-scale structural realities. In light of recent world events and uprisings, this text would be more relevant if it took societal analyses into consideration.

A benefit of Payne’s book is its conversational tone. Too often students new to philosophy can get lost in the jargon. Payne does a good job using natural, easy-to-understand language.

The text is consistent with its organization. Payne keeps most chapters to a reasonable and readable length.

At times, the author refers to his own life as examples. While this tactic works well in a classroom setting, it does not work as well in a textbook that other professors will use. Shifting the textbook to a third-person narrative would solve this issue.

Regardless, Payne has organized his text well, and readers can easily navigate it.

Interface rating: 2

One major problem with this book, however, is its lack of images, charts, etc. Rather than revise charts to fit his text, Payne has included hyperlinks to outside web sources for information. Unfortunately, about half of all links included were either non-secure websites or dead links. The information he linked to could have been easily rewritten into his own book rather than linking outside the text to questionable sites.

While there are some minor grammatical errors, they do not interfere with the overall readability of the text.

Payne makes some references outside of Western philosophy, such as a brief exploration into Confucianism, but mainly this book sticks to the classics of the Western canon. As stated earlier, a main problem is his lack of philosophers who deal with social and cultural problems. Students interested in real-life issues, especially those that deal with race, gender, or class, will not find many solutions in this textbook.

Overall, Payne has written a useable introduction to the basic ideas in philosophy for 100-level students. The book is not organized like a traditional textbook and is lacking some core ideas that should be explored in an introductory philosophy class. Including more real-life examples and illustrations would help students grasp the concepts presented better.

Reviewed by Sally Parker-Ryan, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington on 12/13/20

Every introduction to philosophy is a reflection of the author’s opinionated view about what the most important topics are that should serve as a student’s first taste of college level philosophy. As this is often a student’s first taste of... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Every introduction to philosophy is a reflection of the author’s opinionated view about what the most important topics are that should serve as a student’s first taste of college level philosophy. As this is often a student’s first taste of philosophy simpliciter, it is an important decision to make. W. Russ Payne’s choices are at once careful to appeal to the interests of students, and comprehensive enough to cover a wide swathe of philosophical landscape. It should be said that the approach is definitely historical; and indeed the progression through philosophical topics follows a roughly chronological order (and often referring back to the ancients for the locus classicus of a particular philosophical view or problem). For some, like me, this works well. I like to give philosophical problems an historical context, and I like to introduce students to the writing of past thinkers. Other teachers, however, might find the historical bent a bit tedious and frustrating, perhaps preferring to introduce problems through more contemporary writers and treatments. At any rate, Payne’s text covers all of the major branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind and ethics (normative and meta), and socio-political philosophy, and the main philosophical problems that each branch treats of. The classic problems are presented through the classic texts (but you will not find, for example, much on contemporary epistemology such as the Gettier issues, nor more modern philosophical questions in mereology or personal identity etc.) However, I think that as an introduction to the discipline, the topics covered offer the right level and the right emphasis to furnish the student new to it with a range of philosophical concepts, views and questions that they may move on to more advanced, contemporary topics well prepared. As with any Introduction, it curates topics according to the author's editorial and pedagogical decisions, so it doesn't cover every topic one might be interested in teaching. Nor does it have an index or glossary (but I find these are available everywhere on the web, and can be added to one's class materials separately). I should also mention that the book approaches philosophy from within the analytic tradition, and thus has limited reference to the more 'continental' texts, authors and issues. Many will find this disappointing (but not surprising, as this distinction is unfortunately fairly standard within the discipline itself). Everything I say below about supplementing this basic textbook with the instructors' own choice of topics and materials applies here, of course.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

As far as I can see, the content is quite accurate; at least I did not notice any glaring errors. The content is also unbiased; there appears to be nothing in the language or ideas that takes anything but a neutral, inclusive line.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This book will be relevant for some time, as it does take an historical approach and does not pretend to be offering the latest, most cutting-edge views on things. As a solid historical introduction, it has a fairly long shelf-life. As with all textbooks, one should regularly ensure that the material reflects current thought, where it does mention contemporary authors, approaches or views. It is especially important to update with breakthrough work, when it happens. This text is pretty well up to date on the latter, and I would imagine it to stay so for at least 5 - 10 years, at the current pace of philosophical development.

Written very clearly, with a conversational style that is sensitive to the requirement to explain jargon and technical terms, when they arise. The tone is direct and simple, and aimed at the curious and intelligent freshman (so, not overly difficult and not unchallenging or condescending).

The book is consistent, and maintains a sense of flow and direction, and all the parts hang together as a whole.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters, and certain subsections, of the book are easily used as separate modules. There is some self-reference - to a certain degree, this book is written as a course to follow in order. But it is possible to treat each section separately, to mix and match with other topics and materials, and to rearrange the order of presentation of the chapters if one wanted. Some editing or re-writing may be need for this, but not a lot.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I find the topic organization quite logical. Again, the order of topics and philosophical problems and text is ordered along roughly historical lines, and I personally find this arrangement a good one, for introductory purposes. For example, the course begins with a general introduction to to the discipline; then turns to some issues in argumentation and logic, followed by the ancients, rationalism and empiricism, philosophy of science (which connects back to the earlier topics), philosophy of mind; and then it turns to the more normative philosophical topics: philosophy of love and happiness, meta-ethics and normative ethical theories, and finally, to some social and political issues. Of interest here is the inclusion of the chapter on the philosophy of science, and the breadth of normative topics included in the last chapters. Firstly, I have found it rare to find an introduction to philosophy that includes topics in the philosophy of science. This part of philosophy might be passed over in introduction because it is thought too difficult for freshman, or those new to philosophy, or at least that it presupposes a lot of other philosophy before it can be approached. This can be true, but it is also true that this topic is foundational, and it can be introduced in a way as not to confuse students or to have them lose interest. Particularly if it is introduced in the context, as Payne does, of historical empiricism. It is also an area that gestures to more contemporary philosophical issues, and provides a good basis for moving on to those for future students. Secondly, the wide choice of topics in the normative branches of philosophy is a positive, in my view. There are students who are more attracted to these topics, but they are often treated in a very perfunctory fashion i.e. often just he meta-ethics part, or just some quick treatment of normative ethical theories. The four chapters here go together quite well, and give a more complete exploration of the issue that can arise in these parts of philosophy.

Interface rating: 3

The pdf version is not 'clickable' throughout, meaning that one has to scroll through to find parts of the text. Of course, it could be printed and used simply as a traditional book. There are links in the text to other open-source materials and texts, which is very helpful (although the links should always be checked regularly). It might have helped to make at least the table of contents clickable, to navigate directly to chapters.

No grammatical errors that I detected, although there are a few typos throughout.

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way that I could detect. I found the examples used were culturally diverse, as well as gender-neutral and appropriate. Here is probably the place to mention that this textbook fails to include many examples of female or other minority philosophers or texts. As a discipline, we all need to do more to undermine this view of the philosophical canon as white, western, male and privileged. I would be supplementing this textbook with readings from female philosophers, and I would consider introducing a topic from a non-traditional perspective such as asian or african philosophy. No textbook can include everything, but introductions to a discipline need to be at the forefront in making sure students don't think the subject is only for white, male people and interests.

This textbook takes an interesting introductory route through philosophy. It is both fairly traditional in terms of its topic range, and yet also a bit fresher in its inclusion of the philosophy of science, and a more extensive than usual treatment of the normative areas of philosophy. In my view, this is a solid, reliable introductory text for freshman philosophy. As a CC license, one can use this as one prefers, which might mean editing in or out certain topics and rearranging the order etc. I would definitely supplement it with topics I think need to be included. Dealing as it does with historical texts might require the teacher to create more readable excerpts of the longer, difficult texts. It might also be supplemented with a choice of further readings, or even other kinds of media like podcasts ( at least one is mentioned, and linked, by Payne), discussions, interviews, videos, blogs etc. But overall, this textbook is terrific and if it means a student can have access to the materials need for a class without being sent broke, then it is a great choice.

Reviewed by Kyle Hirsch, Adjunct Instructor, Community College of Aurora on 6/28/20

Please see overall review below. read more

Please see overall review below.

Cultural Relevance rating: 2

This is a highly usable and economical introduction to philosophy textbook. It covers the definition, branches and application of philosophy as well as the major theories and issues of epistemology, metaphysics and ethics in the history of Western philosophy from the Ancient Greeks to Rawlsian theories of justice and Chalmers’ contributions to the philosophy of mind. Such a textbook always requires making difficult decisions regarding topical inclusion, and the author does an excellent job tracing the evolution of major philosophical thought to help students see the connections and influences between prominent thinkers as well as the relevant differences and departures. The chapters are succinct, clear, while rigorously dense which both novice and intermediate students will appreciate. While the author employs college-level vocabulary and subject-specific terminology throughout, he often will present numerous relevant examples to help contextualize the more abstract concepts. A great example of this is in the section on critical thinking and logical argumentation. The author provides ample homework exercises as well as an external link to a great resource on learning logical fallacies replete with everyday examples. Indeed, each chapter contains external links to primary readings and supplemental resources for students to access and dig deeper into content. Instructors would be wise to preview all of the externally linked resources and determine which they would like to feature in their course. For example, there are links to entire Socratic dialogues and essays when assigning only a particular section might be sufficient for the needs of the course. Additionally, there are links to encyclopedic biographies of particular thinkers that may have particular sections worth reading; one suggestion for the author is to be more consistent in linking thinkers’ biographies as there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason why some are included and others aren’t. Overall, the inclusion of external links provides flexibility that is a tremendous asset of this textbook since it allows for instructors to curate content to fit their syllabus. Furthermore, a few of these links are currently broken, and the author has asked readers to let him know which ones need repair so that he can fix them (which I will do) The discussion questions and possible quiz questions found at the end of each chapter are excellent tools for both instructor and student. . Moreover, I would recommend that instructors who wish to supplement these chapters with additional resources do so to enrich the experience for their students and add their personality and particular areas of expertise and interest to the curriculum.

Some other feedback for the author is that the text lacks significant inclusion of minoritized and culturally relevant thinkers. There are several female philosophers, including an excellent section on Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia are her devastating critiques of Descartes’ substance dualism. However, the text would benefit from an inclusion of more female philosophers, thinkers of color and from the eastern hemisphere. Also, the text lacked visual aids aside from those included in the external links. Including more pictures

It is an excellent foundational source that when combined with other OER material is sufficient for an introductory philosophy course.

Reviewed by Ivan Guajardo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Virginia Western Community College on 4/1/19

There are different ways of introducing philosophy to newcomers, one is to present it as a living discipline defined by problems made more intelligible and relevant by tracing their historical roots. W. Russ Payne’s An Introduction to Philosophy... read more

There are different ways of introducing philosophy to newcomers, one is to present it as a living discipline defined by problems made more intelligible and relevant by tracing their historical roots. W. Russ Payne’s An Introduction to Philosophy takes this approach and does a good job at it. The first two chapters describe the nature of philosophy and the place of logic and concepts like ‘truth’, while subsequent chapters focus on two key periods in the history of philosophy (Ancient Greece and Early Modernity), and core themes in the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, love, happiness, metaethics, and the question of social justice in political philosophy. Although exclusively from an Analytic perspective, the textbook does provide a fairly comprehensive and sound overview of what it does covers. It does not have a glossary or an index. The first chapter lists some undefined key terms, but this convention is abandoned thereafter. The book does provide review and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which can be used in a variety of different ways.

The textbook is fairly accurate in its presentation and definition of key issues, concepts, and themes, but again, it strictly follows an analytic approach to the discipline, which means that Continental thinkers, feminist perspectives, and non-European traditions are excluded. Unless it is complemented with material from these non-Analytic traditions, this textbook by itself will be of little use to someone planning to teach philosophy in a more global or pluralistic manner.

The textbook presents classic theories, arguments, and examples that should stand the test of time. Its content shouldn't require much updating. The book’s format and organization allows for easy incorporation of revisions and updates.

Explanations are clear and concise. The author uses technical jargon sparingly and defines technical terms well. Adding a glossary would help, however.

The textbook's narrative flows consistently. It moves from historical roots to the present in ways that helps readers see the historical and contemporary relevance of the issues being covered.

The textbook is divided into chapters and sections that stand on their own, and thus lend themselves to easy revision, reorganization, remixing, and so on. It can be used as a whole or only in part. Chapters can be read in different orders and still be understood.

The textbook is well organized. Key concepts are explained and material is appropriately divided into easily digestible units. The examples given in each chapter illustrate well their concepts. Transitions are easy to follow and allow the reader to make important connections within and between chapters.

Students have access to PDF copies. Printed copies of the whole or parts can be made easily. The textbook is published under a CC By license, which permits the greatest freedom to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute its contents. Most chapters contain links to readings, but they must be checked to avoid broken hyperlinks.

No recognizable grammatical errors, but typographical errors were found throughout the text. For example, page 6 says, “the reality” rather than “reality”.

The author does not use offensive or culturally insensitive language. However, the exclusion of continental, feminist, and non-European approaches can arguably be construed as insensitive to these traditions.

Overall this is a good textbook and may be combined with other sources to deal with its limitations.

Reviewed by Bassam Romaya, Philosophy Instructor , Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on 3/7/19

As with most disciplines, philosophy comes with its own vast array of key terms, concepts, and vocabulary, which introductory students must learn in order to make sense of the discipline’s contributions and key debates (both past and present). The... read more

As with most disciplines, philosophy comes with its own vast array of key terms, concepts, and vocabulary, which introductory students must learn in order to make sense of the discipline’s contributions and key debates (both past and present). The text does not contain an index or glossary. The reader must sort through the chapter/s in order to find the relevant definitions or explanations. In Chapter 1, four vocabulary words are listed at the end of the chapter (which is helpful), but that convention is not repeated in other chapters, which introduce additional vocabulary.

The content that is covered is represented accurately. However, it should be noted that the text does not contain the entire breadth or history of the discipline. For instance, one will not find coverage of global or world traditions in philosophy, feminist philosophy (apart from very brief mention of care ethics in Chapter 10), or contributions of the continental tradition in philosophy. The treatment of the text (and themes) is predominately representative of the analytic tradition in philosophy. Of course, this does not mean that an introductory text must cover everything, but merely that the reader should be aware of its approach.

The text is up-to-date, and may easily be updated as needed.

The text is written in a clear and accessible style geared toward introductory students; the use of any relevant jargon (when present) is commonly followed by a definition and/or explanation of the key term, movement, or theory.

The text is internally consistent, in its terminology/ies and framework/s.

The book’s individual chapters may easily be assigned individually and out of order, without reliance on referential material that might come before or after any specific chapter. It is thus possible to both build on knowledge base acquired within a specific chapter (by covering supplementary chapters from this text or another), as well as covering one or more standalone chapters without assigning the entire text.

