Learning Objective
• Write a critical analysis of two theories of love and their relation to each
other.
Requirements
• Length: 800 – 1000 words. (1000 words is the absolute maximum – essays
that go over the limit will not be accepted.)
• Academic Integrity: Write in your own words using your own ideas.
• Quotations: No more than 10% quotations from the original source
(Hesiod or Sappho). Put direct quotations in quotation marks and provide
an in-text citation: (Poet’s name, textbook page number). Do not quote
lecture notes.
• Writing: Use grammatically correct complete sentences and paragraphs;
do not use point form.
• Formatting: Assignment must be typed, double-spaced, in Word or PDF; 1”
margins; NO pictures, illustrations, or colour; use Ariel or Times New Roman
font
• Electronic submissions – NO cover page, NO headers or footers.
• Refer to philosophers by their surnames, not first names (unless they have only
one name).
Topics – Choose one of the following topics:
1. Compare Aristotle’s account of erotic love in his discussion of friendship in
Nicomachean Ethics with Plato’s discussion of erotic love in the “Speech
of Aristophanes” from Symposium.
2. Use Nygren’s distinction between eros and agape to examine Plato’s
theory of love in the “Speech of Socrates” from Symposium.
3. Compare Heloise’s view of romantic love with Beauvior’s.
Structure
• Paragraph 1: Include 3 thesis statements – main thesis, (stating your
position on, criticism of, evaluation of the issue raised by these two
theories) and two sub-theses summarizing or encapsulating the main
argument/point of each of the two theories discussed. You should state all
three theses in your opening paragraph and show their relation to each
other.
For example:
Aristotle argues that erotic love does not lead to happiness
because it is based on appetite. Beauvoir argues that romantic love
(similar to erotic love in ways I will discuss) does not lead to
happiness because of gender inequality. I will argue that they have
both underestimated the power of erotic or romantic love to lead to
human happiness.
Do NOT include vague generalizations – e.g. “Throughout history, people
have wondered about the nature of love….” This does no philosophical
work; it does not show your understanding or advance your argument;
instead, it wastes your reader’s time.
• Body (Succeeding Paragraphs): Discuss the relevant points and
arguments of each theory to demonstrate your understanding of it. Strive
to present a clear and well-organized explanation of the relevant portion of
the theory rather than a random list of points whose relation to each other
is not made clear. There is no requirement about how to organize the
discussion of the two theories, except to develop a logical progression of
ideas.
• Conclusion: Draw a brief conclusion about the issues in the topic you have
chosen showing why they are important.
• Secondary Sources: You do not need and are not encouraged to consult
secondary sources. But if you do – and that means if you read anything
more than the two articles named in the topic – then even if you do not
quote them directly, you must provide a bibliography listing all sources you
have read and you must cite any material you paraphrase or quote in APA
format. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism and will be heavily
penalized.
