Please write an essay. Each essay should be at least 300 words (more than that is fine). Please do not copy/paste the question-prompt into your submission. Instead label each of your essays simply with the capital letter (A, B) associated with each of the questions below. Avoid using quotations from secondary sources in your paper–as much as possible, everything should be described in your own words. If need be, you can quote short phrases but from primary texts only. So for example, you can quote a phrase from Descartes’ own writings (as quoted by Soccio) but not Soccio’s description of or commentary on Descartes.

Question A: Compare and contrast the philosophical approaches of Plato and Descartes, making sure to discuss their approaches to both epistemology and metaphysics. The most straightforward approach would be to write one paragraph on the commonalities (similarities) of their philosophical approaches and one paragraph on their divergences (differences) but you can organize your essay differently if you wish.

Question B: Describe and discuss one (or two) of the major critiques of the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God, and one (or two) of the major critiques of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God. Please make of use the Clack & Clack text (not just the Mitchell reading) in your answer to this question. Certain critiques may only apply to certain versions of these arguments so attend to these distinctions if necessary. If, despite these critiques, you nevertheless continue to believe in the validity and soundness of one or both of these arguments, then explain to me where (either or both of) these critiques come up short in your eyes. If, on the other hand, you agree with these critiques then give an account of that as well.