Paper Ideas

 Are you having trouble writing sections 3 and 4 of your paper?

_________________________

Structure #1--

• A (nobody doing this)
• C (HOT vs. Global Workspace)
• E (Sentience vs. Dawkins)

In Section 4 you will "adjudicate"--you will point out problems with the first view and problems with the second view and then pick the winner--the view with the fewest problems.

Structure #2--

• B (Godfrey-Smith)
• D (Shriver)
• F (DeGrazia)

In Section 3 you make objections to the view. In Section 4 you will consider how the author would respond and assess whether your objections can be overcome.

_________________________

Problems, objections--how to find them

1. Relevant blog post and class discussion should be starting point
2. Read, read, read...the more closely you examine the reading, the more you will think of problems.
3. People make many arguments--focus on the one for which you CAN think of an objection

_________________________

Types of objections

"This isn't clear"

1. Topic B--Godfrey-Smith says agency (in animals) makes sentience emerge. You say....

"I've got a counterexample"

1. Topic E--Dawkins says we can assess animal welfare solely in light of wants and health, not sentience. You say....

"Not enough proof"

1. Topic D--Shriver cites evidence that animals without ACC still have sensory pain, but not affective pain.  You say....

"This would lead to something bad"

1. Topic E--Birch and Browning say we should apply the Precautionary Principle. You say...
2. Topic D--Shriver favors genetically engineering animals without ACC, so without affective pain.  You say...

"This implies something truly absurd, so it can't be true" (Reductio Ad Absurdum)

1. Topic C--Gennero's views implies there is a constant clutter of HOTs in animal brains, to make animals conscious.  You say....

"That can be interpreted in another way"

1. Topic C--Gennaro says animals have I-thoughts based on experiments involving caching birds.  You say those experiments can also be interpreted as evidence of...
2. Topic F--DeGrazia cites mirror self-recognition experiments as evidence of self-awareness. You say. those experiments can also be interpreted as evidence of....

"The author is covertly assuming something implausible"

1. Topic B--Godfrey Smith says agency added to the biology of animals makes sentience.  You say he is assuming....

"Necessary but not sufficient"

1. Topic C--Carruthers says having information in a global workplace makes it conscious.  You say....

_________________________

Developing your objection

1. Make just a few objections thoroughly
2. Back up your objection.  An objection is not just a quick "stab"--you need to argue for your objection.  
3. You might back up the objection by discussing a specific passage in an article
4. If your objection involves cases, then think of more than one
5. Don't settle on an objection without imagining what the author would say. If they have an obvious great response, the objection is too weak and not worth making.

_________________________

Structure 1--section 4 you will consider the author's response to your objection

1. If it's too obvious and compelling, you didn't really have a good objection
2. Read relevant sections repeatedly to get a better feel for the way the author would respond.