To some readers, it might seem confusing that the text features four chapters devoted to ethical issues (Chapters 8-11), while one chapter might more clearly and succinctly address the leading range of problems and questions in moral philosophy. There is also the concern that since they come at the end of the book, a beginning student might get the impression that the content in those chapters is less significant or less central to the study of philosophy, which would certainly not be the case. Additionally, Chapter 11 might be better titled “Political Philosophy” or “Social and Political Philosophy,” as the range of issues covered there are not exclusively social justice topics.

No interface issues recognized; although it might be a good idea to check the hyperlinks that refer the reader to live websites (to avoid sending the reader to a broken/outdated link).

No recognizable grammatical errors; however, typographical errors may be found in the text. For example, in Chapter 9, the spelling of “Divine” shifts to “Devine” throughout the chapter, and on page 104, one finds both spellings in that section. Another example, see page 93 for “mght” and “constrasting.” Also, in the book’s description, there’s an extra “first” (“Students are first invited first”).

The text is not culturally insensitive. The text does make use of examples that are inclusive to gender (this may be observed by reviewing examples and exercises used in Chapter 2).

Terrific text! Its versatility allows for coverage of standalone chapters as well as building on knowledge acquired in previous chapters. The embedded links to online primary source texts provide the reader with a valuable opportunity to explore the original texts that frame the discussion and background material to the topics and themes of the book.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: What Philosophy Is
• Chapter 2: Critical Thinking I, Being Reasonable
• Chapter 3: Critical Thinking II: Logic
• Chapter 4: Ancient Philosophy
• Chapter 5: Rationalism
• Chapter 6: Empiricism
• Chapter 7: Philosophy of Science
• Chapter 8: Philosophy of Mind
• Chapter 9: Love and Happiness
• Chapter 10:  Meta Ethics
• Chapter 11: Right Action
• Chapter 12: Social Justice

Ancillary Material

About the book.

The goal of this text is to present philosophy to newcomers as a living discipline with historical roots. While a few early chapters are historically organized, the goal in the historical chapters is to trace a developmental progression of thought that introduces basic philosophical methods and frames issues that remain relevant today. Later chapters are topically organized. These include philosophy of science and philosophy of mind, areas where philosophy has shown dramatic recent progress. This text concludes with four chapters on ethics, broadly construed. Traditional theories of right action is covered in a third of these. Students are first invited first to think about what is good for themselves and their relationships in a chapter of love and happiness. Next a few meta-ethical issues are considered; namely, whether they are moral truths and if so what makes them so. The end of the ethics sequence addresses social justice, what it is for one's community to be good. Our sphere of concern expands progressively through these chapters. Our inquiry recapitulates the course of development into moral maturity. Over the course of the text, the author has tried to outline the continuity of thought that leads from the historical roots of philosophy to a few of the diverse areas of inquiry that continue to make significant contributions to our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.

About the Contributors

W. Russ Payne, Bellevue College

Contribute to this Page

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

• A Research Guide
• Essay Topics

120 Philosophy Essay Topics

How to choose a topic for your philosophy essay:.

Philosophy Argumentative Essay Topics:

• The existence of God: Can the existence of a higher power be proven or disproven?
• The problem of evil: How can the existence of evil be reconciled with the concept of a benevolent God?
• Free will vs determinism: Are our actions predetermined or do we have the freedom to choose?
• The nature of reality: Is reality objective or subjective?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body, or are they one and the same?
• Ethical relativism vs ethical absolutism: Are moral values relative or are there universal moral truths?
• The nature of consciousness: What is consciousness and how does it arise?
• The concept of personal identity: What defines our sense of self and continuity over time?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences and observations?
• The nature of knowledge: What is knowledge and how do we acquire it?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines or artificial intelligence possess consciousness?
• The nature of beauty: Is beauty subjective or objective?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to end someone’s life to alleviate suffering?
• The ethics of animal rights: Do animals have rights and how should they be treated?
• The philosophy of science: What is the nature of scientific knowledge and how does it differ from other forms of knowledge?

Philosophy Persuasive Essay Topics:

• The existence of free will: Determinism vs libertarianism
• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence
• The nature of consciousness: Materialism vs dualism
• The problem of evil: Can an all-powerful and benevolent God coexist with evil?
• The ethics of animal rights: Should animals have the same moral status as humans?
• The concept of personal identity: Is the self defined by physical or psychological continuity?
• The morality of euthanasia: Should individuals have the right to choose when to end their lives?
• The nature of knowledge: Can we truly know anything with certainty?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we manipulate the genetic makeup of humans and other organisms?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines ever possess consciousness?
• The morality of capital punishment: Is it ever justified to take a life as punishment for a crime?
• The problem of induction: Can we rely on past experiences to make predictions about the future?
• The ethics of abortion: When does personhood begin and what are the rights of the fetus?
• The philosophy of time: Is time an illusion or a fundamental aspect of reality?

Philosophy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics:

• Dualism vs Materialism: Examining the nature of mind and body
• Rationalism vs Empiricism: Contrasting approaches to acquiring knowledge
• Utilitarianism vs Deontology: Evaluating ethical theories on the basis of consequences and moral duties
• Existentialism vs Nihilism: Exploring the meaning of life and existence
• Plato’s Theory of Forms vs Aristotle’s Theory of Substance: Comparing their views on the nature of reality
• Determinism vs Free Will: Analyzing the compatibility of human freedom and determinism
• Hedonism vs Stoicism: Contrasting philosophies on achieving happiness and fulfillment
• Egoism vs Altruism: Examining self-interest versus concern for others in ethical decision-making
• Epistemological Relativism vs Objectivism: Evaluating the nature of truth and knowledge
• Aesthetics of Beauty vs Aesthetics of Sublime: Comparing different approaches to appreciating art and beauty
• Social Contract Theory vs Natural Law Theory: Contrasting views on the origin and legitimacy of political authority
• Feminism vs Postmodernism: Analyzing different perspectives on gender, power, and identity
• Idealism vs Realism: Examining different ontological views on the nature of reality
• Pragmatism vs Essentialism: Contrasting approaches to understanding the essence and purpose of things
• Eastern Philosophy vs Western Philosophy: Comparing and contrasting different philosophical traditions and their core concepts

Philosophy Informative Essay Topics:

• The concept of free will and determinism: Exploring the debate between human agency and predestination
• The philosophy of mind: Examining the mind-body problem and different theories of consciousness
• Ethics and moral relativism: Analyzing the idea that moral principles are subjective and vary across cultures
• The nature of reality: Investigating different metaphysical theories, such as idealism, materialism, and dualism
• The philosophy of language: Exploring the relationship between language, thought, and reality
• The problem of evil: Examining the existence of evil in a world governed by an all-powerful and benevolent God
• The philosophy of science: Analyzing the nature of scientific knowledge and the scientific method
• The concept of identity: Investigating the philosophical questions surrounding personal identity and the self
• The philosophy of aesthetics: Exploring the nature of beauty, art, and the role of aesthetics in our lives
• The philosophy of religion: Examining different arguments for and against the existence of God
• The philosophy of time: Analyzing the nature of time, its relation to causality, and the possibility of time travel
• The philosophy of education: Investigating different theories of education and their implications for teaching and learning
• The philosophy of technology: Exploring the ethical and metaphysical implications of technological advancements
• The philosophy of happiness: Analyzing different theories of happiness and the pursuit of a meaningful life
• The philosophy of politics: Examining different political ideologies and their underlying philosophical foundations

Philosophy Cause and Effect Essay Topics:

• The impact of existentialism on individual freedom and responsibility
• The influence of utilitarianism on ethical decision-making
• The consequences of Descartes’ mind-body dualism on the understanding of human nature
• The effects of Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power on the pursuit of personal goals
• The relationship between Kant’s categorical imperative and moral duty
• The cause and effect of Plato’s theory of forms on the understanding of reality
• The consequences of Aristotle’s concept of virtue ethics on moral character development
• The impact of John Locke’s theory of tabula rasa on the understanding of human knowledge
• The influence of Sartre’s concept of bad faith on personal authenticity
• The effects of Hume’s skepticism on the nature of knowledge and belief
• The relationship between Hegel’s dialectic and historical progress
• The consequences of Rawls’ theory of justice on social equality
• The impact of feminist philosophy on gender equality and women’s rights
• The influence of Confucianism on social harmony and moral values in East Asian societies
• The cause and effect of Schopenhauer’s pessimism on the perception of human suffering

Philosophy Narrative Essay Topics:

• The Search for Meaning: A Personal Journey
• The Paradox of Free Will: Exploring the Boundaries of Choice
• The Nature of Reality: A Philosophical Reflection
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: A Moral Dilemma
• The Existential Crisis: Navigating Life’s Uncertainties
• The Problem of Evil: Examining the Coexistence of Good and Bad
• The Philosophy of Happiness: Pursuit or Illusion?
• The Mind-Body Problem: Exploring the Connection between the Physical and Mental
• The Ethics of Animal Rights: Balancing Human Interests and Animal Welfare
• The Philosophy of Time: Is it Linear or Cyclical?
• The Meaning of Beauty: A Philosophical Exploration
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Playing God or Advancing Humanity?
• The Philosophy of Education: Shaping Minds and Cultivating Knowledge
• The Nature of Consciousness: Unraveling the Mystery of Self-Awareness
• The Philosophy of Death: Contemplating the Afterlife and the Meaning of Mortality

Philosophy Opinion Essay Topics:

• The nature of reality: Idealism vs materialism
• The problem of evil: Does the existence of evil contradict the existence of a benevolent God?
• The ethics of artificial intelligence: Should AI be granted moral rights?
• The concept of personal identity: Is personal identity based on physical or psychological continuity?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body or are they one and the same?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to assist someone in ending their own life?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we have the right to modify our own genetic makeup?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences?
• The ethics of capital punishment: Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
• The nature of time: Is time an objective reality or a subjective construct?
• The ethics of abortion: Is abortion morally permissible?

Philosophy Evaluation Essay Topics:

• Evaluating the concept of free will in a deterministic universe
• Assessing the moral responsibility of corporations
• The validity of utilitarianism as a moral theory
• Evaluating the existence of objective moral values
• Assessing the ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The concept of personal identity: evaluating the mind-body problem
• Evaluating the role of reason in ethical decision-making
• Assessing the compatibility of faith and reason
• The concept of justice: evaluating different theories
• Evaluating the ethical implications of animal rights
• Assessing the concept of beauty in art and aesthetics
• The problem of evil: evaluating the existence of God
• Evaluating the ethical implications of climate change
• Assessing the concept of happiness in different philosophical traditions

Receive paper in 3 Hours!

• Choose the number of pages.
• Select your deadline.
• Complete your order.

Number of Pages

550 words (double spaced)

Deadline: 10 days left

By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Sign Up for your FREE account

How to Write a College Philosophy Essay: An Ultimate Guide 2023

Writing a philosophical essay is not a typical assignment where you summarize the ideas of professional philosophers and indicate whether you agree with them or not. Rather, engaging in philosophy necessitates assuming the role of a philosopher for the duration of the writing process, engaging in analytical and critical thinking, contemplating profound questions, and asking “WHY?”. This requires time and energy, as well as a lot of critical thinking on your part.

But what exactly is a philosophical essay ? If you are assigned to write a philosophy essay, you are required to select a thesis in the philosophical field and argue for or against it, drawing on the works of other professional philosophers to support your argument. However, it must also include your unique philosophical contribution. (But of course, this is only one interpretation of what a philosophical essay entails.)

Writing a Compelling Philosophy Paper Outline?

Before you write a philosophical essay , it is important to understand the questions that you are required to answer. First step, is writing an outline for the paper. Think of it as a blueprint for your philosophical paper that briefly outlines the main idea of each paragraph.

Read some helpful tips on how to write a philosophy paper outline,

• Begin by formulating your thesis statement, what you will be arguing for or against in your essay?
• Read and analyze relevant philosophical theories, and make note of sources that may support or counter your arguments.
• Determine the definitions of fundamental concepts, so that you can use precise philosophical terminology in your essay.
• After thorough and extensive contemplation, structure your ideas according to the format described below.

How to Structure a Philosophy Essay?

Similar to other types of essays, a philosophical essay comprises an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Adhering to this traditional structure for philosophical papers can prevent unnecessary anxiety.

Here is a brief guide on how to structure a philosophical paper:

Introduction: You need to clarify the question being addressed by your philosophy essay. Present your thesis – that is, the answer you are supporting. It is also necessary to explain fundamental philosophical concepts.

Main body: The essay should begin by presenting arguments in support of the thesis and then refuting potential objections to those arguments. Subsequently, other conceivable answers to the question should be presented along with their reasoning, and their principal arguments should be supported.

Conclusion: Summarized all possible answers to the question, and state why argument is the most viable one.

What’s the recommended Philosophy Paper Length?

In our experience, writing a philosophical essay that is 2,000 to 2,500 words in length is reasonable to cover the topic comprehensively while maintaining high-quality writing.

Nonetheless, it is important to check if there is a specific word limit that has been assigned before beginning to write. If the word limit is shorter or longer than our suggested range, it is advisable to adhere to the specified limit when composing your philosophical essay.

Philosophy paper writing format: APA, MLA, and Chicago

As an essay writing service that deals with philosophy and psychology papers, we have observed that the majority of students opt for the APA guidelines as their preferred format for writing philosophical essays. Nonetheless, it is ultimately the decision of the educational institution to determine which format should be followed.

Occasionally, students may be instructed to use a different format for college-level philosophy essays, such as MLA or Chicago. If the choice of format is left to the student and they are unsure about which one would be suitable for an argumentative philosophy essay, we will provide an overview of the most commonly used formats.

The most common citation style for philosophical essays is the APA (American Psychological Association) format. When using APA, the author’s last name is written first, followed by the year of publication, the book title, location, and publisher. For example, a book by Maxwell published in 2011, titled “Philosophical writing made Easy,” would be cited as:

Maxwell (2011). Philosophical writing made Easy. New York: Tender Prints.

The MLA (Modern Language Association) format is also frequently used in philosophical papers, and it involves double-spacing the text and including only the relevant elements of the source. The citation includes the author’s last name, first name, title of the source, title of the container, other contributors, version, publisher, publication date, and location. For example, a book authored by William Kennedy titled “Programmer,” published in 2001 by TWF Press and located in New Jersey, would be cited as:

 William Kennedy. Programmer. Coding basics: Wilford R., Joseph W., v.2, TWF Press, 2001, New Jersey.

Chicago format

The Chicago Manual of Style is commonly used in philosophical and historical works. To cite a book using this style, the author’s last name is written first, followed by the first name, book title, city of publication, publisher name, and year of publication. For example, a book titled “The Elements of Law,” authored by William Catherine, published in 2005 by Twin Than, and located in Los Angeles, would be cited as:

William Catherine. The Elements of Law. Los Angeles: Twin Than, 2005.

In conclusion, writing a philosophy essay requires careful planning, research, and analysis. Start by understanding the question you need to answer and crafting a clear thesis statement . Use credible sources and define key concepts to support your arguments and counterarguments. Follow the traditional structure of an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Pay attention to word count and adhere to the required format. Reading and analyzing texts with curiosity and critical thinking can help you gain a deeper understanding of philosophical concepts. Writing a philosophy essay may be challenging, but with practice and these tips, you can develop your skills and produce thoughtful and engaging essays.

• RESEARCH PAPER FOR SALE
• RESEARCH PAPER WRITER
• RESEARCH PROPOSAL WRITING SERVICES
• SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY HELP
• SPEECH HELP
• STATISTICS HOMEWORK HELP
• TERM PAPER WRITING HELP
• THESIS EDITING SERVICES
• THESIS PROPOSAL WRITING SERVICE
• TRIGONOMETRY HOMEWORK HELP
• ADMISSION ESSAY WRITING HELP
• BIOLOGY PAPER WRITING SERVICE
• BOOK REPORT WRITING HELP
• BUY BOOK REVIEW
• BUY COURSEWORKS
• BUY DISCUSSION POST
• BUY TERM PAPER
• CAPSTONE PROJECT WRITING SERVICE
• COURSEWORK WRITING SERVICE
• CRITIQUE MY ESSAY
• CUSTOM RESEARCH PAPER
• CUSTOMER CONDUCT
• DISSERTATION EDITING SERVICE
• DISSERTATION WRITERS
• DO MY DISSERTATION FOR ME
• DO MY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
• EDIT MY PAPER
• English Research Paper Writing Service
• ENGLISH RESEARCH PAPER WRITING SERVICE
• ESSAY WRITING HELP
• ESSAYS FOR SALE
• GRADUATE PAPER WRITING SERVICE
• LAW ASSIGNMENT WRITING HELP
• MARKETING ASSIGNMENT WRITING HELP
• NON-PLAGIARIZED ESSAYS
• NURSING ASSIGNMENT HELP
• PAY FOR COURSEWORK
• PAY FOR ESSAYS
• PAY FOR LITERATURE REVIEW
• PAY FOR PAPERS
• PAY FOR RESEARCH PAPERS
• PERSONAL STATEMENT EDITING SERVICE
• PERSONAL STATEMENT WRITER
• PERSUASIVE ESSAY WRITING HELP
• PERSUASIVE ESSAY WRITING SERVICES
• PHD THESIS WRITING SERVICE
• PROOFREAD MY PAPER
• PSYCHOLOGY ESSAY WRITING SERVICES
• THESIS STATEMENT HELP
• WRITE MY ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR ME
• WRITE MY CASE STUDY
• WRITE MY DISCUSSION BOARD POST
• WRITE MY LAB REPORT

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples

Essay Samples on Philosophy

If you are here, you might be looking for an excellent Philosophy essay sample that will help you to create an assignment that is most alike to what you find. We have a great collection of examples that deal with most schools of thought. You can find modern philosophers and their works and the books that you might have studied as a college student. The most challenging part is to understand what your grading rubric requires and find the facts that must be mentioned as a reply to the prompt. Our Philosophy essay examples will provide you with correct formatting and structure that will help you see how to fit within the word count and why you must provide citations to support your claims. If some source that you discover looks good, you can use it as a resource for your own Philosophy paper. Just remember to implement quotes only where and when necessary or you are risking overfilling your writing with too many citations. Although it may be helpful when you’re dealing with philosophy, your analysis should always come first and represent at least 50% of the total word count. Create an outline first and you will be safe!

Where I See Myself in the Future

The journey of life is akin to an artist's canvas, awaiting the strokes of dreams, ambitions, and actions to paint a masterpiece of the future. In this essay, I embark on a reflective journey to explore where I see myself in the future. From the...

Where Do I See Myself in 5 Years

Life is a journey that unfolds with each passing day, offering us the opportunity to set our sights on the horizon and envision where our efforts will lead us. In this essay, we embark on a voyage of introspection to explore the question: Where do...

Abortion and Philosophy: Navigating Ethical and Moral Dimensions

The topic of abortion is a philosophical dilemma that challenges individuals to grapple with complex ethical and moral questions. This essay delves into the philosophical underpinnings of the abortion debate, examining the various perspectives and philosophical arguments that contribute to the discourse. The Moral Status...

• Personal Philosophy

What It Means to Be an Educated Person

What does it mean to be educated? This question has intrigued philosophers, educators, and thinkers throughout history. While education is often associated with acquiring knowledge, its essence goes beyond mere facts and figures. This essay will delve into the multifaceted dimensions of education — embracing...

• Philosophy of Education

What Is a Life Well Lived: Meaning, Fulfillment, and Impact

What is a life well lived? This timeless question has intrigued philosophers, thinkers, and individuals across cultures and generations. As we navigate the complexities of existence, we grapple with the pursuit of purpose, happiness, and significance. This essay will delve into the multifaceted dimensions of...

• Philosophy of Life

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

• 100% unique papers
• 3 hrs deadline option

What Does Education Mean to You: Empowerment Through Knowledge

What does education mean to you? Education is a journey that shapes not only our minds but also our lives. It is a lifelong pursuit that opens doors, broadens horizons, and empowers individuals to reach their fullest potential. In this essay, I will explore the...

• Role of Education

Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man": An Argumentative Analysis

Thomas Paine's revolutionary pamphlet "Rights of Man" is a seminal work that presents a passionate defense of individual rights, democracy, and social equality. Written in response to Edmund Burke's criticisms of the French Revolution, Paine's work engages in a compelling argument for the principles of...

• Thomas Paine

Main Strengths and Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics is a prominent ethical theory that emphasizes the importance of cultivating virtuous character traits as a foundation for moral decision-making. Developed by philosophers such as Aristotle, virtue ethics has gained both acclaim and criticism for its unique approach to morality. This essay delves...

• Virtue Ethics

How Does Society Shape Our Identity

How does society shape our identity? Society acts as a powerful force that molds the intricate contours of our identities. As individuals, we are not isolated entities; we are products of the societies we inhabit. This essay explores the dynamic interplay between society and identity,...

• Personal Identity

How Does Family Influence Your Identity

Family is a powerful force that weaves the threads of our identity. The relationships, values, and experiences within our family unit play a significant role in shaping who we become. This essay delves into how family influences our identity, from the formation of core beliefs...

Exploring Existence: How Do I Know I Exist

The question of existence has intrigued philosophers, thinkers, and individuals for centuries. How do we know that our existence is real and not an elaborate illusion? This essay delves into the philosophical and introspective exploration of self-awareness, consciousness, and the nature of reality to address...

A Life of Integrity: How to Live an Ethical Life

Living an ethical life is a conscious and deliberate choice to uphold values that promote goodness, respect, and fairness in our interactions with others and the world around us. Ethical living transcends personal gain and societal norms, focusing on principles that contribute to the well-being...

• Ethics in Everyday Life

What Is the Meaning of Life: Exploring Philosophical, Spiritual, and Personal Perspectives

What is the meaning of life? This question has intrigued philosophers, thinkers, and individuals throughout history. It is a query that delves into the very essence of human existence, seeking to uncover the purpose behind our journey on this planet. In this essay, we will...

• Meaning of Life

Using Ethos in an Essay: Crafting Persuasive and Credible Arguments

When it comes to the art of persuasion, the effective use of ethos can be a powerful tool. In this how to use ethos in an essay, we will delve into the depths of this rhetorical strategy, exploring how it lends credibility and authenticity to...

Death with Dignity: An Argumentative Perspective

Introduction The concept of death with dignity is a topic that has sparked intense ethical and moral debates across societies. Also known as assisted dying or physician-assisted suicide, it refers to the practice of terminally ill individuals being provided with the means to end their...

• Right to Die

Respecting Parents: The Essential Value Explored in Confucius' "Analects"

The 'Analects' is a collection of teachings and ideas attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius. In this influential work, Confucius writes about the importance of respecting parents, in his essay this is one of the fundamental virtues in society. Respecting Parents as an Essential...

• Confucianism
• Parent-Child Relationship

Aristotle's Interpretation of Sophocles' Oedipus: Character Analysis

Sophocles' Oedipus is one of the most notable unfortunate heroes throughout the entire existence of drama. His weird destiny drives him to heartbreaking ruin that leaves both the peruser and the crowd feeling sincerely influenced. As indicated by the meaning of the Greek thinker, Aristotle,...

• Oedipus The King

Why Is Euthanasia Good: My Arguments for Euthanasia

Imagine a 13-year-old girl in a hospital bed, tubes surrounding her body, a monitor beeping, counting every second of her life left, a doctor coming in every 30 minutes looking at the monitor and writing something down. Her cancer is growing every day and her...

• Assisted Suicide

Why I Am Pro Euthanasia: the Rebuttal of the Arguments Against

In Merriam-Webster dictionary, euthanasia is defined as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” I am personally for the process of...

Universal Truth: the Importance of Good Explanations

Introduction As a young child, I remember believing in the fictitious story of Santa Claus based purely on imagination. Every Christmas, my friends, and family would celebrate “Santa” coming from the North Pole to bring presents to all children who behaved well. Eighty-four percent of...

The Purpose of Government: Analysis of Philosophical Ideas of St. Augustine and St. Aquinas

Introduction Throughout history, philosophers have been influenced by many things. Previous philosophers and ideas, as well as their current environment and situations are examples of what impact an individual’s ideas and beliefs. Both St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas were affected by all of these...

• Political Philosophy

Should Euthanasia Be Legalized: Delving Deep Into the Debate

Introduction Is life worth fighting for? For some patients who are terminally ill, life could be something that’s killing them the most other than their illness. Fighting for their lives whilst depending on their fate with the help of medical appliances. Imagine holding the hands...

My Own Philosophy of Education: Making My Students Achieve Success

Introduction I believe teaching is a life-long learning process and regardless of one’s years of experience, there is always room for improvement. I feel that in a world as ever changing as ours, it is crucial for teachers to be open-minded and receptive to new...

Implementing the Four Noble Truths in Everyday Life

Introduction One of the fundamental doctrines of Buddhism set forth by Buddha himself are the Four Noble Truths. These contain the very essence of the Buddha's pragmatic teachings. The Buddha is known to attain enlightenment only after the realization of these four truths during his...

How My Perspective in Life Changed Due to Socrates' Ideas

Socrates' view of life is what intrigues me. He was the first known philosopher in ancient Greece and his wisdoms were unforgettable to his student, Plato and Plato's student, Aristotle that brought them to write his teachings in a book. He was called a wise...

• Perspective

Compare and Contrast: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes' Views on Governance

In this essay, we will compare and contrast John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, two renowned philosophers, who provided valuable insights into the principles of effective governance. These political theorists have made significant contributions to our understanding of how a society should be governed. Through the...

• Thomas Hobbes

Analysis of the Arguments for Euthanasia and Against It

The euthanasia debate In contemporary society, the controversial debate of whether an individual should be allowed to control the timing of their deaths in a way that is peaceful and medically assisted is being debated. This practise is referred to as euthanasia, and is made...

Professional Development Through Self-Reflection and Goal Setting

Introduction Continuing professional development (CPD) is important because it ensures that individuals are competent in the profession. It is written in the NHS guidelines that trusts must invest in skills and development for their service professionals. Which is why it is important for me to...

• Self Reflection
• Work Experience

Exploring the Devil's Role in American Literature

Introduction Evil, like water, comes in many shapes and forms. You may imagine the devil having primarily red skin and horns, but, thankfully, we ́ve never seen a human with these features to go off on for reference, but thanks to the brilliant minds of...

• Good and Evil
• The Devil And Tom Walker

Unraveling Graham Greene: Marlowe, Peter Pan, Harry Lime

Introduction While I was reading the Chapter fourteen, I stumbled over this quote. It confused me, and I lost the thread of the Chapter. Who is Marlowe and why is the author talking about his devils? What does he mean by Marlowe’s devils wore squibs...

• Character Analysis

Examination of Carnap's Elimination of Metaphysics With Logical Analysis

Rudolf Carnap claims to be able to eliminate, once and for all, from a seemingly impartial, unprejudiced point of view, all metaphysics by logical analysis. In this paper, there would be a critical examination on the one hand, that as far as Carnap's analysis is...

• Branches of philosophy
• Metaphysics

Economic Problems and Nationalism: Exploring the Relationship

Introduction when we speak about nationalism the first thought that comes to our mind is that it is a plan which includes some undesirable policies against other nations. From this aspect of the phenomenon, there is no any doubt that to use of aggressive policies...

• European Union
• Nationalism

Establishing the Meaning of Ontology, Epistemology and Methodology

This synoptic essay will establish the meaning of ontology, Epistemology and methodology. This will then create the foundation for this essay to look at Interpretivism and positivism approaches taken in the field of political research. This essay will conclude that the use of ontology is...

• Epistemology

The Political Theory of John Locke: a Critical Analysis

This essay aims to discuss John Locke's political theory within the Two Treatises of Government, particularly in regards to the State of Nature due to its imperative role within the foundations of the Social Contract between the legislative and the sovereign (the citizens). The Social...

• Political theories

The Psychological State of Ressentiment in the Genealogy of Morals

The psychological state Friedrich Nietzsche terms as ressentiment in the Genealogy of Morals, is a human condition attributed to a feeling produced when placed within a hostile environment. One which man is found powerless to alter through physical action. Those inflicted to this deprived orientation...

• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Philosophical Works

Formation of Political Theories Using Ideas of Great Philosophers

Politics aid in shaping decisions that affect all aspects of our lives. To begin with, political theory is the study of concepts that have shaped our politics and the enduring questions that individuals are concerned about within society. Some of the issues usually addressed in...

Reinterpreting Phenomenology: Heidegger's Revolutionary Perspective on the Meaning of Being

Phenomenology, literally translated as the study of phenomena, was turned on its head in the early twentieth century with Heidegger’s revolutionary text, ‘Being and time’. His theories around ontology were radically different to the more traditional ideas of Descartes’ famed subjectivism. Subjectivism meaning the idea...

• Philosophical Theory

What Influences One's Definition of Evil: Guzman and Pearson's Concept

On Thursday, November 7th, my local museum, International Museum of Art and Science held a presentation given by Dr. Dahila Guzman and Dr. Thomas Pearson over the philosophical concepts of evil. These two individuals are two extraordinary educated professors in philosophy at the nearest university,...

