Assignment Two: Defining Divinity

Epictetus and Genesis 22

Fall 2012

Introduction

In urging us to confine our desires to what is up to us, Epictetus represents a divinity that might seem contradictory to readers today. He speaks of this divinity in terms that are at once plural and singular, anthropomorphized and transcendent—distinct from both polytheistic and monotheistic notions of the divine. In Assignment 1, you accounted for many of these contradictions by defining Epictetus’s depiction of god, or gods. In this assignment, you will expand that definition by adding another point of comparison—the God we see represented in Genesis 22. Sometimes, Epictetus refers to a single divinity that, upon first glance, seems to parallel the Abrahamic God that defines the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. At other times, Epictetus’s description of gods or Zeus differs from the Abrahamic God we see described in the Torah.

Assignment

Write an essay, 5-6 pages in length, that makes a strong claim about whether Epictetus’s god is similar to, or different from, the God that we see represented in Genesis 22: 1-19, the story of how Abraham was ordered to bind and slay his beloved son.

Initial Steps in the Process

• Begin by reviewing your definition paragraph from Assignment 1. How does it characterize Epictetus’s understanding of god? After reading your instructor’s and peers’ comments, ask yourself: how might that definition be revised? Does your definition need to be clarified? Expanded? Complicated? Focused?
• Closely read the portrayal of the Judaic God depicted in Genesis 22. While examining explicit descriptions of this God, analyze what the relationship between God and Abraham implies about God's character.
• Consider the following questions about both Epictetus and Genesis: How do humans relate and communicate with these gods? Are their gods all powerful? All good? Paternalistic? To what extent do these gods allow humans to create their own meaning and make their own decisions?
• Start with an arguable “working thesis” that can serve as a framework for your essay and collect evidence in support of that thesis
• Consider objections that readers might have to your assessment
• Revise your thesis (if necessary) and outline your argument, taking into consideration possible counterarguments.

A successful essay will include these critical elements:

1. An arguable thesis that focuses on a definition of god in Epictetus’s text.
2. A definition of terms: describing the nature of both Epictetus’s god and the god of Genesis 22.
3. Well-chosen evidence: an exposition of passages relevant to your thesis or direct citation of text.
4. Clearly articulated warrants that define how your evidence sustains your claims.
5. An accurate contextualization of Epictetus’s texts and Genesis 22, incorporating enough detail so that readers unfamiliar with these works can understand them
6. Clarification of ambiguous expressions, explaining how passages that appear to conflict with each other might be reconciled (if you think they can be).
7. A consideration of possible objections to the paper’s claims and rejoinders to those objections.

Using your Evidence

Remember that more evidence doesn’t necessarily make a better essay. Focus closely on the arguments, distinctions, and examples you consider most important, and take care to show why they are relevant to your claim. Your initial interpretation of a passage might change when you take time to reflect upon it or reconsider it in the light of other passages.

As relevance is important, so too is clarity. Beware of fancy words and stylistic flourishes that might end up causing confusion. Revise any sentence that might be interpreted in more than one way, leaving readers uncertain about exactly what you mean. If you think the text is unclear or ambiguous, try to explain why you think so. If you make a general, abstract claim, try to give an example to clarify it.

As you begin the drafting process for Assignment 2, you should review the concepts and arguments in the following chapters: Writer’s Handbook: “Warrants” (Pan); “Claims, Evidence and Warrants” (Morse); Humanities Research Module: Quiz 5; Craft of Research, chapters 10, 11.

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