Q Instructions Choose one of the 6 prompts below and write 1000 - 1500 words in response. Pretend your audience is someone interested in Modern philosophical thought but actually knows nothing about it. How would you explain it? What necessary items would you have to touch on? What makes the thinker or the concept you discuss in your essay philosophical, rational, empirical, or transcendental? 1. How would a rationalist argue for the existence of knowledge? What questions might the rationalist have to account for from an empirical point of view? 2. How would an empiricist argue for the existence of knowledge? What questions might the empiricist have to account for from a rationalist point of view? 3. What is the image of God Descartes is working with? Is this a different image than most people would recognize? What is Descartes' proof of God's existence? 4. How does Hobbes account for the creation of society and laws? What are the strongest advantages of this explanation? What are its disadvantages? 5. What is the problem of induction, and how does Hume challenge us to explain our prediction of future events from past observations? 6. How does Kant answer the challenge of empirical philosophy and, specifically, the challenge to the very concept of causation by Hume? Things I will be looking for in your essays while I grade them: • Is the question answered? • Are philosophical concepts proficiently explained? • Are technical terms defined? • Can the explained philosophy relate to everyday life? (examples are used) • Is the paper well-organized and clearly written? Rubric Name: Essay Option Rubric Print Rubric Criteria Needs Improvement 1 point Basic 2 points Competent 3.5 points Proficient 4.75 points Mastery 5 points Criterion Score The question prompt is proficiently answered Score of The question prompt is proficiently answered, / 5 Philosophical concepts are proficiently explained Score of Philosophical concepts are proficiently explained, / 5 Technical terms are proficiently defined and explained Score of Technical terms are proficiently defined and explained, / 5 The explained philosophy relates to examples and experiences in everyday life Score of The explained philosophy relates to examples and experiences in everyday life, / 5 The paper is proficiently organized and clearly written Score of The paper is proficiently organized and clearly written, / 5 Total Score of Essay Option Rubric, / 25 ________________________________________ Overall Score Level 1 0 points minimum Level 2 5 points minimum Level 3 8 points minimum Level 4 11 points minimum