PHILOSOPHY - SKILL 4

HOW TO JUSTIFY A THESIS

In this topic we are going to work on different philosophical positions on ethics. As you
probably know by now, to answer a philosophical question in a philosophical way does
not merely mean to say “yes” or “no”, but to give reasons to justify the answer, to
prove that the answer is right. Therefore, when we study philosophy is not only
important to know what philosophers have said in response to a question, but which
reasons they had to think so.

Briefly, a philosophical position is not just a particular answer to a philosophical

question, but all the reasons there are to prove that this answer or thesis is right or
plausible. When we are asked to justify some philosophical position we have to be able
to reproduce these reasons.

Let's summarize the most elementary steps to be followed to justify:

1. Understand the question: all philosophical positions are an answer to some

question. It is essential to know which is this question to clearly understand the scope
of the answer.

2. Understand the thesis: when we are asked to justify a thesis we are not asked for
our own opinion. Even if we disagree with a certain philosophical position, we have to
be able to explain the reasons it presents to justify itself.

3. Provide arguments: Make sure you are not only repeating the thesis! As in your own
argumentations, when you are asked to justify you must get into the arguments:
provide compelling reasons to make the thesis you are asked to prove believable.
Make sure that structure your answer is well structured. Get deep into the reasons
that support the thesis, to avoid your justification being superficial and weak.
PHILOSOPHY - SKILL 4
HOW TO EVALUATE ARGUMENTATION
 
The justification supports the
thesis by giving convincing
reasons and getting deep in
justifying it.
The justification shows that
the student has understood
the philosophical position by
giving rigorous reasons.
There are no personal
interpretations.
The justification is effective
and deep. The text uses
connectors to emphazise the
argumentative structure.
The justification tries to
support the thesis, but the
reasons are superficial and
not convincing.
The justification shows that
the student hasn’t correctly
understood the scope of the
philosophical position. The
key concepts and the
reasons are not rigorous.
The justification is not deep
enough. The answer doesn’t
have an strong structure.

The justification doesn’t
justify the thesis at all, it just
keeps repeating the thesis
without getting into the
reasons.
The justification shows that
the philosophical position
has not been understood.
It is hard to identify the
arguments in the
justification. The texts lacks
of structure.