Top 6 Best Essays on 'Discussion of a Philosophical or Ethical Issue' for 9th Grade

Basic Knowledge

- A discussion on a philosophical or ethical issue is an essay that presents the ideas and principles of various topics in the fields of culture, morality, lifestyle, and philosophy.

- The essay must clarify the issue being discussed by proving, explaining, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing (...) to highlight the right and wrong aspects of the issue, asserting the writer's viewpoint.

- The essay should have a clear structure with three parts, supported by logical arguments and dynamic writing.

I. Understanding the Essay on a Philosophical or Ethical Issue

Read the text [Pages 34-35 of the textbook] and answer the following questions:

a) What is the text about?

b) How can the text be divided into sections? What is the content of each section, and how do they relate to each other?

c) Mark the sentences that express the main arguments in the essay. Are these arguments clearly and decisively expressed?

d) What is the main method of argumentation used in the text? Is it persuasive?

e) How does an essay on a philosophical or ethical issue differ from one on a real-life event or phenomenon?

Answer:

a) The text 'Knowledge is Power' discusses the importance of knowledge in life.

b) The text is divided into three parts:

The first part introduces the famous idea of Francis Bacon and Lenin: 'Knowledge is power'.
The second part, made up of the second and third paragraphs, presents examples of how knowledge is power in the fields of technology and the Vietnamese revolution.
The third part is the fourth paragraph, which emphasizes people's attitude towards knowledge. This is the structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.
c) All arguments in the essay are correct:

Knowledge is power (Bacon)
Those who possess knowledge also possess power (Lenin)
True knowledge is power (in science and technology)
Knowledge is also the power of revolution.
Knowledge has such immense power, but unfortunately, many people fail to appreciate it.

d) The essay uses analytical reasoning, starting from the main point and providing supporting arguments to clarify it, followed by concrete examples to prove the correctness of each argument.

e) An essay on a philosophical or ethical issue deals with abstract concepts related to human or community life, while an essay on a real-life event or phenomenon focuses on actual occurrences in everyday life and typical events in society.

II. Practice

Read the text (Time is Gold - Pages 36-37 of the textbook) and answer the following questions:

a) What type of essay is this?

b) What philosophical issue does the essay discuss? Identify the main argument.

c) What is the primary method of argumentation in this essay? How convincing is the argumentation?

Answer:

a) The text 'Time is Gold' belongs to the category of essays on philosophical or ethical issues.

b) The essay discusses the value of time. Its main argument is: 'Gold can be bought, but time cannot. While gold has value, time is invaluable.' 'If you value your time, you can achieve many things in life. Wasting time brings regret and missed opportunities.'

c) The main method used in the essay is analysis and proof. To demonstrate that time is invaluable, the author presents various supporting points: Time is life, Time leads to success... Each supporting point is validated with relevant examples, making the argument highly persuasive despite the essay's brevity.

Question 1. Practice Exercise on pages 36 - 37, Textbook.

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

TIME IS GOLD

There is a proverb saying: Time is gold. However, gold can be bought, while time cannot. This shows that gold is valuable, but time is priceless.

Indeed, time is life. Go to a hospital and observe; if a patient is treated on time, they survive; delay can lead to death.

Time is victory. Ask the soldiers; in battle, seizing the right moment to strike ensures victory, losing the opportunity results in defeat.

Time is money. In business, producing goods at the right time results in profit; delay causes loss.

Time is knowledge. One must study regularly to excel. If you study a language inconsistently, with no perseverance, you won't become proficient.

Thus, if you utilize time wisely, you can achieve so much for yourself and society. Wasting time harms you, and regretting it later will be futile.

(Phương Liên)

Questions:

a) What type of essay is the passage above?

b) What issue does the essay discuss? Identify its main argument.

c) What is the primary reasoning method in this essay? How persuasive is the method used?

Answer:

To complete this exercise, first note the meaning of the title “Time is Gold,” which refers to the value of time. This is an argumentative essay on thoughts and morals, addressing why time must be valued. Secondly, each paragraph in the essay highlights a special value of time: it is irreplaceable, irreversible, cannot be delayed, and cannot be bought. Thirdly, the essay proves the value of time through reasoning. The structure follows a logical progression: time is priceless, time is life, time is victory, time is money, and time is knowledge.

Question 2. Thoughts on the Fable “Carving the Wood in the Middle of the Road.”

Answer:

From the fable “Carving the Wood in the Middle of the Road,” many lessons can be drawn. For example, it teaches the lesson of failure. Wasting a good piece of wood without achieving the goal of carving it is a failure. It serves as a lesson for those who lack decisiveness, who follow others without thinking critically. It also teaches the lesson about the “advice” of others—many people give random advice, thinking themselves wise without any solid foundation. From these ideas, one can analyze the right and wrong, the wise and the foolish in the story, and express their opinion on each type of character in the fable.

Question 3. Competing and Yielding.

