IB Philosophy practice example: Paper 3 doing philosophy

So much of our lives is meaningless; we strive with the chaos about us within; but we would believe all the while that there is something vital and significant in us, were we able to decipher our own souls. We want to understand; we want to seize the value and perspective of passing things, and so to pull ourselves up out of the whirlwind of daily circumstances. We want to know that the little things are little and the big things big before it is too late; we want to see things now as they will seem forever. We want to learn to laugh in the face of the inevitable, to smile even at the looming of death. We want to be whole to coordinate our energies by criticizing and harmonizing our desires; for coordinated energy is the last word in ethics and politics and perhaps in logic and metaphysics too. To be a philosopher, said Thoreau, is not merely to have subtle thoughts nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live, according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, generosity, and trust. We may be sure that if we can find wisdom all other things will be added to us. Truth will not make us rich but it will make us free. 1.) Explain what the text is arguing for, in terms of the nature of philosophical activity.

2.) Link this to the course (the philosophy you have studied); explain the connections.

3.) Consider this view of doing philosophy in relation to your experience; does it hold true?

GRADE CRITERIA CHECK:

A LANGUAGE is your answer Organised? Coherent and focused? Making good /precise use of philosophical terms?

B EXPLORATION is you answer Identifying pertinent issues in the text? Choosing good examples to support its exploration of those issues? Drawing on the experience of doing philosophy throughout the whole course?

C RELEVANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF TEXT is your answer

Making convincing references to the text? Showing an in-depth understanding of the issues raised, about philosophy as an activity? Showing an awareness of how philosophical activity is carried out?

D EVALUATION AND PERSONAL RESPONSE is you answer Showing an insightful and thoughtful response to the issues raised in the text? Is there strong / convincing evaluation of the issues of philosophical activity, raised in the text?