How To Read a Philosophy Paper
Writing a Philosophy Paper: See How the Sausage is Made!
In this piece, I thought I would explain a little bit about how I go about reading philosophy papers. Papers written in the discipline of philosophy have some unique characteristics that make them different from other academic work. This means that reading a paper is going to require different mental muscles, and require different modes of thought than one might be used to, especially if you’re coming from a STEM program. This is not, by any means, a comprehensive look at how to read philosophy, but it should give you an idea about how I go about my philosophical work.
Sections: The Principle of Charity / Making Your Opponent’s Argument / Symbols in Analytic Philosophy / Figuring Out What’s Important
The Principle of Charity
There is one rule that philosophers adhere to above all when it comes to reading and evaluating the work of others: The Principle of Charity. Simply put, the principle of charity means that any time I am reading or evaluating the work of others, I am always giving the author the benefit of the doubt. For me, this has three components: