Introduction to Philosophy

Essay Topic
Background

A long debate concerning human beings is about the role of nature or nurture. The classic philosophical understanding argues that there is an essential nature associated with being human. The Essentialist view argues that human nature is determined by a set of necessary and sufficient properties of humanness (essence preceded existence in classic philosophy). The alternative Nomological view contends that human nature is a set of properties derived from the evolution of the species human. So we are not essentially human but we become human. The introductory explanation from the URL below sets the scene for the type of essay we would like you to write.

https://philosophicaldisquisitions.blogspot.com/2017/08/does-human-nature-exist-on-philosophy.html

Your essay will defend one of the propositions below concerning whether nature or nurture plays the most significant role for a human being.

Proposition 1

This essay contends that Nature plays the primary role in the formation of human beings.

Proposition 2

This essay contends that Nurture plays the primary role in the formation of human beings.

Structure

You must structure your essay according to the guidelines provided in the Essay Marking

Rubric on Blackboard, namely:

• Introduction (including ‘thesis statement’)
• Main argument (‘justification for the thesis’)
• Counterargument (‘primary objection’)
• Response to counterargument (‘reply to primary objection’)
• Conclusion

References and Referencing

You must reference all of your sources using either Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition or the referencing style of your own School, including page numbers and a full Bibliography.

Reference List

The following sources will assist you to develop your argument. Please access them via Blackboard or the library portal. They cover a range of theoretical perspectives and practical approaches to the topic. You must use at least three of them. In addition, you can use two of your own references. Note that these references must be scholarly references, primarily journal articles or academic books, and peer reviewed. You can find these references through the University’s Library website. As well, you may use any of the CORE 1010 learning materials provided in Blackboard. The reference for one of the course’s slideshows is, for example: Lesson 7 Does Politics Matter? (2022). CORE 1010, University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle). The in-text reference would be: (Lesson 7, CORE 1010, 2022)