Describe topic, state thesis, and summarize how you will argue for the thesis. Outline what has been argued or said about the issue in the literature in so far as this serves as a backdrop against which you can present your original argument. Provide your philosophical reasons for your thesis.

Is the unexamined life worth living?

(1) Introduction: describe topic, state thesis, and summarize how you will argue for the thesis. Don’t say anything else like “for thousands of years human beings have been…” Length: 1/8 to ¼ of paper. (In a four page paper = half a page.)

 (2) Explication: outline what has been argued or said about the issue in the literature in so far as this serves as a backdrop against which you can present your original argument. Length: ¼ to 1/3 of your paper. (In a four page paper = one page.)

 (3) Main Argument: provide your philosophical reasons for your thesis. This argument should be different from what you relate in your explication section. Argument should be deductive, valid, and not obviously unsound. Avoid simply stating your opinion, or what you agree with in the literature: such is not an argument. Length: ¼ to 1/3 of your paper. (In a four page paper = one page.)

 (4) Response to Objections. Choose one or two objections to respond to. Good objections seize on a misreading of your argument or some common misconception. Your job is to articulate the objection and respond to it so as to strengthen your argument. If the criticism is so good that you do not know how to respond to it, you should probably change your main argument. Keep in mind ways to ruin the objection section: continue on as though the objection section means that you get to object to the view you are criticizing, respond to objections not of your argument but to some philosophical theses opposed to what you are criticizing that is distinct from your argument. Length: ¼ to 1/3 of your paper. (In a four page paper = one page.)

 (5). Summarize your case for your thesis and tie up any loose ends. Length: 1/8 to ¼ of paper. (In a four page paper = half a page.)

TOPIC:Is the unexamined life worth living? According to Socrates, it is not. Socrates does not consider any counterarguments to his famous claim in the Apology. In this paper, defend or criticize the claim that the unexamined life is not worth living via philosophical argument.