The advice, as in writing short stories, is that before you write a philosophy essay, you should read a variety. How different topics are approached. Types of essay include the expository and the argumentative.

I haven't read a philosophy essay in a while. However, I have read articles in Philosophy Now. You can read 4 for free, per month: https://philosophynow.org/

For examples of essays in a wide range of philosophy categories:
https://1000wordphilosophy.com/all-essays/

Here's an 1,000 word essay in text and audio. In Philosophy of Religion:
https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2024/11/21/james-mystical-experience/

***
I'd be interested to hear from others as to what kind of philosophy essays/articles they have read or are attracted to. Also, if they have written one recently. What are the stumbling blocks to writing or reading an essay? What puts you off? Word count?

Any recommendations for websites with thought-provoking, substantive, exploratory articles?
Looking for inspiration and some heat. It's snowing out and I'm on the point of hibernation :yawn:

I recommend a length requirement, say one page. And how do you deal with AI? Perhaps open it up to AI with each participant asking for a short essay on a particular uniform subject, but in different ways. For example, one asks for an essay "on the nature of being" and another asking "what is being". That way the contest reduces to the cleverness of the request. Just a thought. :smile: — jgill

@jgill Sorry, I only responded briefly to the important point of how to deal with or use AI.

I don't know much about it. Apparently, students are finding it extremely useful in writing essays.
Instead of practising writing skills and coming up with own ideas.

How it can be used in education as a tool in EFL:
https://educraft.tech/chatgpt-a-game-changing-powerful-ai-for-efl-5-ways-to-use-it/

How to identify use of AI in an essay:
https://educraft.tech/identifying-ai-written-essays/

@Jamal Is there a TPF policy on AI - it's use and abuse?

Yes, @fdrake had a post pinned to the top of the forum for a while quite recently.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/15480/site-rules-amendment-regarding-chatgpt-and-sourcing/p1

Extra stuff was added to the guidelines later.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/480/site-guidelines

Thanks for the links. Have taken a quick look. Excellent work by @fdrake.
I don't know how much that would affect any 'judging' in the Philosophy Activity? I've never used ChatGPT. Somehow, it makes me feel uncomfortable...

In terms of running things -- like anonymizing authors and posting submissions and intaking submissions -- I'm fine with taking over those tasks. How exactly do you do it @Jamal for the literary activity? Set up an email for submissions and then post them after a set date?

I'm fine with taking over those tasks. — Moliere

:up:

for the literary activity? — Moliere

They use PMs. But how things happen after that, not got a clue. @Baden would know.
From the OP: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/15585/literary-activity-dec-2024/p1

1) Submissions will be open until the 15th of December. The stories will then be posted and can be commented on until the 31st of December.
2) After that, one day will be allotted to "guess the author".
3) Entries must be PMed either to me or to @Noble Dust. NOT TO BOTH OF US.

Sounds good. PM's work. Probably better to keep it "in house" in terms of servers etc. So I see it working like this:

If someone PM's me their essay then I'll copy-paste it into a .txt document on my hard drive without the name of the person, in the hopes that I'll forget over time when I post it come the summer. Then on the designated date I'll post the essays with their titles (or number them if they have no titles) and we'll go from there.

If no shortcode, submissions by PM. If shortcode is necessary then via pastebin. Some have commented that pastebin is complicated to use. But it's not actually. I think it could work fine for this. Also, might be worth running midyear to balance with the literary activity.

might be worth running midyear to balance with the literary activity. — Baden

Yes. :up: Already suggested that. Month still to be decided. But I'm thinking May/June before holidays start...

Cool, thanks. I'll have to learn pastebin for thems who want shortcode.

Never used it before, but I believe you when you say it's easy to learn. I'm famliar enough with computers to figure it out, and will reach out if I can't.

I was thinking June-July, cuz May is end-of-school-year chaos for lots of people.

Oh, I didn't realise that. July is our busiest time for hols. So, May then?
May Day 1st? Sorry, June!

What about June 1st?

