Paper Topics

Here are my options for Philosophy 175’s short paper:

1. Does John Wisdom think that claims like “There is a God” are factual claims? Explain Wisdom’s view. Is he right? Why/why not? In the course of your answer explain what a fact is, what an attitude is and what is the difference between them.

2. The accounts of the Sacrifice of Isaac in the Book of Genesis and in the Koran are different. Present each account and discuss whether the differences matter for the explanation in Fear and Trembling of why Abraham is “the Father of Faith”.

3. Explain carefully the difference Johannes de Silentio sees between a knight of infinite resignation and a knight of faith. Would they appear different to an outside observer?

4. If Climacus is right in the Philosophical Fragments is historical investigation irrelevant to religious belief? Explain Climacus’ argument, present and evaluate a strong counterargument.

All good, I still can’t decide…I probably won’t do #3.

~ by Barron on April 24, 2007.