| HPS 0628 | Paradox | |
An Intriguing
Paradox
Due in Canvas: Monday December 13, 11:59pm.
1000 words
Topic selection
Due in Canvas: Thursday November 18, 5pm
See below for "Project" option added November 4 2021.
Your term paper should be written on a paradox that you find intriguing.
Your paper must present material not already covered in the lectures
or course book.
For this reason you are best advised to write about a paradox not already
covered in the class. If you do choose one we have covered in class, note
that your grade will depend entirely on the extent to which you add
substantial novel content beyond the class material.
The paradox itself should raise an issue of some substance that
requires careful deliberation and analysis.
Minor puzzles are not suitable.
Your paper must present novel text written specifically for this
class.
Because of the breadth of the assignment, you may find you already have
something written for another class that suits the assignment. You may not
"recycle" text written for another class. The point of this assignment is
for you to do new research and write new text.
The following should be in your paper:
1. A clear statement of paradox. Identify the type of paradox. Is it a true logical contradiction? Or is it one whose absurdity is only apparent?
2. An account of the origin and history of paradox, in so far as it is identifiable. (Do try here to find the history--all significant paradoxes have histories.)
3. A resolution of the paradox, in so far as one is available; or, fail that, a compendium of possible resolutions.
On 2: exploring the history can be surprising fun. We generally assume that when a paradox was first introduced, its significance was pretty much the same as the one we now assign to it. That is often the case. But there is no assurance of it. Sometimes the paradox was introduced with quite different purposes. Zeno is an obvious case. We now treat Zeno's paradoxes as an invitation to clarify our ideas about infinity. Zeno, apparently, thought they established that all change is illusion; or at least it was a challenge to those was think change is real.
A brief statement of the selected topic is due in Canvas, on Thursday November 18 by 5pm. Submit it as one paragraph of writing. 1/10th of the term paper grade is assigned for submitting a suitable statement on time. (These are easy points earned just for being on time!)
Consult with me if you are uncertain over the idea or need assistance in locating a suitable one.
The paper should be headed with your name, the title of the paper and the course to which it is being submitted. The paper should have an introduction and conclusion and be divided into appropriately headed sections. A standard system for footnoting and for referencing your sources must be adopted and used consistently throughout. Consult a guide on writing term papers if you are unsure of such systems.
We expect your writing to be clear and simple. That applies both to the thoughts expressed and the words used. The thoughts should develop naturally in small, clear steps. The wording should be plain and direct and the sentences short. There is no gain in a big word, when a little one will do. We expect proper grammar and correct spelling and will penalize major excursions.
Your paper is to be submitted in Canvas and will be scrutinized by the "Turnitin" plagiarism checker. Be sure you understand the appropriate use of sources. As is standard in all academic writing, the wording of your paper should be your own; it should not be copied or paraphrased even loosely from another source. If you are uncertain over the correct use of sources, see this Guide.
Instead of the term paper, as an experiment this year, I am inviting proposals for projects relating to paradoxes. The project must require at least as much work at the 1000 word paper. The deadlines are as above:
• Submit a proposal in Canvas by Thursday November 18, 5pm at the latest.
(If you are choosing this option, I strongly urge you to talk to me before
November 18.)
• Submission of the final proposal in some form by Monday December 13,
11:59pm, preferably in some manner through Canvas.
On the selection of the project, I am prepared to consider whatever you propose. The main restriction is that the project has to relate to paradoxes as they are treated in this course. Possibilities include:
• A video presentation of a paradox.
• A video game based on a paradox. (e.g can
you program the 15 puzzle along with a parity count, so players can see
the hopelessness of arriving at a configuration with a different
parity?)
• A work of visual art that depicts a paradox in an interesting way.
• Your proposal...