• Philosophical Concept

Exloring Human Nature Through Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan Hypothesis

In the pursuit of depicting the ideal model of popular governance, let us now delve into Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan hypothesis. According to Hobbes, the state of nature is far from tranquil; instead, it is untamed, brimming with brutality. He posits that this condition of nature...

Freidrich Nietzsche and Aizawa Seishisai: Comparison of Philosophical Works

Introduction Freidrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a German philosopher known for his contributions to Western philosophy in the 19th century and their effects on standard philosophical thought since then. In 1886, Nietzsche published “Beyond Good and Evil”, where he wrote about the development of modern moral...

Exploring the Relationship Between Illness and Identity

In this essay I will be exploring the relationship between illness and identity, drawing on specific examples documented in the article ‘Disrupted lives and threats to identity: The experience of people with colorectal cancer within the first year following diagnosis’, by Gill Hubbard, Lisa Kidd...

Anti-Hero as the Best Depiction of Our Human Nature

Have you ever known a human who possesses a noble qualities of a hero? Probably none. Heroes embodies with noble qualities such as selfless, brave, strong, and many more to point out which is a long way from the truth and that sends out that...

• Human Nature

The Concept of Existentialism: Search for Meaning and Freedom

Existentialism is one of the terms that derive its meaning from intellectual history and philosophy. The term was adopted through the postwar era. It is a philosophical concept that presents wide dissemination of information of mid-20th century society. Therefore, existentialism became a common term that...

• Existentialism

Cartesian Dualism: the Rise and Ultimate Fall of The View

Cartesian dualism is a philosophical concept created by Rene Descartes which argues for the idea that the mind and the body are two distinct entities in a person, but that they interact in an intricate manner which leads to the proper functioning of human beings....

• Rene Descartes

Reflective Learning: the Power of Self-Analysis and Personal Growth

A reflective essay is a unique form of essay writing where you examine an experience and reflect on your own self. Use strong evidence and explain the real or imaginary scene in an interesting manner. A reflective essay is a type of writing in which...

• Critical Reflection

About Civil Disobedience: Plato and Martin Luther King’s Views

In this argumentative essay about civil disobedience, I will argue that Martin Luther King’s views about civil disobedience are more credible and trustworthy compared to Plato’s beliefs by addressing the prevalence of racial segregation and discrimination, and comparing and contrasting the activist and philosopher’s views...

• Civil Disobedience
• Martin Luther King

Evolving Identities: The Concept of Self-Identity and Self-Perception

For centuries psychologists, like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung have discussed the concept of self-identity and self-perception. In social sciences, identity refers to an individual's or party's sense of who they are and what defines them. As the human condition, we have evolved to form...

• Self Identity

Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto and Thomas More's Utopia

More’s Utopia Politically, Utopia embodies social equality through the set up of their cities. The island of Utopia is occupied by 54 cities with identical laws and language. Once every year, the cities each send 3 of it’s best residents to the capital, Amaurot, to...

• Communist Manifesto
• Thomas More

Thomas Hobbes and His Proposed Laws of Nature in Criminal Law

Starting with the first law states that we should explore peace, and if we are unable to obtain that goal, then we should use the full force of war. The first law contributes to Law of Nature that is discovered through reason. Such a law...

• Criminal Law

Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Their Thinking

Thomas Hobbes was one of the oldest and most hated monarchist and philosopher. He was born on the 5th of April in 1588, in Westport, Wiltshire, England. Thomas Hobbes was mostly or best known for his masterpiece, a book he wrote called “Leviathan”. Hobbes was...

Pythagorean Theorem and Its Essence and Properties

Let us look at two propositions first: All the Bachelors are not married. In a plane right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two right-angle sides is equal to the square of the third side. (Pythagorean theorem) Both of these two propositions are...

• Mathematical Models

Civil Disobedience and Its Development by Socrates and Martin Luther King

Despite the two and a half-century difference between Socrates and Martin Luther King Jr., both have shaped modern societies and carved out a path for contemporary thought, philosophically and socially, influencing human actions and politics in the world today. At first glance, the two thinkers...

Civil Disobedience Concept in Martin Luther King's and Plato's Works

In this paper I will argue that Martin Luther King Jr’s (MLK) views about disobeying the law in the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are more credible than Socrates’s views about disobeying the law in “the Crito,” by Plato. MLK believes that civil disobedience is...

Free Cultural Identity: Understanding of One's Identity

The term ‘identity’ is vaguely defined or given a specific definition which means that we, as people, are constantly on this quest for identity, a validation of who we are. We do not want to be influenced or touched by society’s ideas or its ways...

• Cultural Identity

Examples of Sociological Imagination in Everyday Life as a Humanism Concept

The Sociological Imagination in front of portray the genus of perceptive offered by the order of humanism. The term is utilized in early on course books in human science to clarify the idea of humanism also its importance in everyday living. Sociological imagination can be...

• Sociological Imagination

My Cultural Identity and Relationship with God

Cultural identity influences every characteristic of a person, both outward and inward. My cultural identity consists of various factors. I was born and raised in the United States, specifically in Tennessee. While I was born in Nashville, I lived most of my life in Athens....

My Cultural Identity and Preserving Ancestors' Traditions

I'm a multicultural person living in the United States. Born in the Philippines; I was wrongly recognized as a Latino in my school from time to time. Both of my parents are Filipino, and I both speak fluent English and Tagalog, but I don't speak...

Relationship Between Human and Nature In The Bear By William Faulkner

 In The Bear, William Faulkner’s use of language reveals the underlying meaning and moral lesson of the story. Through the symbolic relationship between the Wilderness, the bear, Boon, and Lion, Faulkner illustrates the destructive consequences of imposing man’s wants upon nature. The plot of the...

• William Faulkner

Are Humans Inherently Good Or Evil

Humans are born with the innate ability to define what is considered a sin and what is considered a deed. By this, it is necessitated upon by us,the humans, to find reason and rhyme for our sins, and reward ourselves because of our virtues. We...

A Review Of Trancendentalist Work 'Civil Disobedience' By D.Thoreau

Abmist the years late 1820 Transcendentalism began to spring up and spread like a raging wildfire, sweeping up the world during a time of a heavy emphasis on intellectualism and spirituality; as people were often too comfortable and debatably complacent as innovations and commodities became...

• Transcendentalism

Professor's Pine Case: Is Breastfeeding in Public Wrong

Breastfeeding is natural, and naturally beautiful. I hate when I see how something so natural and beautiful could be portrayed as something so terrible and disgusting. It’s a healthy process for the mom and the baby. And for some women breastfeeding does not come easy,...

• Breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding in Public

Why is Responsibility Important in Everyday Life

What is social responsibility, why is responsibility important? Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform to the community. A better future is what we seek for the upcoming generation and youth and the best to bring about the expected changes is when...

• Responsibility
• Socialization

Pros and Cons of Human Cloning, Why it Should Never Be Legalized

Over the years, technological advancement has made human life easier and has led to ground breaking discoveries. Human cloning is one of the most controversial issues especially in the field of Biology because tampering with human life seems so wrong to many but to others,...

Human Nature in the Lost TV Show: Are Humans Inherently Good or Evil

Throughout humanity, the nature of humankind has been questioned by philosophers, leading them to conclude whether humans are inherently good or evil. Thomas Hobbes, a British philosopher that lived in the 1600s, believes that humans are born selfish and greedy, which leads to violence and...

• Human Behavior

My Personal Philosophy of Nursing in Practice

In my personal philosophy of nursing, I feel that the most obvious to me are person and nursing. As a practicing nurse, I feel that it is very important to consider the person as another being just like myself that possesses feelings, personal views, and...

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Morality

”The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race”. These are the words of iconic astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking. “ With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon”.These are the words of the popular Tech Mogul, Elon Musk. These people are...

• Artificial Intelligence
• Human Development

Human Beliefs in "Allegory of the Cave" and "The Love Song of J. A. Prufrock"

In the fast pacing world of that of the 21st century, our reality- ranging from political biases to personal choices - seems to be influenced by external factors in order to blend into society, and we tend to feel imprisoned. Our mind filters information we...

• Allegory of The Cave
• The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Voltaire: A Famous Representative Of The Age Of Enlightenment

The philosopher I wish to discuss is Voltaire. I have chosen him because I feel his thought and philosophy have been absolutely influential to the culture in which I have grown up. Francois-Marie Arouet, also called Voltaire, is certainly the author best representing the culture,...

• Enlightenment
• Philosophers

What Is Enlightenment: Representatives And Ideas

The Age of Reason or Enlightenment began with the Renaissance and took place between the 1600s and 1700s. It was also closely associated with the scientific revolution. During this era, Enlightenment thinkers; an influential group that glorified the human capacity for reasoning to negate superstition...

• Age of Enlightenment

What Is Enlightenment: Immanuel Kant And Voltaire

As the age of Enlightenment arose in the 18th century, many had different views on what Enlightenment was. For the most part, Enlightenment stresses the idea of rationalism. For Immanuel Kant, this meant thinking for yourself, expressing your ideas instead of others. As for Voltaire,...

• Immanuel Kant

Theme Of Free Will And Determinism In "The Power Of Critical Thinking"

In The Power of Critical Thinking by Lewis Vaughn, he presents the readers with a link between critical thinking and freedom. He asserts that we must think critically to not let our values be determined by society. Freedom is obtained when we challenge and critically...

• Critical Thinking
• Determinism

Gregor Samsas` Burden In "The Metamorphosis" By F. Kafka

Everyone has dreamed of a crazy dream that made them go crazy as it was unbelievable, but what you will do if that dream turned out to be a reality that you are living? “The metamorphosis” is a short novella written by Franz Kafka which...

• The Metamorphosis

The Nature Of Confucianism and Daoism, And The Gender Roles

The story of Cui Ying Ying was composed during the late Tang dynasty and is regarded as famous romantic prose. The story explores cultural dynamics during the Tang period and displays the contrasting views of Chinese philosophy in the era. To truly comprehend the symbolism...

• Gender Roles

The Significance Of "Common Sense" By Thomas Paine

It is universally acknowledged that words weigh much more than cannons, as it has the greatest ability in changing the destiny of nations, no matter the situation. Some men couldn’t be blinded to their suffering; they had to stand for themselves and their people and...

• Declaration of Independence

Thomas Paine`s "Common Sense": On The Way To Independence

The French and Indian War is also known as the Seven Years’ War, and it is vastly misleading in terms of its label. It was neither fought between the French and the Indians, nor seven years in length. This armed conflict lasted approximately nine years,...

Maintaining Trust: Importance of Telling the Truth

Have you ever wondered if lying is right or wrong? Have you ever lied and been tricked into telling the truth? Most people have been tricked by pretty much everyone. Lying according to research is always wrong. Most people feel guilty about lying and almost...

• Communication

Transcendentalism And The Work Of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Transcendentalism is an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England around the 1900s due to rationalism. During the time the most important transcendentalists were Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Lydia Maria Child, Amos Bronson Alcott, Frederic Henry Hedge, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Theodore...

• Literature Review
• Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reflections On Personal Intercultural Experience

Intercultural experience has introduced me to new ideas, revealed layers of concepts I was previously familiar with, and modified my original perceptions of particular notions. The course has allowed me to re-establish my feelings, thoughts, and opinions comprehensively, by encouraging reflection on my instinctive communicative...

• Intercultural Communication

The Existence of God: Descartes' And Anselm's Proof

Ontology is the study of the first principles or essence of things. Essence is the intrinsic nature of something that shows character. This concept of essence is the foundation of the ontological argument. It provides a basis for the nature of a greater being because...

• Existence of God

Benjamin Banneker Letter To Thomas Jefferson

Banneker’s use of formal tone and succinct diction delivers to Jefferson the urgency of ending slavery. He demonstrates the lack of equality and hypocrisy as Jefferson claims “all men created equal” while treating human beings as possessions that could be bought and sold; and doing...

• Benjamin Banneker

Why Books Should Not Be Banned: Any Opinion Matters

For silent reading day, Daniel brought a picture book, And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, and pretty bookmark his mother gave him. He started to read when all the sudden his teacher snatched it away saying that it was banned in...

• Reading Books

The Realities of Social, Cultural and Literary Distinction

Pierre Bourdieu, born in August 1930, was brought up in a rural area of the south west of France. Bourdieu pursued an elite academic curriculum from Paris studying philosophy, on the recommendation of his high school teacher. On graduating from the prestigious École Normale Supérieure,...

• Cultural Anthropology

Criticisms of Kantian Ethics in the Business Industry

Ethics is generally one of the most intensely debated subjects in the society as they can be found at all levels. Most commonly, people talk of ethics in a religious or personal context, topics such as euthanasia being the less evil in ill-fated circumstance or...

• Business Ethics

Importance of Reflection and Learning From Past Incidents

To practice competently, reflection is important because it allows one to critically think about past or present events, evaluate situations and then use the knowledge obtained to act accordingly in future situations. All of which improves patient care and helps minimise bad practice in the...

The Practice of Art Forgery and Monet's Aesthetic Flaws

A forgery is a work that is not genuine to its proclaimed origins, however, is presented as a genuine article, and is so acting with the intention to deceive. The practice of art forgery is as well established and mature as the practice of creating...

• Art History
• Claude Monet

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding byJohn Locke

Psychology was derived from two other disciplines; physiology, the study of how living things work, and philosophy, the theories behind why living things behave the way they do. Philosophy and physiology are intertwined, in that they both have contributed to the study of the other....

• Cognitive Psychology

Aspects of Canadian Political Reality Intersectionalities Approach

Intersectionality may be defined as a theory that shows how social and cultural categories interact. It shows that various social identities like race, gender class, disability, sexuality, place of origin and nationality are interconnected and contribute to systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by some societies....

• Intersectionality

Political Systems and Regimes: The Absolutism

The absolutism is one of the types of rules used by Europeans, which was found in Europe in the Middle Ages. Royal governments weakened after religious wars between Christian sects, but returned again in the seventeenth century.The absolutism regained its power in Europe in the...

Acceptance Concepts Through the Bible Topics

I believe that God creates all of us to be good genuinely and kindhearted. God believes that we are most beautiful & unique the way he created us. So, bullies should stop their intimidating behaviors towards others, they don’t need to be so, they should...

• Biblical Worldview

My Response to Arts Philanthropy

Arts and culture philanthropy is, by all means, a beneficial cause that seeks to promote the growth and development of the arts in general and particular forms of art or cultures specifically. In this way, it serves as an avenue through which the community or...

• Multiculturalism
• Philanthropy
• Racial Segregation

First Paper: Conceptual Reconstruction (Allegory, Euthyphro, Apology) 

Plato can be identified not only as a man at his prime but the, most openly looked upon and the most universally praised influential philosopher of all time. Among the three juggernauts of philosophy were his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, and himself. Plato was able to provide the strong...

