Argument Analysis #1 Prompt
Augustine, On the Immortality of the Soul
CPhi 200
In Chapter 16 of On the Immortality of the Soul, Augustine writes:
[All material objects such as the human body are spatially limited in some sense.]
The soul, however, is present at the same time and entire, not only in the entire
mass of its body, but also in each of its individual parts. For, it is the entire soul
that feels the pain of a part of the body, yet it does not feel it in the entire body.
When, for instance, there is an ache in the foot, the eye looks at it, the mouth
speaks of it, and the hand reaches for it. This, of course, would be impossible, if
what of the soul is in these parts did not also experience a sensation in the foot;
if the soul were not present, it would be unable to feel what has happened
there. For, it would be incredible of a messenger to announce a fact, the
occurrence of which he had not experienced. The sensation which occurs does
not run through the mass of the body by continuation in such fashion as not to
remain unnoticed by other parts of the soul which are elsewhere, but the entire
soul feels what is going on in the particular part of the foot and feels it only there
where it occurs. Hence, the entire soul is present, at one and the same time, in
the single parts, and it experiences sensation as a whole, at one and the same
time, in the single parts.
Clearly state and defend Augustine’s argument in this passage.
Specifications
This argument analysis should be 1 to 1.5 pageslong at most. To get credit, you must
use quotations from the assigned text to explain the positions and argument. Include a page
number for each quotation, and provide a list of works cited.
Try to avoid using secondary sources altogether. If you do use secondary sources, use
them only to strengthen your understanding, and even then be careful. Students sometimes
unwittingly copy internet sources, which is plagiarism.
Grading Standards
* Up to 40 points based on the following criteria: Student’s argument analysis…
1. clearly expresses the main point/conclusion of the text,
2. develops an accurate and charitable analysis of the text’s argument including support
for each crucial premise of the argument,
3. uses 2-3 properly cited, relevant quotations from the text,
4. uses standard English, proper formatting, etc. (1-inch margins, 12-point Times New
Roman font, in-text citations, MLA-style works cited entry, etc.) Please MLA format. and take quotations from the book that i upload. Please no plagiarism