Defining Philosophy

A. Directions

Step 1: Review the Course Touchstones

Review Touchstones 1.1 and 1.2 to determine how this Touchstone Task will be used and to learn more about the graded assignments. Return to this page to continue your Touchstone Task.

Step 2: Answer Reflection Questions

Use this Touchstone Task to begin practicing philosophical inquiry. Remember that philosophy is a unique field of study that requires critical thinking and open dialogue. The journey in answering philosophical questions is as important as the conclusions.

Download the and answer the following reflection questions:

• Question 1: What philosophy question resonates most deeply with you from Challenge 1.1?
• Question 2: What are the most significant differences between philosophy and other academic disciplines?
• Question 3: What are the differences between an ‘opinion’ and a ‘philosophical argument?’
• Question 4: Have you taken time to understand each Ancient Greek philosophers ideas presented in the course material, and can you write a brief and accurate summary of their ideas?

Take a few minutes to consider each question before answering. Your writing does not have to be formal for this Touchstone Task; it can be spontaneous and flow without concern for structure or grammar. The point here is to think and be expressive. The more structured philosophical arguments will come in the graded Touchstone assignments.

Make sure your responses are supported by information from the Sophia tutorials.

HINT

To build the skill of correctly citing your sources in academic writing, you will cite the Sophia tutorials you use to support your responses in your graded Touchstones and include a reference page. Because all of your sources will be Sophia tutorials, the in-text and reference page citations will look like this:

• In-text citation: (Sophia Learning, n.d.)
• Reference: Sophia Learning. (n.d.). Why Study Philosophy? [Benefit to Society]. Ancient Greek Philosophers.

You will adjust your reference page citations to identify the specific tutorials you are referencing. Visit the resource for more assistance.

Step 3: Review Checklist ans Submit

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Upload and submit your Touchstone Task once it meets these guidelines.

1. Review Touchstone 1.1 and 1.2

Did you review Touchstones 1.1 and 1.2 to determine how this Touchstone Task will be used?

Did you review Touchstones 1.1 and 1.2 to learn more about the overall assignments?

Did you review Touchstones 1.1 and 1.2 to see how you will be graded?

2. Reflection Questions

Have you answered the four reflection questions?

Have you given yourself the space for authentic reflection?

B. Requirements

While this assignment is ungraded, we recommend you practice the following conventions, which are required for graded Touchstones:

• Composition must be 1 page (approximately 200-300 words), double-spaced, with one-inch margins.
• Use a readable 12-point font.
• Composition must be original and written for this assignment, and all writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
• Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.