PAPER TOPICS 2 (medium paper I): REL 407/507 Bull in the China Shop

Due Tuesday, Feb 2 in class.

* Three pages: Not more than 1000 words (You may use parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual references.)
* I encourage you to discuss these topics with one another.
* Be sure to write your name, the name of the class, and the title of your topic at the top of the page.
* I also strongly encourage you to read the essays on my Writing web pages, especially "Four Keys to Writing in the Humanities," "Paper Writing Guidelines," "Checklist for Papers," "Writing: The Bridge between Consciousness and Unconsciousness," and "Clauses and Commas."
* Choose only one of the topics below.

*You MUST include direct quotations and/or page references from the readings to provide textual evidence in your papers.

Animal Ethics

1. David Petersen, interviewed by Jeremy Lloyd in "The Good Hunter," and Marti Kheel, in "The Killing Game," argue opposite sides of the hunting question, yet they agree on certain issues such as that subsistence hunting should not be considered the object of a critique on hunting. Examine three points on which they disagree, and discuss who makes the stronger case and why.

Mencius and King Hsuan (Mencius 1A7)

2. Examine Mencius's view of oxen in 1A7 and in relation to his view of human nature and ritual practice. Refer to two readings concerning animal ethics from Week 2 to illuminate your examination.

3. Take two of the theories of animal ethics discussed among the articles from Week 2, such as rights, utility, contractarian, and care to discuss Mencius' view of oxen. Do either or both of these theories apply, and to what extent? Are there problems with Mencius' views?

Zhuangzi and Cook Ding

4. Examine Zhuangzi's view of carving oxen as foundi the episode of Cook Ding (pp. 45-47) in relation to his view of nature, Dao and skillfulness. Refer to two readings concerning animal ethics from Week 2 to illuminate your examination.

5. Take two of the theories of animal ethics discussed among the articles from Week 2, such as rights, utility, contractarian, and care to discuss Mencius' view of oxen. Do either or both of these theories apply, and to what extent? Are there problems with Zhuangzi's views?

Mencius and Zhuangzi

6. Compare and contrast the views concerning concerning oxen found in Mencius 1A7 and the episode of Cook Ding in the Zhuangzi (pp. 45-47). Are there any points of possible agreement?

7. Compose a dialogue in which Mencius and Zhuangzi, referring to Mencius 1A7 and the episode of Cook Ding in the Zhuangzi (pp. 45-47), respectively, discuss their views of the oxen. Although this is an imaginary dialogue, you MUST use direct quotations and/or page references from the readings to substantiate your ideas.

Evolution of Ideas

8. Relate what you wrote about in your first paper to Mencius and/or Zhuangzi's views of oxen/animals. Discuss how these texts/thinkers have changed or affected the views and/or experiences expressed in the first paper. What are some points in these texts/thinkers that you disagree with or that trouble you? If you choose to write on this topic relating your first essay to the readings, then please resubmit your first essay along with your second paper. You MUST use direct quotations and/or page references from the readings to substantiate your ideas.