Nikki Dutro

PHIL 213 Paper #1

A thesis is the main point of any argument being made. In detail, a thesis is a
claim or statement that must be defended as the central argument the writer is
trying to make.1 A thesis may be either true or false.
An argument offers reasons in support of your conclusion. It provides
supporting detail for the thesis presented and/or proves an opponent wrong. The
ultimate goal of an argument is to present premises that, if accepted, one ought to
accept the arguments conclusion.2
The Liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto scene of Steven Spielbergs Schindlers
List is a pivotal moment in the movie that signifies Oskar Shindlers transformation
from an opportunistic businessman into a compassionate hero. The evidence for this
claim is a comparison between the scenes prior to and after the Liquidation of the
Krakow Ghetto. Previously, Schindler accepted Jews into his camp because they cost
less to pay then Poles and when it is revealed that his accountant, Itzhak Stern, is
hiring Jews who would otherwise be deemed non-essential to the war effort to help
them escape the concentration camps he is angered. After witnessing the horrifying
event that occurs in this scene, Schindler is more willing to lend aid to Sterns
efforts and Jews who come to his offices asking for help. This sharp contrast in
habits demonstrates that Schindler has had a change of perspective. Schindler
viewed Jews as a resource prior to witnessing the massacre of the Krakow Ghetto.
After witnessing the massacre, he became a more helpful and active force in
rescuing Jews by hiring them to his factory. If this is true, then it is true that
Schindler was affected by the events he witnessed enough to sway his actions and
begun performing more acts that would be deemed heroic.
1. University of Richmond. "Guidelines for Writing a Strong Philosophy
Paper." Writing in the Disciplines: Philosophy. Accessed January 23, 2015.
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/philosophy/guidelines.html.
2. Pryor, Jim. "Philosophical Terms and Methods." Jim Pryor. Last modified
January 10, 2009. Accessed January 23, 2015.
http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/vocab/argument.html.