Write a 1500-2000-word, thesis-driven essay on one of the following topics in the intersection of world literature and philosophy.

Learning Goal: I’m working on a philosophy multi-part question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Write a 1500-2000-word, thesis-driven essay on one of the following topics in the intersection of world literature and philosophy. Writing a good philosophy paper usually requires significant time and effort. This task is manageable if you write the paper in stages. I propose the following timetable.

• Start working on an outline or a draft today or within the next few The sooner the better.
• Finish your outline or draft by 11:59 PM on 10/13 and submit it on Canvas>Assignments>Paper One for a peer review. (At this stage, I will not be grading your draft or outline but will check that you have completed the draft and peer-review assignment.) Failure to participate in the peer-review session will result in a 5-point deduction. Also, note that I’d be happy to look at an outline or a précis of your paper during office hours, but I cannot read drafts if you’d like me to grade your paper blindly.
• Revise your draft in light of your peer’s feedback and submit it by 11:59 PM on 10/23/22 and submit it on Canvas>Assignments>Paper One. You may use your one-day extension; no permission or notification is required. Canvas will automatically timestamp your submission, and I will track whether you’ve used your extension.

Your paper should be anonymized and typewritten using a legible font and font size. I strongly discourage you from consulting any external sources in crafting your paper, as this is not a research paper. If you must, be sure to explain precisely how you have used them. Your paper should be anonymized and typewritten using a legible font and font size. Any citation format (APA/MLA/Chicago, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is used consistently throughout. You need not give your paper a title; it suffices to indicate to which prompt you are responding.

Topics:

1. Knowledge and Ignorance

We have it on the authority of Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living (Apology 38a5–6). Yet, conventional wisdom would seem to recommend a different attitude; it tells us that ignorance is bliss. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the king of Thebes confronts a choice between these two alternatives. In your view, does knowledge have any intrinsic value, or do you agree with Tiresias that knowledge is dreadful when it brings no gain? Defend your answer by using ample textual evidence from Oedipus Rex and one or more philosophical theories studied in the course. In your response, please address the following considerations.

(i) Do you believe that Oedipus decides correctly in choosing to pursue the truth about his origin, even if such knowledge implies his doom?

(ii) Suppose that Oedipus is not the king of Thebes. Should his decision to inquire into his past remain unchanged, or is it permissible for Oedipus, the commoner, to believe in his innocence without sufficient evidence?

(iii) Consider at least one objection to your position and reply to the objection.

2. Moral Luck

Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex presents us with an exemplary demonstration of the phenomenon philosophers dub moral luck. In your view, can Oedipus be held responsible for his vile deeds and tragic end, especially since he appears to be a victim of moral luck on several dimensions? Defend your answer by using ample textual evidence from Oedipus Rex and one or more philosophical theories studied in the course. In your response, please address the following considerations.

i. Explain moral luck and why it is problematic for moral assessment.

ii. Clarify how, exactly, moral luck is operative in Oedipus Rex.

iii. Consider at least one objection to your position and reply to the objection.

3. Death and Immortality

The Epic of Gilgamesh contains many valuable insights into the human condition. Perhaps most prominent among these is the human struggle against death and aspiration for immortality. In your view, are Gilgamesh’s fear of death and longing for immortality justified? Defend your answer by using ample textual evidence from The Epic of Gilgamesh and one or more philosophical theories studied in the course. In your response, please address the following considerations.

i. Analyze the cause of Gilgamesh’s fear of death.

ii. Assess the significance of the epic’s conclusion in light of Gilgamesh’s inevitable failure to obtain immortality.

iii. Consider at least one objection to your position and reply to the objection.