What I want you to do
Please carefully read through the instructions below under “How I want you to do it.” Then, write a three-paragraph essay (600-900 words) that analyzes whether anger or kindness is a virtue.
Why I want you to do it
Philosophy is a writing-centric discipline. However, writing is a complex skill that requires practice over time. Good philosophical writing requires you to be able to:
Accurately & charitably summarize the views of the philosophers we learn about
Apply their views to your own life or other situations
Compare and contrast different philosophical views
Evaluate whether or not a view is true or false, giving reasons for and against it
Argue for your own beliefs by identifying the reasons why you think they are true
That’s a lot of things! Since I expect that all of you are new to philosophical writing, we are going to break it down into more manageable chunks. In this writing exercise, you will be practicing just the first and last things on this list: accurately and charitably summarizing someone else’s view and then giving reasons for your own beliefs. This will help prepare you for more complex writing assignments later on in this course.
What employable skills will you practice
Being able to summarize a complicated subject clearly and concisely in spoken or written form is extremely useful in the workforce. For instance, imagine that you’ve been caring for a patient with complex medical issues over a long shift, or that you’re trying to problem-solve. In these kinds of scenarios, being able to break down something complex into the most essential elements and explain it clearly to another person is necessary for communication.
How I want you to do it
Choose ONE of the prompts below. I’m assuming you will choose the prompt you discussed in your discussion group, but you are not strictly required to stick with the same prompt. You can change your mind if your original choice isn’t working for you.
Then, write a 600-900 word essay that is divided into three parts according to the instructions below. Your essay does not need an introduction or conclusion; it is so short and so clearly structured that they are not necessary.
Prompt 1:
If you choose this prompt, you must read Audre Lorde’s essay “The Uses of Anger (Links to an external site.)” and cite it in your essay.
Paragraph 1: Summarize what a virtue is and how we acquire virtues. You can choose to focus on Aristotle’s account of virtue or you can choose to follow more modern perspectives on virtue.
Paragraph 2: Summarize the reasons for thinking that anger is a virtue and the reasons for thinking it is not. You should briefly discuss Lorde’s views in this paragraph although you are encouraged to consider other perspectives on anger in this paragraph as well.
Paragraph 3: Give your own view: Do you think anger could ever be a virtue or play a role in a virtuous life? If yes, describe what anger as a virtue looks like and how a person acquires it. If not, give your reader reasons for thinking that anger is not a virtue.
Prompt 2:
If you choose this prompt, you must read Rebekah Taussig’s essay “Here’s Why Kindness Towards Disabled People is More Complicated Than You Think .”
Paragraph 1: Summarize what a virtue is and how we acquire virtues. You can choose to focus on Aristotle’s account of virtue or you can choose to follow more modern perspectives on virtue.
Paragraph 2: Summarize the concerns Taussig raises about kindness. Why does she think something so apparently innocent and virtuous is actually complicated and potentially harmful?
Paragraph 3: Give your own view: Do you think that kindness is a virtue? If so, describe what the virtue of kindness looks like and how a person acquires it. Is there a way to reenvision kindness in order to avoid the concerns Taussig raises? Regardless of what you think, be sure to give reasons for why you think as you do. You should write as if you were writing to one of your classmates, which means you will need to explain any technical terms or confusing ideas. Don’t assume that your audience is well-versed in philosophy and will automatically understand.
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