• Euthyphro Dilemma

Apuleius’ Metamorphoses and Picture of Human Nature

This essay will explore Apuleius’ Metamorphoses with special regard to what picture of human nature and society it presents and whether or not the gods offer the prospect of salvation. Dealing with the tale of Lucius whose overly curious nature results in him being turned...

• Metamorphoses

Define the Notion Empirical Science

Empiricism and Rationalism is a reflection of the nature and nurture debate. The philosoephical notion empiricism is defined as knowledge that does not transpire due to genes. Aristotle’s views in regards to the nature versus nurture argument leans more on the nurture side. His views...

Paranormal and Supernatural: Scientific Explanation

Paranormal and Supernatural are terms generally grouped together when someone is trying to explain something that is beyond scientific explanation and the laws of nature itself. The term “Paranormal” wasn’t an official term until 1920 while the term “Supernatural” has been around since roughly 1495....

• Natural Law
• Paranormal Activity

Literature of African Diaspora as a Postcolonial Discourse

Literature of diaspora as a postcolonial discourse addresses issues such as home, nostalgia, formation of identity and to the interaction between people in diaspora and the host society, the center and the margin. Sufran believes that ‘diaspora’ is used as a ‘metaphoric designation’ to describe...

• African Diaspora
• Anthropology

August Wilson’s Fences: Triumph and Hypocrisy

In August Wilson’s “Fences” each character goes through things that will define the character in their life. The chooses they make will also affect each and every member of the family. In the Maxon family as a whole they juxtapose one another with their own...

The Absolutist Moral Principle of Pacifism

Extreme or absolutist views of pacifism advocate for the complete rejection of violence and war and perpetuate the view that under no circumstances can these be morally justified; this obviously includes cases of self-defence as well as defence of others. This form of moral thought...

• Self Defence

The Ideology of Giving People Status or Reward

A meritocratic society is based on the ideology of giving people status or reward based on what they achieve rather than their wealth or social position. However, it could be argued that a meritocratic is just, and arguments that a meritocratic society is not just....

• Just Society

Virtue Ethics Frameworks as Drivers of Teacher’s Systems Advocacy

In early education children's interests are not at the forefront of the ecce policy; instead, policy is aligned to providing 'childcare” to encourage economic growth and the expandsiion of the workforce and this leads to increasing national productivity. Moving on now to consider the ethical...

The Truman Show Film Analysis: Kantianism

The movie that I chose to analyze was The Truman Show. A good ethical theory that helps to better analyze the moral significance of this film is Kantianism. Throughout the film, it’s apparent that something just seems a little bit off. This utopian society that...

• The Truman Show

Best topics on Philosophy

1. Where I See Myself in the Future

2. Where Do I See Myself in 5 Years

3. Abortion and Philosophy: Navigating Ethical and Moral Dimensions

4. What It Means to Be an Educated Person

5. What Is a Life Well Lived: Meaning, Fulfillment, and Impact

6. What Does Education Mean to You: Empowerment Through Knowledge

7. Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man”: An Argumentative Analysis

8. Main Strengths and Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

9. How Does Society Shape Our Identity

10. How Does Family Influence Your Identity

11. Exploring Existence: How Do I Know I Exist

12. A Life of Integrity: How to Live an Ethical Life

13. What Is the Meaning of Life: Exploring Philosophical, Spiritual, and Personal Perspectives

14. Using Ethos in an Essay: Crafting Persuasive and Credible Arguments

15. Death with Dignity: An Argumentative Perspective

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

1.1 What Is Philosophy?

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Identify sages (early philosophers) across historical traditions.
• Explain the connection between ancient philosophy and the origin of the sciences.
• Describe philosophy as a discipline that makes coherent sense of a whole.
• Summarize the broad and diverse origins of philosophy.

It is difficult to define philosophy. In fact, to do so is itself a philosophical activity, since philosophers are attempting to gain the broadest and most fundamental conception of the world as it exists. The world includes nature, consciousness, morality, beauty, and social organizations. So the content available for philosophy is both broad and deep. Because of its very nature, philosophy considers a range of subjects, and philosophers cannot automatically rule anything out. Whereas other disciplines allow for basic assumptions, philosophers cannot be bound by such assumptions. This open-endedness makes philosophy a somewhat awkward and confusing subject for students. There are no easy answers to the questions of what philosophy studies or how one does philosophy. Nevertheless, in this chapter, we can make some progress on these questions by (1) looking at past examples of philosophers, (2) considering one compelling definition of philosophy, and (3) looking at the way academic philosophers today actually practice philosophy.

Historical Origins of Philosophy

One way to begin to understand philosophy is to look at its history. The historical origins of philosophical thinking and exploration vary around the globe. The word philosophy derives from ancient Greek, in which the philosopher is a lover or pursuer ( philia ) of wisdom ( sophia ). But the earliest Greek philosophers were not known as philosophers; they were simply known as sages . The sage tradition provides an early glimpse of philosophical thought in action. Sages are sometimes associated with mathematical and scientific discoveries and at other times with their political impact. What unites these figures is that they demonstrate a willingness to be skeptical of traditions, a curiosity about the natural world and our place in it, and a commitment to applying reason to understand nature, human nature, and society better. The overview of the sage tradition that follows will give you a taste of philosophy’s broad ambitions as well as its focus on complex relations between different areas of human knowledge. There are some examples of women who made contributions to philosophy and the sage tradition in Greece, India, and China, but these were patriarchal societies that did not provide many opportunities for women to participate in philosophical and political discussions.

The Sages of India, China, Africa, and Greece

In classical Indian philosophy and religion, sages play a central role in both religious mythology and in the practice of passing down teaching and instruction through generations. The Seven Sages, or Saptarishi (seven rishis in the Sanskrit language), play an important role in sanatana dharma , the eternal duties that have come to be identified with Hinduism but that predate the establishment of the religion. The Seven Sages are partially considered wise men and are said to be the authors of the ancient Indian texts known as the Vedas . But they are partly mythic figures as well, who are said to have descended from the gods and whose reincarnation marks the passing of each age of Manu (age of man or epoch of humanity). The rishis tended to live monastic lives, and together they are thought of as the spiritual and practical forerunners of Indian gurus or teachers, even up to today. They derive their wisdom, in part, from spiritual forces, but also from tapas , or the meditative, ascetic, and spiritual practices they perform to gain control over their bodies and minds. The stories of the rishis are part of the teachings that constitute spiritual and philosophical practice in contemporary Hinduism.

Figure 1.2 depicts a scene from the Matsya Purana, where Manu, the first man whose succession marks the prehistorical ages of Earth, sits with the Seven Sages in a boat to protect them from a mythic flood that is said to have submerged the world. The king of serpents guides the boat, which is said to have also contained seeds, plants, and animals saved by Manu from the flood.

Despite the fact that classical Indian culture is patriarchal, women figures play an important role in the earliest writings of the Vedic tradition (the classical Indian religious and philosophical tradition). These women figures are partly connected to the Indian conception of the fundamental forces of nature—energy, ability, strength, effort, and power—as feminine. This aspect of God was thought to be present at the creation of the world. The Rig Veda, the oldest Vedic writings, contains hymns that tell the story of Ghosha, a daughter of Rishi Kakshivan, who had a debilitating skin condition (probably leprosy) but devoted herself to spiritual practices to learn how to heal herself and eventually marry. Another woman, Maitreyi, is said to have married the Rishi Yajnavalkya (himself a god who was cast into mortality by a rival) for the purpose of continuing her spiritual training. She was a devoted ascetic and is said to have composed 10 of the hymns in the Rig Veda. Additionally, there is a famous dialogue between Maitreyi and Yajnavalkya in the Upanishads (another early, foundational collection of texts in the Vedic tradition) about attachment to material possessions, which cannot give a person happiness, and the achievement of ultimate bliss through knowledge of the Absolute (God).

Another woman sage named Gargi also participates in a celebrated dialogue with Yajnavalkya on natural philosophy and the fundamental elements and forces of the universe. Gargi is characterized as one of the most knowledgeable sages on the topic, though she ultimately concedes that Yajnavalkya has greater knowledge. In these brief episodes, these ancient Indian texts record instances of key women who attained a level of enlightenment and learning similar to their male counterparts. Unfortunately, this early equality between the sexes did not last. Over time Indian culture became more patriarchal, confining women to a dependent and subservient role. Perhaps the most dramatic and cruel example of the effects of Indian patriarchy was the ritual practice of sati , in which a widow would sometimes immolate herself, partly in recognition of the “fact” that following the death of her husband, her current life on Earth served no further purpose (Rout 2016). Neither a widow’s in-laws nor society recognized her value.

In similar fashion to the Indian tradition, the sage ( sheng ) tradition is important for Chinese philosophy . Confucius , one of the greatest Chinese writers, often refers to ancient sages, emphasizing their importance for their discovery of technical skills essential to human civilization, for their role as rulers and wise leaders, and for their wisdom. This emphasis is in alignment with the Confucian appeal to a well-ordered state under the guidance of a “ philosopher-king .” This point of view can be seen in early sage figures identified by one of the greatest classical authors in the Chinese tradition, as the “Nest Builder” and “Fire Maker” or, in another case, the “Flood Controller.” These names identify wise individuals with early technological discoveries. The Book of Changes , a classical Chinese text, identifies the Five (mythic) Emperors as sages, including Yao and Shun, who are said to have built canoes and oars, attached carts to oxen, built double gates for defense, and fashioned bows and arrows (Cheng 1983). Emperor Shun is also said to have ruled during the time of a great flood, when all of China was submerged. Yü is credited with having saved civilization by building canals and dams.

These figures are praised not only for their political wisdom and long rule, but also for their filial piety and devotion to work. For instance, Mencius, a Confucian philosopher, relates a story of Shun’s care for his blind father and wicked stepmother, while Yü is praised for his selfless devotion to work. In these ways, the Chinese philosophical traditions, such as Confucianism and Mohism, associate key values of their philosophical enterprises with the great sages of their history. Whether the sages were, in fact, actual people or, as many scholars have concluded, mythical forebearers, they possessed the essential human virtue of listening and responding to divine voices. This attribute can be inferred from the Chinese script for sheng , which bears the symbol of an ear as a prominent feature. So the sage is one who listens to insight from the heavens and then is capable of sharing that wisdom or acting upon it to the benefit of his society (Cheng 1983). This idea is similar to one found in the Indian tradition, where the most important texts, the Vedas, are known as shruti , or works that were heard through divine revelation and only later written down.

Although Confucianism is a venerable world philosophy, it is also highly patriarchal and resulted in the widespread subordination of women. The position of women in China began to change only after the Communist Revolution (1945–1952). While some accounts of Confucianism characterize men and women as emblematic of two opposing forces in the natural world, the Yin and Yang, this view of the sexes developed over time and was not consistently applied. Chinese women did see a measure of independence and freedom with the influence of Buddhism and Daoism, each of which had a more liberal view of the role of women (Adler 2006).

A detailed and important study of the sage tradition in Africa is provided by Henry Odera Oruka (1990), who makes the case that prominent folk sages in African tribal history developed complex philosophical ideas. Oruka interviewed tribal Africans identified by their communities as sages, and he recorded their sayings and ideas, confining himself to those sayings that demonstrated “a rational method of inquiry into the real nature of things” (Oruka 1990, 150). He recognized a tension in what made these sages philosophically interesting: they articulated the received wisdom of their tradition and culture while at the same time maintaining a critical distance from that culture, seeking a rational justification for the beliefs held by the culture.

Connections

The chapter on the early history of philosophy covers this topic in greater detail.

Among the ancient Greeks, it is common to identify seven sages. The best-known account is provided by Diogenes Laërtius, whose text Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is a canonical resource on early Greek philosophy. The first and most important sage is Thales of Miletus . Thales traveled to Egypt to study with the Egyptian priests, where he became one of the first Greeks to learn astronomy. He is known for bringing back to Greece knowledge of the calendar, dividing the year into 365 days, tracking the progress of the sun from solstice to solstice, and—somewhat dramatically—predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BCE. The eclipse occurred on the day of a battle between the Medes and Lydians. It is possible that Thales used knowledge of Babylonian astronomical records to guess the year and location of the eclipse. This mathematical and astronomical feat is one of Thales’s several claims to sagacity. In addition, he is said to have calculated the height of the pyramids using the basic geometry of similar triangles and measuring shadows at a certain time of day. He is also reported to have predicted a particularly good year for olives: he bought up all the olive presses and then made a fortune selling those presses to farmers wanting to turn their olives into oil. Together, these scientific and technical achievements suggest that at least part of Thales’s wisdom can be attributed to a very practical, scientific, and mathematical knowledge of the natural world. If that were all Thales was known for, he might be called the first scientist or engineer. But he also made more basic claims about the nature and composition of the universe; for instance, he claimed that all matter was fundamentally made of up water. He also argued that everything that moved on its own possessed a soul and that the soul itself was immortal. These claims demonstrate a concern about the fundamental nature of reality.

Another of the seven sages was Solon , a famed political leader. He introduced the “Law of Release” to Athens, which cancelled all personal debts and freed indentured servants, or “debt-slaves” who had been consigned to service based on a personal debt they were unable to repay. In addition, he established a constitutional government in Athens with a representative body, a procedure for taxation, and a series of economic reforms. He was widely admired as a political leader but voluntarily stepped down so that he would not become a tyrant. He was finally forced to flee Athens when he was unable to persuade the members of the Assembly (the ruling body) to resist the rising tyranny of one of his relatives, Pisistratus. When he arrived in exile, he was reportedly asked whom he considered to be happy, to which he replied, “One ought to count no man happy until he is dead.” Aristotle interpreted this statement to mean that happiness was not a momentary experience, but a quality reflective of someone’s entire life.

Beginnings of Natural Philosophy

The sage tradition is a largely prehistoric tradition that provides a narrative about how intellect, wisdom, piety, and virtue led to the innovations central to flourishing of ancient civilizations. Particularly in Greece, the sage tradition blends into a period of natural philosophy, where ancient scientists or philosophers try to explain nature using rational methods. Several of the early Greek schools of philosophy were centered on their respective views of nature. Followers of Thales, known as the Milesians , were particularly interested in the underlying causes of natural change. Why does water turn to ice? What happens when winter passes into spring? Why does it seem like the stars and planets orbit Earth in predictable patterns? From Aristotle we know that Thales thought there was a difference between material elements that participate in change and elements that contain their own source of motion. This early use of the term element did not have the same meaning as the scientific meaning of the word today in a field like chemistry. But Thales thought material elements bear some fundamental connection to water in that they have the capacity to move and alter their state. By contrast, other elements had their own internal source of motion, of which he cites the magnet and amber (which exhibits forces of static electricity when rubbed against other materials). He said that these elements have “soul.” This notion of soul, as a principle of internal motion, was influential across ancient and medieval natural philosophy. In fact, the English language words animal and animation are derived from the Latin word for soul ( anima ).