Yes. :up: Already suggested that. Month still to be decided. But I'm thinking May/June before holidays start... — Amity

:cool:

I'm free. Good to go :up:

So is that when all submissions should be in by?
The announcement that it is happening would be some weeks before...or what?

Never used it before, but I believe you when you say it's easy to learn. I'm famliar enough with computers to figure it out, and will reach out if I can't. — Moliere

Basically, there are a bunch of options to just ignore. All the author needs is the link to send us, which requires nothing more than pasting in the box and clicking the create button underneath. And they tick "unlisted" so their essay isn't discoverable. You would then just need to follow the link and copy-paste into a new discussion.

I was thinking after the literary activity is concluded we could put up an announcement somewhere that submissions are due by the 1st of June, then I'd post them up into a separate sub-forum like the literary activity does on the 2nd of June, and go from there.



Cool. That sounds super easy. Thanks!

No worries. It's an interesting initiative. :up:

That sounds super easy. — Moliere

Easy when you know how! :smile: I haven't tried it yet. Perhaps best to do a trial run?

Pastebin Tutorial

I was thinking after the literary activity is concluded we could put up an announcement somewhere that submissions are due by the 1st of June, then I'd post them up into a separate sub-forum like the literary activity does on the 2nd of June, and go from there. — Moliere

Excellent! :fire:

@Moliere
The announcement would include the Rules, yes?
Along the lines of the Literary Activity - but hopefully simpler:
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/15585/literary-activity-dec-2024/p1

I would almost certainly take part, but I am assuming it would not be a rigorous essay? If so then I would actually prefer to send that to a journal.

Yes, though I haven't thought about what rules to have. I'm so far willing to administer things, I don't know if I have good ideas for rules. (unsurprisingly, I rather dislike rules)

Oh yeah. "Rigor" doesn't matter, I think, insofar that there's no rejection due to rigor. It's at least a creative excercise so you don't have to appeal to what a literal journal wants. Else, as you say, why not submit it there?

I like the idea of a less rigorous and creative philosophical display -- guesses, hints, attempts, and fun sound like an uncommon niche we could fill.

I would almost certainly take part — I like sushi

:up:

I am assuming it would not be a rigorous essay — I like sushi

Well, it depends on what you mean by 'rigorous'. Previously, I suggested:

I think it would be good for both beginners and the more experienced.
To be challenged in ways other than writing in a thread. This would give people a chance to be creative and test themselves against others. Or simply for own enjoyment.That I would love to read — Amity

I think that the writing also depends on a person's approach to philosophy.
My idea would be for it to include more than the academic. There is a wide spectrum, as obvious in the threads. We are limited only by our imagination!

The variations in outlook are fascinating. The different ways of thinking.
I think it could be quite inspiring. If we take a theme, like the OPs 'Imagination' and run with it.

'Imagination’. We intend this topic to be understood broadly, so as to include related issues in any area of philosophy and from any philosophical tradition.' — Amity

@Moliere ?

I do this fairly regularly anyway. I tried to get something like this going some years back where people would write and critique each other's essays.

Somewhere in Lounge I believe?

haven't thought about what rules to have. I'm so far willing to administer things, I don't know if I have good ideas for rules. (unsurprisingly, I rather dislike rules) — Moliere

I prefer Guidance Notes. Whatever, the KISS principle works fine with me :cool:

Sweet. :) Sounds like you'd be a good contributor then. It just took some time for the idea to "catch on"

Given that this is the first day in which the idea has been taken seriously as"a thing" I'm good with keeping it as simple as our stupidity can contain.

But there's time for thinking of guidelines along the way in this thread. I wouldn't post the announcement until at least February to ensure we don't conflict with the literary activity.

Wow! Was five years ago!

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/8190/collaborative-criticism

there's time for thinking of guidelines along the way in this thread. I wouldn't post the announcement until at least February to ensure we don't conflict with the literary activity. — Moliere

Absolutely. I haven't abandoned the Literary Activity. Can't wait until the short stories are posted!
So far, reading and feedback is from the 15th - 31st December. And probably a few more days...
Then time to party and recover! :party: