PHIL 1 — Paper 2 Prompt
Your second paper is due at 11:59pm on November 17th. The paper should
be no more than 900 words. You will turn it in on Canvas as a PDF file.
Please do not put your name on the paper; it will be graded blindly.
Prompt
Consider one of the following arguments:
The Causal Cosmological Argument
1. Every object has a cause of its existence
2. Every caused object is either self-caused or other caused
3. Not every object can be other-caused
4. So, some object is self-caused (and we call that object God)
The Argument from Pointless Suffering
1. There is pointless suffering in the world
2. If there is pointless suffering in the world, then there is no omnibeing
3. So, there is no omnibeing
Explain the chosen argument. Be sure to clearly elaborate and motivate
each of the premises.
Then, choose one of the following:
1) Present one novel objection to the argument. This objection needs to be
one which was not presented in class and which you developed yourself. Your
objection could take inspiration from an existing argument, but your objection
must make some substantive new move.
2) Briefly present an objection to the chosen argument that we discussed in
class (see next page). Then, present one novel objection to that objection.
Advice
The word maximum for the paper is low, so you will need to be focused and
concise. If you are well-under word count, that is your sign that your paper
lacks clarity. For the sake of space, no introduction is required for this writing
assignment; just jump into the explanation of the argument. Similarly, there is
no need for a conclusion either.
Recall that an objection takes the form of an argument for the denial of one
of the premises of the argument you are objecting to, so you will specify which
premise you deny and give some motivation for why one might deny it.
The Brute Fact Objection
1. If every object has an explanation of its existence, then there are no brute
existence facts
2. There are brute existence facts
3. So, not every object has an explanation of its existence
The Probabilistic Fact Objection
1. If every object has an explanation of its existence, then there are no prob_xfffe_abilistic existence facts
2. There are probabilistic existence facts
3. So, not every object has an explanation of its existence
Hume’s Objection
1. The causal chain could be infinite or circular and explain everything
2. If the causal chain could be infinite or circular and explain everything,
then every object can be other-caused
3. So, every object can be other-caused
The Appreciated Good Defense
1. If suffering exists to help us appreciate goods, then suffering is not pointless
2. Suffering exists to help us appreciate goods
3. So, there is no pointless suffering in the world
The Character Building Defense
1. If suffering exists to help build our character, then suffering is not pointless
2. Suffering exists to help build our character
3. So, there is no pointless suffering in the world
The Free Will Defense
1. If suffering exists necessarily as a result of our free will, then suffering is
not pointless
2. Suffering exists necessarily as a result of our free will
3. So, there is no pointless suffering in the world
The Hidden Reasons Defense
1. If suffering exists for some reason hidden to us, then suffering is not point less
2. Suffering exists for some reason hidden to us
3. So, there is no pointless suffering in the world