Similarly, early thinkers like Xenophanes began to formulate explanations for natural phenomena. For instance, he explained rainbows, the sun, the moon, and St. Elmo’s fire (luminous, electrical discharges) as apparitions of the clouds. This form of explanation, describing some apparent phenomenon as the result of an underlying mechanism, is paradigmatic of scientific explanation even today. Parmenides, the founder of the Eleatic school of philosophy, used logic to conclude that whatever fundamentally exists must be unchanging because if it ever did change, then at least some aspect of it would cease to exist. But that would imply that what exists could not exist—which seems to defy logic. Parmenides is not saying that there is no change, but that the changes we observe are a kind of illusion. Indeed, this point of view was highly influential, not only for Plato and Aristotle, but also for the early atomists, like Democritus , who held that all perceived qualities are merely human conventions. Underlying all these appearances, Democritus reasoned, are only atomic, unchanging bits of matter flowing through a void. While this ancient Greek view of atoms is quite different from the modern model of atoms, the very idea that every observable phenomenon has a basis in underlying pieces of matter in various configurations clearly connects modern science to the earliest Greek philosophers.

Along these lines, the Pythagoreans provide a very interesting example of a community of philosophers engaged in understanding the natural world and how best to live in it. You may be familiar with Pythagoras from his Pythagorean theorem, a key principle in geometry establishing a relationship between the sides of a right-angled triangle. Specifically, the square formed by the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the two squares formed by the remaining two sides. In the figure below, the area of the square formed by c is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares formed by a and b. The figure represents how Pythagoras would have conceptualized the theorem.

The Pythagoreans were excellent mathematicians, but they were more interested in how mathematics explained the natural world. In particular, Pythagoras recognized relationships between line segments and shapes, such as the Pythagorean theorem describes, but also between numbers and sounds, by virtue of harmonics and the intervals between notes. Similar regularities can be found in astronomy. As a result, Pythagoras reasoned that all of nature is generated according to mathematical regularities. This view led the Pythagoreans to believe that there was a unified, rational structure to the universe, that the planets and stars exhibit harmonic properties and may even produce music, that musical tones and harmonies could have healing powers, that the soul is immortal and continuously reincarnated, and that animals possess souls that ought to be respected and valued. As a result, the Pythagorean community was defined by serious scholarship as well as strict rules about diet, clothing, and behavior.

Additionally, in the early Pythagorean communities, it was possible for women to participate and contribute to philosophical thought and discovery. Pythagoras himself was said to have been inspired to study philosophy by the Delphic priestess Themistoclea. His wife Theano is credited with contributing to important discoveries in the realms of numbers and optics. She is said to have written a treatise, On Piety , which further applies Pythagorean philosophy to various aspects of practical life (Waithe 1987). Myia, the daughter of this illustrious couple, was also an active and productive part of the community. At least one of her letters has survived in which she discusses the application of Pythagorean philosophy to motherhood. The Pythagorean school is an example of how early philosophical and scientific thinking combines with religious, cultural, and ethical beliefs and practices to embrace many different aspects of life.

How It All Hangs Together

Closer to the present day, in 1962, Wilfrid Sellars , a highly influential 20th-century American philosopher, wrote a chapter called “Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man” in Frontiers of Science and Philosophy . He opens the essay with a dramatic and concise description of philosophy: “The aim of philosophy, abstractly formulated, is to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term.” If we spend some time trying to understand what Sellars means by this definition, we will be in a better position to understand the academic discipline of philosophy. First, Sellars emphasizes that philosophy’s goal is to understand a very wide range of topics—in fact, the widest possible range. That is to say, philosophers are committed to understanding everything insofar as it can be understood. This is important because it means that, on principle, philosophers cannot rule out any topic of study. However, for a philosopher not every topic of study deserves equal attention. Some things, like conspiracy theories or paranoid delusions, are not worth studying because they are not real. It may be worth understanding why some people are prone to paranoid delusions or conspiratorial thinking, but the content of these ideas is not worth investigating. Other things may be factually true, such as the daily change in number of the grains of sand on a particular stretch of beach, but they are not worth studying because knowing that information will not teach us about how things hang together. So a philosopher chooses to study things that are informative and interesting—things that provide a better understanding of the world and our place in it.

To make judgments about which areas are interesting or worthy of study, philosophers need to cultivate a special skill. Sellars describes this philosophical skill as a kind of know-how (a practical, engaged type of knowledge, similar to riding a bike or learning to swim). Philosophical know-how, Sellars says, has to do with knowing your way around the world of concepts and being able to understand and think about how concepts connect, link up, support, and rely upon one another—in short, how things hang together. Knowing one’s way around the world of concepts also involves knowing where to look to find interesting discoveries and which places to avoid, much like a good fisherman knows where to cast his line. Sellars acknowledges that other academics and scientists know their way around the concepts in their field of study much like philosophers do. The difference is that these other inquirers confine themselves to a specific field of study or a particular subject matter, while philosophers want to understand the whole. Sellars thinks that this philosophical skill is most clearly demonstrated when we try to understand the connection between the natural world as we experience it directly (the “manifest image”) and the natural world as science explains it (the “scientific image”). He suggests that we gain an understanding of the nature of philosophy by trying to reconcile these two pictures of the world that most people understand independently.

Read Like a Philosopher

“philosophy and the scientific image of man”.

This essay, “ Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man ” by Wilfrid Sellars, has been republished several times and can be found online. Read through the essay with particular focus on the first section. Consider the following study questions:

• What is the difference between knowing how and knowing that? Are these concepts always distinct? What does it mean for philosophical knowledge to be a kind of know-how?
• What do you think Sellars means when he says that philosophers “have turned other special subject-matters to non-philosophers over the past 2500 years”?
• Sellars describes philosophy as “bringing a picture into focus,” but he is also careful to recognize challenges with this metaphor as it relates to the body of human knowledge. What are those challenges? Why is it difficult to imagine all of human knowledge as a picture or image?
• What is the scientific image of man in the world? What is the manifest image of man in the world? How are they different? And why are these two images the primary images that need to be brought into focus so that philosophy may have an eye on the whole?

Unlike other subjects that have clearly defined subject matter boundaries and relatively clear methods of exploration and analysis, philosophy intentionally lacks clear boundaries or methods. For instance, your biology textbook will tell you that biology is the “science of life.” The boundaries of biology are fairly clear: it is an experimental science that studies living things and the associated material necessary for life. Similarly, biology has relatively well-defined methods. Biologists, like other experimental scientists, broadly follow something called the “scientific method.” This is a bit of a misnomer, unfortunately, because there is no single method that all the experimental sciences follow. Nevertheless, biologists have a range of methods and practices, including observation, experimentation, and theory comparison and analysis, that are fairly well established and well known among practitioners. Philosophy doesn’t have such easy prescriptions—and for good reason. Philosophers are interested in gaining the broadest possible understanding of things, whether that be nature, what is possible, morals, aesthetics, political organizations, or any other field or concept.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-philosophy/pages/1-introduction

• Authors: Nathan Smith
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Introduction to Philosophy
• Publication date: Jun 15, 2022
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-philosophy/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-philosophy/pages/1-1-what-is-philosophy

© Dec 19, 2023 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essays Samples >
• Essay Types >
• College Essay Example

Philosophy College Essays Samples For Students

2249 samples of this type

If you're seeking an applicable method to streamline writing a College Essay about Philosophy, WowEssays.com paper writing service just might be able to help you out.

For starters, you should skim our large database of free samples that cover most various Philosophy College Essay topics and showcase the best academic writing practices. Once you feel that you've analyzed the major principles of content presentation and drawn actionable insights from these expertly written College Essay samples, developing your own academic work should go much smoother.

However, you might still find yourself in a situation when even using top-notch Philosophy College Essays doesn't let you get the job accomplished on time. In that case, you can contact our writers and ask them to craft a unique Philosophy paper according to your individual specifications. Buy college research paper or essay now!

Good Studying Philosophy Essay Example

Free essay about socrates and logic, part 1: socrates.

The story of the oracle tells of a situation that arose in Athens where Socrates was rumored to be the wisest of the men that were alive at the time and in the city of Athens in particular. To him, Socrates thought others to be wiser. He especially considered men in Athens of high regard such as statesmen, poets and artisans to be wiser than he was. Specifically, such men considered themselves wise, and the society accepted this fact for truth since they were policy makers and the creative minds in the society.

Free Essay About Descartes

Philosophy final.

- What are Descartes’ arguments for Cartesian dualism? Do you find them persuasive? If you do not, do you endorse monism, or not? Explain your answer.

Don't waste your time searching for a sample.

Get your essay done by professional writers!

Just from $10/page

Free Philosophy of Education Essay Sample

Good islamic philosophy essay example, good athletic coaching essay example.

Being a coach requires one to carry out this role based on acquired experience, both theoretical and practical knowledge, moral values, long-formed opinions and reasonable beliefs. Taking proper notice and paying due respect to all the above mentioned criterion are the philosophy itself, and the success of its performance is measured by how well one knows his or her strong and weak points and understands what are the core values and coaching methods.

Good Personal Philosophy of Teaching Essay Example

Leadership in nursing essays examples, free essay about concept of morality, british and french philosophers essay.

John Locke who is a British Philosopher and Baron de Motesquieu a French philosopher had similar ideas and thoughts on the formation of the government. However, each of them defines unique path, which lead to the same conclusion.

Sample Essay On Nowherelandians

Good essay about philosophy that leads to happiness, is morality a matter of rationality essay.

Morality can be defined in different ways. Some of the definitions are dependent on several factors. Philosophy is a broad subject that involves the study of different aspects of life, and non-life factors too. Philosophy even becomes more interesting and intriguing when involves the lives of human being directly. This is because it includes the perceptions of different things that people would take normally under normal situations. However, philosophy brings everything into light, though in a rare manner.

Good Essay About Natural Philosophy

According to Aristotle’s terminology, a branch of philosophy that examines the phenomena in the natural world and includes fields that are regarded as biology, physics and other natural sciences is called natural philosophy. Aristotle held belief that being virtuous was a very important role when one still lived (Chaffee 2012).

Free Essay On Social Research

Metaphysical argument for the existence of god essays examples.

Copleston and Russell argued upon the metaphysical disagreement on the existence of God. This paper is an attempt to unravel the meanings behind Copleston’s arguments and to comprehend it further to be able to support the reality of God’s existence.

Copleston and Russell first agreed upon their understanding about the term “God”. By “God”, they mean the highest personal Being who is the creator of the world. The metaphysical argument was agreed upon by the two to be based from Leibniz’s argument about contingency.

Example Of Research Methods in Sociology Essay

Two popular research methods adapted to be used in sociology are classified as quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative research methodology encompasses collecting numerical data to analyse a phenomenon. It also involves interpreting findings through statistical applications. The foundations of quantitative research design/methods emerge from the philosophical premises of realism; subjectivism and paradigm wars. From a sociological, perspective quantitative research methods focus on a systemic empirical approach in its investigation of social issues (Hunter & Leahey, 2008).

Philosophy of Education Essay Example

In platos crito essays example, sanskrit to english and jainism essay examples, reflection 1, example of platos myth of cave essay.

Plato’s “Myth of Cave” is a very famous allegory, also known as “Allegory of the Cave” was used in Plato’s work “The Republic”, which is written in the form of Socratic dialogue. “Myth of Cave” is considered to be the best work that shows Platonism and objective idealism in general. Plato’s “Myth of Cave” is a symbol of metaphysics, epistemology and dialectics also it is the symbol of the whole Plato’s philosophy.

Essay On Philosophy and Media

Good essay about power of myth, free philosophical ethics essay example, - what is philosophical ethics, free the chinese culture essay sample, introduction.

The ancient and classical periods in the Chinese history made a great change on the production of multi-tons of iron when no one in Europe could melt a single ounce of iron. The Chinese later understood on how to reduce the excess carbon content to a low level such that the metal became strong and very resilient instead of brittle (Ward 181). They called the final item steel.

Example Of Essay On Hume and Bergson

Philosophical theories essay examples, personal nursing philosophy essay examples, example of critical analysis of platos apology essay, analysis of socratic arguments essay sample, essay on mill's utilitarianism vs. kantian ethics, metaphysics essay, alfred north whitehead essay, alfred north whitehead, transcendentalism in america essay examples, plato and the dual world essay, good essay on an argument for freewill, free platos response essay example, free essay on st. augustine confessions, st. augustine confessions, free essay about ethical theories of aristotle and immanuel kant, essay on plato on the allegory of the cave, good essay on life in ancient greece, essay on research, good essay on plato's view of immortality, example of essay on aristotle, following confucianism essay samples, free a philosophical debate essay example, religious studies, aristotles mean and addisons extreme essay sample, two philosophical views of humor, guide of the perplexed essays example, great example of essay on history, opposing view: aristotle versus plato in ancient greece, essay on susan wolfs and catherine wilsons argument on ethics and morals, good essay about different approach of rule of law, good example of three question test essay, humes problem essay sample, good essay about christian worldview (business policy), free the nature of the early medieval thought essay example, authordatesubject essays example, contemporary relevance of plato’s allegory of the cave, alcibiades essays example, free essay on what does it mean to be human, purpose of my essay, good essay about analyze the argument for reincarnation in the phaedo, socrates and descartes essay samples.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Philosophy Major

A philosophy major learns to think critically, identify and evaluate arguments and engage in moral and ethical reasoning.

Becoming a Philosophy Major

Getty Images

A philosophy major is a humanities degree path that will challenge students to examine questions with no right answers.

Philosophy majors confront questions about free will, morality, religion and consciousness. These students explore historical approaches to philosophical topics while learning to develop and express their opinions. Philosophy degree-holders are well positioned to apply their strong critical thinking skills in fields including business, law or medicine.

What Is a Philosophy Major?

Philosophy challenges students to examine questions without clear answers. Like other humanities majors – including art history, sociology and anthropology – philosophy centers around the study of how humans live together, both historically and culturally. As students become familiar with notable philosophers and diverse worldviews, they learn to evaluate arguments and engage in moral and ethical debate. Undergraduate students learn about contemporary and historical philosophy while developing analytical reading skills.

In their coursework, philosophy majors ponder arguments related to the best ways to live, the existence of God and the relationship between mind and body. They also learn the fundamentals of mathematical logic. Philosophy majors often work with faculty to choose and study topics they find compelling for their senior thesis. Students can also look for opportunities to publish their writing in undergraduate research journals.

Philosophy major vs. psychology major: What’s the difference?

Philosophy and psychology are somewhat related. Some schools even offer them as a joint major. Students of these disciplines may take different approaches to the same questions, like why people adopt the worldviews they do. But philosophy majors tend to dive into reasoning, logic and questions about topics like existence, time and morals, while psychology majors learn about memory, conditioning and cognition.

