Write a three- to five-page (double-spaced) paper in which you discuss Anna Maria Van Schurman’s views on the soul (and related issues) in relation to the discussions we have had so far regarding one of the following: the medieval philosophers, Descartes, Hume, Jesuits, and/or the Tupinambá.
Your paper should have the following structure:
Abstract
Brief summary of biographical material of the non-canonical figure (no more than five sentences on your philosopher’s birth, death, country of origin, names of books written, intellectual circle, etc.)
Approximately three pages of substantive philosophical discussion that connects the two canonical and non-canonical philosophers with whom you are working.
Note: For this part of the paper, you should have a standard introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introduction, you should have a thesis; in the body you should argue for your thesis; in the conclusion you should explain what you have done in the paper.
Discussion of your answers to the following two questions
Question 1: How did studying the philosopher you chose for this project help you gain knowledge about forms and variations of human diversity found in belief systems that are not usually studied in philosophy classes about the early modern philosophical canon?
Question 2: How did studying this philosopher help you apply that knowledge to your own life and to ways in which you can contribute purposefully to the well-being of at least two of the following:
your local communities,
your nations,
to the people of the world,
to social justice,
and/or to the sustainability of the natural environment?
Note: whenever you summarize or directly quote a philosopher, you are making reference to their ideas. This is true for primary or secondary literature. In these cases, be sure to use citations to specific pages.
