Before drafting a philosophy paper, there are a few things to bear in mind. First, in philosophy, clarity trumps style. Each paragraph ought to be written so as to support your general argument and each sentence ought to support the point of its paragraph. The fun part is to make all the pieces fit neatly together. If you feel confused, take a break. Go back to your outline and the text. Are the paragraphs properly divided? Are they logically arranged? Is your terminology clear? But the most certain path to clarity is avoiding certain mistakes. This can be easily done. Here are nine of the most common ones.
1. It's Not About Feelings
‘Plato feels like universals cannot be doubted’ – We do not care about author’s feelings. In a philosophy paper, we are only interested in beliefs and/or claims that play a role in philosophical argumentation.
2. Whose Ideas?
‘I think that Plato’s argument, as he himself claims,...’ -- Avoid using the first person pronoun unless you are presenting your own point of view. However, it is usually perfectly fine to use the first person pronoun when you are presenting your ideas: check with your professor.
3. Stick to Your Labels
‘On this point, I believe Plato is mistaken for two reasons. The first way Plato is wrong...The second respect in which I think...’ – Avoid constructions that are not parallel. Stick to the labels you chose: better a repetition than confusing your readership.
4. Is the Terminology Consistent?
‘Plato insists that sensory perceptions are unreliable; therefore, such ideas are not the means to truth.’ – Be consistent with your terms. Don’t change terminology along the way unless you explain yourself. For example, in this passage, what is the relation between ‘perceptions’ and ‘ideas’? Are ideas the same as sensory perceptions or not? Words like ‘idea’ are ambiguous in several ways and they have a special philosophical significance. ‘Idea’ can be both an innate concept or a sensory perception, depending on context. Before you start tossing around such terms, explain what you mean.
5. Be Careful About Your Terms
‘One’s understanding then recognizes ....’ – Be careful about using terms that have a technical philosophical meaning. If you are talking about Plato’s take on knowledge and then suddenly toss in the quoted phrase, the philosophical reader immediately wonders what ‘understanding’ means. It is unclear whether you are referring to the mental faculty that, according to Plato, grasps the truth. So, never use a philosophical terms unless it means what you aim to write.
6. Don't Be Overtly Fancy
‘Plato considers it an a priori truth that .....’ – Avoid using fancy philosophical terms like a priori/a posteriori unless you really know what they mean. If you know what they mean, then it is usually best to explain how you are using the terms. The same philosophical term typically varies in meaning from author to author; moreover, if an author did not use a certain terminology, you have to be very careful in using it to describe the author’s view. Plato never uses the expression “ a priori”: it may be best avoiding to use it, unless you have valid reasons to do so; if the latter, then specify your reasons in the paper.
7. Say What You Mean
‘Plato claims that ... and therefore proves that ....’ - Terms like ‘claim’ and ‘prove’ are often tossed around in colloquial conversations; but they have fairly specific literal meanings in philosophy. So, avoid saying ‘Plato claims’ when you really mean that Plato suggests. Do not say ‘Plato proves X’ when you really mean ‘Plato argues for X.’ It is better to say, for instance, “This is a plausible argument for X” than to say “By such means, X is proven to be true.” Say exactly what you mean and no more. It is better to be honest than to exaggerate. Finally, make use of rhetoric and illustrations, but do not abuse of them.
8. Balance Use of Quotations
‘Plato writes: “...... [10 lines of quotation].....”’ – While it is important to support your interpretative points with punctual quotations, your philosophy paper should contain mainly your own words and not those of the philosopher you are writing about. Remember that philosophical writing is persuasive writing: you are trying to persuade your reader of a certain thesis; using other authors’ words to an unnecessary extent is not going to win you the consensus of your readership.
9. Monitor the Use of Pronouns
‘This argument is crucial to the Republic .... where it is suggested” - Which argument? Do not assume that pronouns such as ‘this’ and ‘it’ are clear when they are not and avoid overusing them. When you use ‘it’, ‘this’, ‘he’ in a sentence, always make sure you know what they are referring to. This is where reading your own work out loud becomes so important.
