Writing Sample on Frege

[DoubleHelixx]

Greetings philosophy students, 

 

I'm applying to graduate programs for Fall 2014 and I need some advice regarding my writing sample. 

 

I will probably submit my undergraduate thesis on Frege's three seminal works, "The Thought: A Logical Inquiry," "Concept and Object," and "On Sense and Reference," as my writing sample. My thesis is a serious interpretation of the epistemological and metaphysical projects he pursues in these works. 

 

Some universities, like Brown, indicate that a good writing sample "...addresses a substantial philosophical problem, whether it amounts to a critical evaluation of an argument or a serious attempt to interpret difficult philosophical texts." My question is, does my writing sample count as a serious attempt to interpret difficult philosophical text? What counts as difficult philosophical text? To me, most of them are difficult. I'm not so sure, so I really appreciate advice from anyone here. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

 

 

[philstudent1991]

I think that sounds like a promising project. Just make sure you look into more nuanced issues in the text and not just point out obvious things. This sounds obvious, but the tone of an undergraduate paper tends to be synoptic and introductory, and that is unlikely to impress so make sure it's on a higher level than that.

[thelonious23]

I think the above poster is right--it's better to wrestle carefully with a specific problem than give an overview. That said, you want to show that you are comfortable with philosophical language and capable of making a contribution to a debate. My best advice, though, is to make your paper as interesting as possible in the first two pages. Don't let the really good stuff come too late because it might not even get read.