Assignment: Martha Nussbaum
A Quadrant Format for Research on Philosophers[1]
The quadrant format provides a framework to develop, organize and write a research paper. The four quadrants are: biography, context, analysis, and reflection regarding a philosopher, male or female, and past or present.
1. BIOGRAPHICAL: The biographical study emphasizes the activist/philosopher's life and greatly enriches the understanding of his/her work. It is a chronology of the philosopher's development
Research questions
• Full name
• Birth and death dates
• Education, formal or informal
• Significant Relationships?
• What events, incidents or challenges had a positive or negative effect upon this individual?
1. CONTEXTUAL: The contextual study emphasizes the individual's social context; the time and place of the person. It is an approach that examines how the person's life and work reflects feminist issues regarding culture, ethnicity, religion and society.
Research questions
• What prevailing ideas and beliefs were either rejected and/or embodied in the individual's body of work?
• What kind of gender, religious, socioeconomic, political, and nationalistic and forces shaped this individual's character?
• What significant historical events, if any, had an effect upon her work?
• If her work was challenged or opposed: By whom? Why and when?
1. ANALYSIS: The quadrant explores philosophy as a tool of inquiry that involves analysis, interpretation, synthesis and narrative. Research is a thinking, reflective, stylistic, and textual process.
Considerations
• What did you find represents the individual's central idea or issue?
• Are such views liberal, moderate, or radical? Did the individual speak to a particular era, society, socio-economic group etc?
• Was it difficult for the individual's social circles or society to accept? Why or why not?
1. CONCLUSION: You're conclusion.
Considerations
• What meaning does the individual's ideas/work have for you?
• Does this particular thinker connect to your life?
• Does it make you more aware of yourself and your world?
• Do you believe that your individual deserves to be better known?
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.