Common Coursework Philosophy Majors Can Expect

Philosophy majors should expect their degree requirements to cover some fundamental topics while also leaving space to explore. Students take classes that cover philosophy’s history, provide an introduction to logic and explore human nature. Students will also likely become familiar with new vocabulary, as complex topics such as metaphysics and value theory drive class options and requirements. Broadly, metaphysics concerns the fundamental nature of the world, while value theory includes moral, social and political philosophy. By taking classes that host discussions about difficult questions, philosophy students become skilled at critical thinking and forming well-reasoned arguments.

How to Know if This Major Is the Right Fit for You

If you’re interested in challenging questions and examining diverse worldviews while considering your own beliefs, philosophy might be a great fit. Studying philosophy can be relevant to your academic and personal development, since classes may prompt you to not only think critically about the course material but also about your own principles. You can also find a place in the major if your interests range beyond philosophy, as classes connect to a variety of disciplines, and the skills acquired in philosophy courses can be an asset in various career paths, including those as diverse as math and art history.

What Can I Do With a Philosophy Major?

Philosophy majors graduate with strong problem-solving, critical thinking and writing skills that apply to a wide range of professions. Depending on interests and experience, philosophy degree-holders can become writers, financial analysts or paralegals, among other career paths.Philosophy majors often have strong performance on graduate school admissions tests, which is helpful for students planning to pursue further study after graduation. With additional degrees, philosophy students can go on to work as lawyers, doctors and university professors. Philosophy may also be a good major for those planning to attend a seminary or pursue religious leadership, social justice or community service roles.

Data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent estimates of annual salary by occupation and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

What Philosophy Majors Say

"Philosophy is a flexible major and a broad field of study. Although the major requires several core courses, I have been able to tailor my path to pursue topics that interest me. I have also had opportunities to assist faculty with their research and develop my own research projects, which have allowed me to consider puzzles that I am passionate about. My advice to prospective philosophy majors is this: Approach your classes with curiosity and an open mind. Be prepared to evaluate a variety of views, including your own, as you engage in discussions about various issues with your classmates. Welcome questions you have never considered before. Lastly, embrace every moment of aporia , of being perplexed or at a loss, because you will find that the process of searching for an answer is immensely valuable in itself."

– Karli Belyea , University of Rhode Island, class of 2024, philosophy major.

"As a philosophy major at Howard University, I find myself immersed in a unique academic environment that truly stands apart. The university’s unique status as the sole stand-alone philosophy department in a historically Black college or university (HBCU) opens doors to a world of unmatched knowledge and diverse perspectives. Here, excellence nurtures excellence, supported by unparalleled mentoring and faculty guidance. This environment continually inspires me with its profound insights and the experienced advice of my predecessors. Howard University’s Philosophy Department excels in equipping its students for higher academic achievements, especially for those pursuing interests in law and graduate studies. A key highlight of my educational journey is the privilege to study Black philosophy under the tutelage of Black educators. For anyone considering majoring in the field, my advice is twofold: First, read extensively. Engage with texts that pique your interest, which will broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding. Second, hone your writing skills. Anyone can write a paper, but crafting a coherent, compelling philosophical argument is an art that requires practice and dedication."

– Alexandra Zeppeiro , Howard University, class of 2025, bachelor’s in philosophy.

"Studying philosophy is nothing short of a fruitful and enlightening experience. Being surrounded by incredibly knowledgeable and passionate professors will expand your mind to not only think more critically but also more creatively. This will equip you with an analytical mind that can be relied upon to think and understand with greater clarity. Ultimately giving you the confidence to form your own thoughts and perspective, philosophy will develop and give you your own unique lens on the world. This is something I believe anyone can benefit from, leaving you more capable and intelligent."

– Younes Laadem , Seton Hall University, class of 2025, philosophy and economics major.

"Studying philosophy is quite different from studying any other subject at the collegiate level. Philosophy allows you to widen your perspective, teaches you to form and articulate logical conclusions, analyze dense writings and much more. When I decided to major in philosophy, I often had to answer the question of what my career plan was, and at the time I was not sure – but as a rising senior, I have found that the communication and analysis skills I have gained through this area of study are applicable in a diverse range of fields. My advice for students thinking about pursuing a degree in philosophy would be to not get frustrated or doubt themselves when trying to understand readings or concepts. Readings will be long and comprehensively challenging, but once you grasp the concepts, conversation with your fellow students and professors will make it all worthwhile."

– Brynna Whittington , Appalachian State University, class of 2025, Bachelor of Arts in philosophy.

Pick the Perfect Major

Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.

Schools Offering a Philosophy Major

Schools offering philosophy majors are below. Filter and sort our complete list of schools to search for those that meet your preferences and needs.

2024 Best Colleges

Search for your perfect fit with the U.S. News rankings of colleges and universities.

College Admissions: Get a Step Ahead!

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S. News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

You May Also Like

Federal vs. private parent student loans.

Erika Giovanetti May 9, 2024

14 Colleges With Great Food Options

Sarah Wood May 8, 2024

Colleges With Religious Affiliations

Anayat Durrani May 8, 2024

Protests Threaten Campus Graduations

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 6, 2024

Protesting on Campus: What to Know

Sarah Wood May 6, 2024

Lawmakers Ramp Up Response to Unrest

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton May 3, 2024

University Commencements Must Go On

Eric J. Gertler May 3, 2024

Where Astronauts Went to College

Cole Claybourn May 3, 2024

College Admitted Student Days

Jarek Rutz May 3, 2024

Universities, the Police and Protests

John J. Sloan III May 2, 2024

• How It Works
• All Projects
• Top-rated Pages
• Scholarship essay writing
• Book report writing
• Admission essay writing
• Dissertation writing
• Essay editing
• MBA essay writing
• Write my essay
• Free sample essays
• Writing blog

Philosophy Essay Examples

It is arguable that no two legendary works could be more opposed than Machiavelli's “The Qualities of a Prince” and the United States Declaration of Independence (DOI). There are similarities, strangely enough. Both works focus on the role and obligations of a prince, as both acknowledge such a ruler as...

1071 words | 4 page(s)

John Locke’s philosophy on governance and the right for humans to pursue their own natural rights sticks out more than the philosophies of other political philosophers like Thomas Hobbes. Locke generally held a more positive view on the subject of human nature and believed that people should only be led...

631 words | 3 page(s)

In any profession, particularly in medicine as seen in Aristotle’s formulation of the virtue ethics theory, there is a need for people practically to exercise ethical behavior, including qualities such as compassion, self-respect, and honesty (Waller, 2011). According to the virtue theory, which address the fundamental question of how a...

622 words | 3 page(s)

The differences between the pre-Socratic philosophers and those that came after Socrates are so great, that they are usually viewed as two separate periods in the ancient Greek philosophy. While the pre-Socratics focused mainly on understanding the world around, the universe, with Socrates there came an anthropological shift in philosophy,...

641 words | 3 page(s)

Aristotle was born in 384 B.C in Classical Greece in a town known as Stagira. His father, Nicomachus, died before Aristotle was a teenager. There is no adequate historical information about Aristotle’s mother, Phaestis but it is rumoured that she also died when Aristotle was a child. He was a...

649 words | 3 page(s)

Regarding the question of how it is possible that, given the same facts pertaining to a discipline, experts may still disagree, it is important to recognize that even the most established facts are subject to interpretation. This is critical because, depending on each expert's viewpoint, the facts may then be...

895 words | 3 page(s)

An Aristotelian contemplator is a person who is regarded to have acquired a lot of knowledge and what he airs out to different people is the level of experience he has already stored in his mind. Aristotelian contemplator is involved in many situations which requires truth in an orderly manner...

1034 words | 4 page(s)

A solid personal philosophy is important for any nurse, willing to establish and develop as a professional in one's field, provide the highest quality of care to patients and promote their well-being (Marchuk, 2014). My nursing philosophy combines the knowledge of medicine with compassionate and relational attitude towards every patient. ...

1183 words | 4 page(s)

The real nature of human beings often becomes the topic of public and scholarly debates, partly due to the fact that different notions about the true nature of people often become a means of political and other types of manipulations. The humanistic discourse that has come to the fore in...

1737 words | 6 page(s)

Francis Bacon was born in 1561 in England during the period of the English Renaissance. He became a lawyer in London in the 1580s, but he was always very interested in science, particularly scientific inventions and achievements (Bacon et. al. 2000). Bacon was a prominent figure in the humanities who...

593 words | 2 page(s)

The problem of evil lies in how it is defined. Many people may try to explain evil in concrete terms as a categorical imperative. However, most people agree that what is good and what is evil is relative to the situation; thus, good and evil acts are hypothetical imperatives in...

987 words | 4 page(s)

The mind body problem is one of the oldest and most important problems in philosophy. It is a problem which concerned the Ancient Greeks, Descartes and those who followed them, as well as those who now pursue modern philosophy of mind. In essence, the problem is based around the distinction...

760 words | 3 page(s)

The central thesis in Bertrand Russell's The Value of Philosophy is that the purpose, or value, of philosophy is the pursuit of knowledge using criticism to uncover truths. However, philosophy refers to the method of pursuing knowledge, rather than knowledge itself; when a body of knowledge is identified, it then...

601 words | 3 page(s)

This paper will work to discuss the premise of “the heart” as identified by Blaise Pascal’s claim that “the heart has its reasons which reason does not know.” It will determine what Pascal meant when he referred to the heart and how this concept relates to the concept of intuition....

778 words | 3 page(s)

The study of philosophy in general is typically regarded as removed from practicality, and because it is generally viewed as intrinsically apart from those concerns which govern behavior and living. Essentially, all philosophy is inquiry, and of a kind focused on virtue, morality, human potentials, and other matters not seen...

602 words | 3 page(s)

Philosophical discussion considers the terms necessity and possibility as closely related terms with regards to their applications. Possible worlds semantics includes the application of the terms possibility and necessity to mean different aspects of human life. Possibility in this regard is the philosophical term that helps an individual to navigate...

621 words | 3 page(s)

When Aristotle wrote about virtue, he was writing specifically about the desire for people to find moderation in a life that often encourages them to seek out one pole or another. Life has a tendency to drift toward two extremes. People can find themselves caught in excess. When they are...

911 words | 4 page(s)

It is worth noting that at the heart of Sartre’s philosophy are two confusing statements, “existence precedes essence,” and the “essence precedes existence.” Therefore, the meaning of the statement “existence precedes essence” would be best understood by first understanding “essence precedes existence.” The Sartre’s statement, “essence precedes existence” essentially means...

885 words | 3 page(s)

Immanuel Kant is a rationalist, and, as such, he places supreme importance on reason. However, his application of reason to issues of faith and the divine unfolds in interesting ways, given that it is a tendency of the rationalists to collapse into dogmatic reasoning. Indeed, as is well-documented, Kant, as...

605 words | 3 page(s)

Socrates was a Greek philosopher who generated much controversy among the people of his time. While he raised skepticism among authority figures, he himself made his decisions and formed his ideas on a very strict logical basis. He demonstrated this even unto his incarceration. After his trial, he was imprisoned...

609 words | 3 page(s)

Voltaire was one of the most impactful writers in French history. Coming up during the Enlightenment and also during a time when the very rich ruled France and Europe with an iron fist, Voltaire had many subjects to write about. Voltaire was an excellent social commentator, and time proved many...

632 words | 3 page(s)

The thought experiment of Mary’s room, introduced by the philosopher Frank Jackson, has the basic aim of showing that our consciousness and our thoughts as well as other mental activities cannot be entirely explained in terms of physical processes, such as neurological activity in our brain. The thought experiment asks...

923 words | 4 page(s)

Within the American paradigm, John Dewey perhaps remains one of the most influential theorists of education. In so far as Dewey, above all in his classic work Education and Experience, stresses the value of what he terms “progressive education” models, which highlight the individual experiences in learning and development, this...

1139 words | 4 page(s)

Shortly after earning his medical degree in 1824, Charles Knowlton was serving jail time for illegally using corpses, by whisking them off from their burial sites, for examination. At a time when one of the only methods an aspiring physician could employ to learn their trade was through an in...

905 words | 4 page(s)

Process philosophy rejects the materialist view of the world according to which the nature of things is comprised of unchanging substances. Instead, he proposes an entirely new idea, according to which, everything that exists around is a sum of events or experiences, and for this this reason, everything around changes...

700 words | 3 page(s)

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

The Philosophy Essay Prize is open to Year 12 or Lower 6th students. The aim of the Prize is to encourage able sixth formers to pursue their interest in Philosophy, with the hope that they will be encouraged to read this or related subjects at University.

The questions for the 2024 competition are as follows:

‘It is impossible to fit values into the world described by natural science.’ Is it?

Can machines have minds?

You should answer one question only.  The deadline for entries is 12.00 noon UK time on Friday 31 May 2024 .

Candidates are invited to submit an essay of up to 2,000 words.  Entries must be submitted online by the end of May using the form below. 

The competition carries a First Prize of £600 and a Second Prize of £400, to be split equally between the candidate and his or her school or college; the school or college’s portion of the prize to be issued in the form of book tokens.

All candidates will be notified with the results of the competition around the end of August.  Any queries should be directed to the Admissions Administrator, Ms Stacey Smith, at [email protected] .

About your school

Past prize-winners.

1st Prize: Anjali Reddy (Wimbledon High School) Joint 2nd Prize: John Paul Cheng (Winchester College); Dimitrije Golubovic (Gimnazija “Bora Stankovic”, Serbia)

1st Prize: Ms Isabel Rumfitt (James Allen’s Girls’ School) 2nd Prize: Sam Wolffe (University College School)

1st Prize: Mr Fucheng Warren Zhu (Harrow International School, Hong Kong) 2nd Prize: Mr Jacob Tidmarsh (Home-schooled)

1st Prize: Catherine Brewer (Sharnbrook Sixth Form) 2nd Prize: David Levy (JFS)

1st Prize: Dilara Smyth (The Abbey School, Reading) 2nd Prize: Dalir Kosimov (Harris Westminster Sixth Form)

1st Prize: Nicole Souter (The King Edward VI School) 2nd Prize: Jack Chong (Wellington College)

1st Prize: Omodunni Bello (Sherborne School for Girls) 2nd Prize: Max Johnston (Uppingham School)

1st Prize: Conor O’Shea (Harrow School) 2nd Prize: Lila Mendoza (Sevenoaks School)

1st Prize: Harry Lloyd (Monmouth Comprehensive School) 2nd Prize: Kartik Prabhu (Westminster School)

1st Prize: Christopher Banks (King’s College School, Wimbledon) 2nd Prize: Eleanor Holton (The Stephen Perse Foundation Sixth Form, Cambridge)

1st Prize: Jeremy Khoo (Raffles Institution, Singapore) Joint 2nd Prize: Phoebe Bright (St Paul’s Girls’ School) Joint 2nd Prize: Rory Turnbull (Hereford Cathedral School)

1st Prize: Keith Wynroe (De La Salle College, Macroom) 2nd Prize: Nina Maras (Latymer Upper School)

1st Prize: Kacper Kowalczyk (Dulwich College) 2nd Prize: Alice Carter (Canford School)

1st Prize: Ding Hui (Raffles Institution) 2nd Prize: Timothy Wickenden (The Sixth Form College, Farnborough)

1st Prize: Rosie Illingworth (Oundle School) 2nd Prize: Joshua Brown (University College School)

1st Prize: Annie Hawes (Henrietta Barnett School) 2nd Prize: Robert Dixon (Oundle School)

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via email
• previous post: Linguistics Essay Prize
• next post: R.A. Butler Politics Prize

Access and Outreach Hub

Privacy overview.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Supplemental Essay "too philosophical" ?