Answer:

Everyone likely remembers the fable about two goats crossing a narrow wooden bridge from opposite directions. Neither was willing to yield, and they both fell into the river. This could serve as an introduction to a discussion on the topic of competition and yielding. Consider scenarios where competition and yielding often arise. For example: Two people want to buy the same toy, but there is only one left in the store; two people want to buy a book, but only one copy is available; two people try to sit in the last available seat on a bus, etc. From these situations, we can analyze the pros, cons, and suggest solutions.

Question 4. Respect for the Elderly.

Answer:

Respecting the elderly is a noble tradition. Why should people honor the elderly? They are the parents, grandparents, and ancestors who have gained life experience and wisdom. They are those who have worked to raise and educate younger generations. They have contributed to the material and spiritual wealth of society. How should we honor the elderly to show respect? By recognizing their values, listening to their advice, and helping them when needed. Why should we respect them? Because they are often old and frail, and no one should hold disdain for them. Honoring the elderly also means respecting humanity, as we all will age and become frail one day. This is the moral of life.

Question 5. The Healthy Should Help the Needy.

Answer:

“The healthy should help the needy” is a Vietnamese proverb that refers to the spirit of helping others in times of hardship. In a community, we cannot avoid seeing some areas or individuals suffering from disasters. In such conditions, those who are fortunate or have the means (the healthy) should help those affected (the needy) to get through the crisis. “Helping” means offering support and care. This action is practiced by people of the same ethnicity, culture, and territory (all are “leaves” on the same tree). This tradition has been maintained and even strengthened today. Vietnam faces many natural disasters, so this spirit of solidarity remains strong. No one can escape misfortune, and helping others is also helping oneself. Nowadays, charitable activities continue this tradition. Even children contribute to such meaningful acts.

I. UNDERSTANDING THE ESSAY ON A PHILOSOPHICAL OR ETHICAL ISSUE

a. The text discusses the role of knowledge in life.

b. The essay can be divided into three parts:

- Part 1: The introduction, presenting the issue: Knowledge is power.

- Part 2: Paragraphs two and three, providing examples that demonstrate how knowledge is power in technology and during the Vietnamese revolution.

- Part 3: Paragraph four, expressing people's attitude towards knowledge. This structure follows the three-part format: introduction, body, and conclusion.

c. The arguments in the essay are valid and clear.

+ Knowledge is power (Bacon). Those who possess knowledge gain power (Lenin).

+ Accurate knowledge is a source of strength (in science and technology).

+ Knowledge is also a powerful tool in revolution.

+ Despite its immense power, many people still fail to value knowledge.

d. The main argumentative method used in this essay is demonstration.

e. The argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue differs from one about a specific event or phenomenon. The former begins with an issue and uses explanations and evidence to clarify key ideas, while the latter explains and proves the relevance of a particular concept to daily life.

Key Takeaways:

- An argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue addresses ideas, culture, ethics, and lifestyle of humans.

- The essay must clarify important philosophical or ethical issues through explanation, evidence, comparison, and analysis to prove or disprove an idea.

- The essay must have a three-part structure with clear, valid arguments, and precise, engaging language.

II. PRACTICE

Answer the questions:

a. The text 'Time is Gold' is an argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue.

b. The essay discusses the value of time.

The key arguments are the main themes of each paragraph:

- Time is life.

- Time is success.

- Time is money.

- Time is knowledge.

Each argument is supported by examples proving the value of time.

c. The primary method of reasoning in this essay is analysis and demonstration. Each argument is expanded upon with analysis of how time is valuable, followed by examples that reinforce the argument.

I. Understanding the Essay on a Philosophical or Ethical Issue

a. The text addresses the value of knowledge and its power.

b. Structure of the text:

+ Paragraph 1 (from the start… that idea): Knowledge is power.

+ Paragraph 2 (continuing… rice export worldwide): Demonstrates how knowledge creates power and fuels revolutions.

+ Main argument: The opening sentence and the last two sentences of paragraph 2, as well as the first sentence of paragraph 3.

- Conclusion (the remaining paragraph): Criticizes those who fail to appreciate knowledge or use it improperly.

d. The main argumentative method used is demonstration.

e. Argumentative essays about life events or phenomena: start with real-life occurrences to derive significant philosophical or ethical issues.

- Philosophical or ethical argumentative essays: Explain and prove or clarify a philosophical, ethical, or lifestyle-related issue.

Practice:

a. 'Time is Gold' is an argumentative essay on philosophy and ethics.

b. The essay discusses the value of time. The main arguments are:

- Time is life.

- Time is success.

- Time is money.

- Time is knowledge.

c. The primary method of reasoning is analysis and demonstration. The author breaks down the value of time into separate arguments and supports them with real-world examples. The essay develops its points in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.

Part I: UNDERSTANDING THE ESSAY ON A PHILOSOPHICAL OR ETHICAL ISSUE

Read the text (pages 34, 35 of 9th-grade Literature textbook) and answer the following questions:

a) What is the text about?

b) How can the text be divided? Identify the content of each part and explain how they relate to each other.

c) Highlight the main points in the text. Are these points clearly and decisively expressed?

d) What argumentative technique is used in the essay? Is the reasoning convincing?

e) How does an argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue differ from one on a specific event or phenomenon?

