You are supposed to write an essay on both topics. You do not have to follow the five-paragraph essay structure. Just answer questions 1 and 2. Consider starting your essay with a four-sentence introduction summarizing your answers to questions 1 and 2.Consider starting your essay with a four-sentence introduction summarizing your answers to questions 1 and 2.
Topic 1: Compare and Contrast Van Fraassen’s and Hacking’s views on whether we observe through a microscope. (100 points total)
1. Explain (70 points total)
a. Why Van Fraassen thinks that we do not observe through a microscope and what this means for our belief in, e.g., bacteria?
b. Explain two of Hacking’s arguments for why we do observe through a microscope and what this means for our belief in, e.g., bacteria?
c. Explain why Hacking thinks his arguments do not count as instances of inference to the best explanation.
2. Evaluate one of the arguments from 1a-c (30 points)
a. You may either raise your own objection or raise and respond to your own objection.
b. Your objection will be evaluated based on originality and insight into your chosen argument.Compare and Contrast Van Fraassen’s and Hacking’s views on whether we observe through a microscope. (100 points total)
1. Explain (70 points total)
a. Why Van Fraassen thinks that we do not observe through a microscope and what this means for our belief in, e.g., bacteria?
b. Explain two of Hacking’s arguments for why we do observe through a microscope and what this means for our belief in, e.g., bacteria?
c. Explain why Hacking thinks his arguments do not count as instances of inference to the best explanation.
2. Evaluate one of the arguments from 1a-c (30 points)
a. You may either raise your own objection or raise and respond to your own objection.
b. Your objection will be evaluated based on originality and insight into your chosen argument.
Topic 2: Resnik argues that Hacking’s entity realism is not all that different from traditional theory realism
1. Explain Resnik’s THREE arguments for why this is the case. (70 points)
2. Evaluate ONE of his three arguments. (30 points)
a. You may either raise your own objection or raise and respond to your own objection.
b. Your objection will be evaluated based on originality and insight into your chosen argument.Resnik argues that Hacking’s entity realism is not all that different from traditional theory realism
1. Explain Resnik’s THREE arguments for why this is the case. (70 points)
2. Evaluate ONE of his three arguments. (30 points)
a. You may either raise your own objection or raise and respond to your own objection.
b. Your objection will be evaluated based on originality and insight into your chosen argument.