Hi everyone,

I am an international student who will apply RD to Harvard. I wanted to get a head start on my supplement for Harvard (which lets you pretty much write about anything) and decided to write on the philosophy of the absurd by Albert Camus. To put it in a few words, it refers to the human tendency to seek meaning in life and the inability to find any. When faced to the absurdist paradox, one must accept the absurd but revolt at the same time (I recommend reading Sisyphus’ myth if you want to learn more). I really enjoy reading and writing about philosophy and I am planning to give examples of how I revolt against the things I find absurd in my every day life, but I am afraid my essay will not sound straight forward enough as it is dealing with very abstract concepts. Also, I am trying to make it sound less gloomy (since absurdism also deals with suicide) by inserting absurd yet funny situations as examples (I am introducing my essay with the dream I had where I was moon walking into the oval office wearing a T-shirt of teenage Nicolas Cage and found Genghis Khan breathing sriracha sauce; which I thought was completely absurd).

Is my example too insolent? Is the topic of my essay too dramatic/abstract? I was also thinking of using this essay for UChicago’s supplement, and rewrite it a little so it’d fit one of the prompts. Any feed back is appreciated. Thanks!!

A godless, material universe leads inevitably to absurdity and nihilism. So you applying to Harvard (or any college for that matter) is also absurd. Are you willing to leave that door open for any potential adcom to shut it in your face?

Very true. After an eldritch first paragraph, my essay focuses on the fact that despite the absurdity of life, one must constantly revolt against it, and that’s where you can find your own meaning. For example, I run an afterclass school that helps the refugee community in my hometown improve their French to facilitate intercultural understanding. In a sense, that was my way of revolting against the absurdity of war. Applying to college in America is also my way of revolting against the absurdity of having to be born and to live in one place. Expanding one’s horizons is a way of escaping the absurd, while maintaining an ironic distance to it.

I am starting to realize that all of this is maybe far fetched but I am running on my 5th cup of coffee and words are just flowing on my essay lol

I don’t know about Harvard but I love this topic, it sounds unique and I have always been fascinated by Camus’ approach. Make sure it’s ultimately talking about yourself, not just abstract notions. I didn’t really get the part about the dream - did you eventually find a meaning in it?

The part about myself is basically about how I “revolt” (to use Camus’ terms) against the absurd. I hope it sounds convincing. The dream is basically my hook - it is deprived of any apparent meaning, just like the universe. Frankly, I think I am going to ditch that part because it might sound not serious enough (then again everything else in my essay is pretty serious).

Are you sure you fully understand Camus and existentialism? And is your description of your “revolts” basically a cover for presenting your dedication to various helpful activities to impress adcoms.

The best essays I have read deal with the ordinary, are humble and likable, and sometimes focus in on something unexpected, like a childhood toy or something.

This is a decision you should make on your own. Let them know who you are, your decisions, your insights, not ours.

Besides, what some topic people here dislike, may be be the approach that catches the eye of your regional admissions committee.

Questar’s answer is the best advice you could get.

Thank you for your insight !

It’s just that I find it really hard “selling myself” to the adcoms without coming in as too arrogant or dramatic and thought writing on the absurd would both sound smart and laidback. It’s all about that perfect balance between originality and pertinence, which can be hard to pinpoint;

I think I will keep the topic, and change the approach.

To me it sounds like what someone thinks Harvard would like. I like @compmom ’s first comment.

Also, I believe Camus denied being an existentialist, and that it was even one of the reason that lead to the schism between him and Sartre (well, that, and the anti communist sentiment as well)

Sounds like you’re trying too hard to epitomize the stereotyped Harvard student. Don’t try to make yourself seem smarter by using the word eldritch – the essays are supposed to display your personal qualities.

Are you a native English speaker? Did you find that word in a Thesaurus?

I am not a native English speaker. I grew up speaking French and Arabic but lived in the U.S. for a while. I like to use specific words when I write, but I do realize it may come across as pompous. Frankly, I had a lot of second thoughts about this essay; I’d like to write about philosophy in a way that truly reflects my qualities as a thinker and not just write a reflection of what I believe a Harvard student would say.

Speaking for myself, I don’t think the essay was a bad idea. But the execution would be extremely difficult. @compmom is not wrong – it’s a lot easier for a 17-year-old to write effectively in a modest voice about familiar things than to write effectively about philosophy in five paragraphs. (Not that either is really easy . . . . ) But if you pull it off – and your writing so far in this thread makes me think that maybe you can, if you work at it – that would be very impressive.

I didn’t like the description of the opening, though. By the time you got through describing your complex dream, you would have used up a lot of the the reader’s attention span. You would also have set up an expectation that you were going to say something pertinent to its details, something that justified the long description. And you would proceed to disappoint the reader by revealing that you had nothing more to say than “that’s absurd,” before you started talking about Camus, Sisyphus, language classes, and nationality. That doesn’t seem like an effective plan for a short essay.

Re vocabulary. You don’t seem to overuse big words, and you do seem to have a basic handle on Camus (from what I remember – my mother was a huge fan of Camus). But be careful! Your use of “eldritch” seemed a little off (although maybe not, based on exactly what you planned for that paragraph). To me, “eldritch” implies spooky, supernatural; your crowded dream sounded like a Freudian mixer.

Sorry, but IMHO this is wrong-headed approach and the quickest way to the reject pile. What you described above is an academic essay – and that is NOT what colleges are looking for in personal essay.

Please read this blog, which was written specifically for international students writing college essays: https://www.■■■■■■■■■/admissions-advice/i-am-an-international-student-applicant-how-do-i-write-an-effective-college-admissions-essay/392/4

You don’t have to be serious. But you do need to make sense. Not just for valid writing, in general, but because this is for a college admit review. They don’t need you to strut.

“…too arrogant or dramatic and thought writing on the absurd would both sound smart and laidback. It’s all about that perfect balance between originality and pertinence…” Don’t overthink this. The failure in overconfidence is it affects their perception of your thinking, maturity, and more.

Wonder if, for your purposes, you mean revolt or, rather, “protest.”

It could be amusing, but you’ll need a strong ability to self-edit, to not come across as a pretentious young 'un, thinking he’s got it all pegged. I don’t see the need to talk about, say, some hobby. You would be presenting an aspect of your thinking. But man, oh, man, it would need to be “just right.”

I have noticed that non-native English speakers tend to use big words more than those who have always spoken English. Be careful on that. If you can say what you want to say with a simpler word, use that. It makes an essay more likable and reduces the chance of using a word while missing he subtle nuances of language that make it inappropriate in that context.

The purpose behind this essay is NOT to educate.

It’s to sell your application.

I’m not convinced that this topic/essay is your best shot at selling your application.

POPULAR STATES

Search sat scores, search act scores, search gpa’s, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay informed with the latest from the CC community, delivered to you, for free.

CONNECT WITH US

© 2023 College Confidential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

190 Good Transition Words for Essays

August 23, 2023

Essay writing consists of two primary procedures: coming up with the content we want to include and structuring that content. These procedures might take place in either order or they could occur simultaneously. When writing an essay it is important to think about the ways that content and structure complement one another. The best essays join these two elements in thoughtful ways. Transition words for essays (including for college essays) are some of our most primary tools when it comes to structuring a piece of writing.

When beginning an essay it is often recommended to begin with a messy first draft. The purpose of this draft is to get everything out on the page. You should put down as many ideas and trajectories as you can without worrying too much about phrasing or whether they will make it into the final draft. The key here is to be loose—to get ahead of our self-editors and expel everything we can from our minds.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Continued)

While this is a good strategy for beginning an essay it will likely leave you unsure how everything fits together. This is where transition words come in. As you will see in this list (which is necessarily incomplete) the range of transition words for essays is vast. Each transition word implies a different relation, often in subtle ways. After accumulating content, the next step is to figure out how the elements fit together towards an overall goal (this could be but is not necessarily an “argument”). Consulting this list of transition words for essays can provide a shortcut for determining how one piece might lead into another. Along with transition words, rhetorical devices and literary devices are other tools to consider during this stage of essay writing.

Transition Words for College Essays

While this list will be a useful tool for all types of essay writing it will be particularly helpful when it comes to finding the right transition words for college essays . The goal of a college essay is to give a strong overall sense of its author in the tight space of 650 words. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to encompass a life or convey a complex personality in such a space. When writing a college essay you are working with a huge amount of potential content. Students often want to squeeze in as much as they can. To this end, transition words for college essays are essential tools to have at our disposal.

Here is our list of transition words for college essays and other essays. It is organized by the different types of transition words/phrases and their functions. While this organization should be convenient, keep in mind that there’s plenty of overlap. Many of these words can function in multiple ways.

1) Additive Transitions

These words function in an additive manner, accumulating content to build upon what has already been stated. They can be used to construct an argument or establish a scene through the accumulation of details.

• Additionally
• In addition to
• Furthermore
• Not to mention
• In all honesty
• To tell the truth
• Not only…but also
• As a matter of fact
• To say nothing of
• What’s more
• Alternatively
• To go a step further

 2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity)

  These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant.

• In the same way
• In a similar vein
• Along the lines of
• In the key of

 3) Comparative Transitions (Difference)

  While also functioning comparatively, the following words demonstrate difference between ideas or images. These transition words are useful when it comes to establishing contrasting points of view, an important component of any argument.

• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• In contrast to
• In contradiction
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• In any event
• In any case
• In either event

4) Sequential Transitions

  The following are particularly effective transition words for college essays. They will allow you to order ideas chronologically or in a sequence, providing a sense of continuity over time. This is particularly useful when an essay leans into something more creative or involves telling a story.

• Subsequently
• At the same time
• Concurrently
• In the beginning
• At the start
• At the outset
• Off the bat

5) Spatial Transitions

Rather than organizing ideas or images in regards to sequence, these transitions indicate spatial relationships. They are particularly useful when it comes to painting a scene and/or describing objects, but they can also be used metaphorically. Consider, for example, how you might use the transition, “standing in […’s] shadow.”

• Standing in […’s] shadow
• In front of
• In the middle
• In the center
• To the left
• To the right
• On the side
• Adjacent to
• Around the bend
• On the outskirts
• In the distance
• On the horizon
• In the foreground
• In the background
• Underground
• Through the grapevine

 6) Causal Transitions

These transition words for essays indicate cause and effect relationships between ideas. They will be particularly useful when you are structuring a logical argument, i.e. using logos as a mode of persuasion . Causal transitions are an important element of academic, legal and scientific writing.

• Accordingly
• Resultingly
• As a result
• Consequently
• In consequence
• As a consequence
• For this reason
• So much that
• Granting that
• That being the case
• Under those circumstances
• With this in mind
• For the purpose of
• For all intents and purposes
• In the event that
• In the event of
• In light of
• On the condition that
• To the extent that

7) Examples/Illustration/Supporting Transition

  These transition words for college essays can be used to introduce supporting evidence, emphasis, examples, and clarification. There is some overlap here with additive transitions and causal transitions. These transitions are also useful when it comes to building an argument. At the same time, they can signal a shift into a different linguistic register.

• For example
• For instance
• In other words
• As an illustration
• To illustrate
• To put it differently
• To put it another way
• That is to say
• As the evidence illustrates
• It’s important to realize
• It’s important to understand
• It must be remembered
• To demonstrate
• For clarity’s sake
• To emphasize
• To put it plainly
• To enumerate
• To speak metaphorically

8) Conclusory Transitions

These transition words for essays serve to bring an idea or story to a close. They offer a clear way of signaling the conclusion of a particular train of thought. They might be followed by a summary or a restatement of an essay’s argument. In this way they also provide emphasis, setting the reader up for what is about to come.

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• To put it succinctly
• To this end
• At the end of the day
• In the final analysis
• By and large
• On second thought
• On first glance
• That’s all to say
• On the whole
• All things considered
• Generally speaking

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Final Thoughts)

Even when elements appear to be disparate on first glance, transition words are a great tool for giving your essay a smooth flow. They can also create surprising juxtapositions, relationships, and equivalences. The way a reader will understand a transition word depends on the context in which they encounter it.

Individual words and phrases can be used in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the literal to the figurative to the colloquial or idiomatic. “Through the grapevine” is an example of the colloquial or idiomatic. When we encounter this phrase we don’t interpret it literally (as hearing something “through” a grapevine) but rather as hearing news secondhand. There are, of course, a vast number of idioms that are not included in this list but can also function as transitional phrases.

This list of transition words for college essays (and really any form of writing you might be working on) is a resource that you can return to again and again in your life as a writer. Over years of writing we tend to fall into patterns when it comes to the transition words we use. Mixing things up can be exciting both as a writer and for your readers. Even if you don’t choose to stray from your trusted transitions, considering the alternatives (and why they don’t work for you) can offer a deeper understanding of what you are trying to say.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (An Exercise)

As an exercise in self-understanding, you may want to try highlighting all of the transition words in a piece of your own writing. You can then compare this to the transition words in a piece of writing that you admire. Are they using similar transitions or others? Are they using them more or less often? What do you like or dislike about them? We all use transition words differently, creating different tonal effects. Keeping an eye out for them, not only as a writer but also as a reader, will help you develop your own aesthetic.

• College Essay

Emmett Lewis

Emmett holds a BA in Philosophy from Vassar College and is currently completing an MFA in Writing at Columbia University. Previously, he served as a writing instructor within the Columbia Artists/Teachers community as well as a Creative Writing Teaching Fellow at Columbia, where he taught poetry workshops. In addition, Emmett is a member of the Poetry Board at the Columbia Journal , and his work has been published in HAD , Otoliths , and Some Kind of Opening , among others.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

Sophia Melo Gomes

Finished Papers

1035 Natoma Street, San Francisco

This exquisite Edwardian single-family house has a 1344 Sqft main…