2.6: Paper option

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First, please read Jim Pryor’s “Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper” at http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

Assignment

For an audience unfamiliar with any of the material of this course, write a short paper where you present and discuss the most important arguments for the view that some animals have minds. Be specific about what kinds of animals you are discussing, what you mean by “minds,” and explain the variety of reasons why someone should believe that these animals have minds. Although this might seem like “common sense,” people have doubted that animals have minds; therefore, explain the best or most common objections to the view that animals have minds, i.e., arguments that animals do not have minds. Explain what you think people should think about this issue and why.