HUM 3306: History of Ideas

Prof. B. Harvey

 

ESSAY#2 (due Nov. 21)

All the general instructions for ESSAY#1 apply, including turning in the checklist (which you should take seriously!), except that this essay should be about seven pages long.

 

OPTION ONE:  FRANKENSTEIN 

Focus on the family cottage episode and make such central to an argument about the novel.  It may be that you establish a trajectory of ideas in which you use the cottage episode specifically only ½ or 2/3rd of the way through your paper.  For example, say you think the novel is mainly about Victor's inability to maintain connection with his family (because of his ambition or ego), certainly the scenes in which the monster wants to be part of the cottage family would be key to that main idea--but you might not review the pertinent scenes as evidence until late in your paper..

 

OPTION TWO: DARWIN 

Darwin--a moderately devout man himself--well knew that Origin of Species would be attacked upon various grounds, especially for its supposed impiety.  In what ways do you see Darwin anticipating a less than receptive audience, an audience that will feel its traditional beliefs are being challenged?  Consider not only the sequence of chapters (why does he begin with domestic or artificial selection?), but also specific passages (e.g., the famous "Tree of Life" passage on page 74 or the concluding passage on pages 120-121).  How do you account for Darwin's fairly frequent recourse to adjectives such as "wonderful" or "beautiful" when speaking of adaptations? Do not simply answer these questions one after another.  Devise your own thesis, and select suitable quotes.  Ideally, your paper should show that you understand 1) the relationship of Darwin's theory to the intellectual currents of the historical period in which he was writing, 2) Darwin's basic argument, and 3) the strategic or rhetorical ways in which he conveys his argument.

 

OPTION THREE: DARWIN 

Ponder Darwin's theory of the processes that account for evolution.  Does his theory have implications for the way we human beings see ourselves?  Does it challenge any of the assumptions we make about human beings and our relationship with the natural world?  What difficulties or dilemmas does his theory pose for us?  The previous questions should lead you to reflect (brainstorm!) upon some of the psychological, ethical, religious, social, and/or philosophical issues or ramifications of Darwin's theory (try not to get preoccupied with "Social Darwinism"--which is mostly a discredited school of thought).  Again, it is up to you to come up with a viable thesis and structure for your essay (don't just answer my questions!).  Obviously, you will need to address issues not directly referred to in Origin of Species; nonetheless, your essay should reflect a sure grasp of Darwin's theory, and should cite specific passages as occasion warrants.

 

OPTION FOUR: LOCKE AND MARX 

Both Locke and Marx are concerned about the value of our laboring activity.  Write an essay on labor’s value, which substantially uses and analyzes Locke’s and Marx’s notions.  This is NOT a comparative paper, but rather an essay focusing on an ethical, political, and/or philosophical issue that requires you to “consult,” as it were, two great thinkers on the subject.  If you wrote on Locke previously, you may still do this topic—but do not substantially use portions of your previous essay.