Answer:

a) The text addresses the role of knowledge in life.

b) The text can be divided into three parts:

- Part 1: The introduction presents the issue: Knowledge is power.

- Part 2: Paragraphs 2 and 3 provide evidence demonstrating that knowledge is power, especially in technology and the Vietnamese revolution.

- Part 3: Paragraph 4 outlines people's attitudes toward knowledge. The structure follows the three-part essay format: introduction, body, conclusion.

c) The arguments in the essay are clear and valid:

+ Knowledge is power (Bacon). Whoever possesses knowledge gains power (Lenin).

+ Accurate knowledge is a powerful tool (in science and technology).

+ Knowledge is also a tool for revolution.

+ Despite its immense power, many fail to value knowledge properly.

d) The main argumentative method is demonstration.

e) An argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue differs from one on life events or phenomena:

- Argumentative essays on philosophical or ethical issues clarify an idea, ethical values, or lifestyle choices.

- Essays about life events or phenomena start from real-life events to extract deeper philosophical or ethical meanings.

Part II: PRACTICE

Read the text (pages 36, 37 of 9th-grade Literature textbook) and answer the following questions:

a) What type of argumentative essay is this?

b) What is the essay about? What are its main arguments?

c) What is the primary argumentative method? How convincing is the reasoning?

Answer:

a) The text 'Time is Gold' is an argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue.

b) The essay argues the value of time. Its main points are:

- Time is life.

- Time is success.

- Time is money.

- Time is knowledge.

Each argument is supported with examples to prove the value of time.

c) The argumentative method is analysis and demonstration. The author analyzes the significance of time in various ways and provides examples to support each point.

A. KEY CONCEPTS

I- ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON A PHILOSOPHICAL OR ETHICAL ISSUE

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
The English scientist Francis Bacon (16th - 17th century) famously said, "Knowledge is power." Later, Lenin, a teacher of the world proletarian revolution, elaborated, "He who has knowledge has power." This is a profound idea. However, not everyone understands this concept.
Indeed, knowledge is power. It is said that a large generator of the Pho company broke down, and a committee of engineers spent three months trying to find the cause without success. They called in expert Xten-met-xo, who quickly fixed the machine. The company paid him $10,000. Many thought Xten-met-xo was greedy. But on the receipt, Xten-met-xo wrote: "The cost of drawing a straight line is $1. The cost of finding the right place to draw it is $9,999." Clearly, someone with profound knowledge can do things that others cannot. Without knowing how to fix it, could the machine have avoided becoming a pile of scrap metal?
Knowledge is also the power of revolution. After his trip to France in 1946, Uncle Ho attracted many famous intellectuals to join the resistance movement, such as engineer Tran Dai Nghia, Dr. Nguyen Van Huyen, doctors Ton That Tung, Dang Van Ngu, and mathematician Ta Quang Buu... These intellectuals used their knowledge to build the military, education, and healthcare sectors, greatly contributing to the success of the resistance. During the anti-American war, professors Dam Trung Don and Vu Dinh Cu mobilized knowledge to neutralize enemy slow-burning fuses and clear ports. Today, agricultural scientists like Bui Huy Dap and Vu Tuyen Hoang have developed new rice varieties, helping increase agricultural productivity, making our country not only self-sufficient in food but also one of the leading rice exporters in the world.

Knowledge is so powerful, yet unfortunately, many people fail to appreciate it. They see learning as a means to earn a diploma to secure a job or climb the social ladder. They do not realize that to make our country rich, fair, democratic, and civilized, we need countless talented intellectuals in every field!

(Hương Tâm)
Questions:
a. What is the issue discussed in the text?
b. How is the text divided? What are the contents of each part, and how are they related?
c. Mark the sentences that contain the main arguments. Are these arguments clearly and coherently expressed?
d. What is the primary mode of argumentation in the text? Is the reasoning persuasive?
How does an argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue differ from one on a real-life event or phenomenon?
Answer:
a. The text discusses the role of knowledge and intellectuals in society.
b. The text can be divided into 3 parts:
Introduction (opening paragraph): Introducing the issue "knowledge is power";
Body (the next two paragraphs): Proving that knowledge is indeed power in work and confirming that knowledge is revolutionary power;
Conclusion (remaining paragraph): Criticizing those who fail to value knowledge and use it improperly.

c. The sentences containing the main arguments:
The English scientist Francis Bacon (16th-17th century) famously said, "Knowledge is power." Later, Lenin, a teacher of the world proletarian revolution, elaborated, "He who has knowledge has power." This is a profound thought. However, not everyone understands it.
Knowledge is truly power.
Knowledge is also the power of revolution.
Knowledge is so powerful, yet many still fail to appreciate it.

=> These arguments are clearly and decisively expressed.

d. The main mode of argumentation is proof. The reasoning helps the reader recognize the role of knowledge and intellectuals in the progress of society.

e. The difference:
Argumentative essays on real-life events or phenomena: Based on actual events in life.
Argumentative essays on philosophical or ethical issues: Use explanation, proof, etc., to clarify important ideas and values for human life.

B. EXERCISES AND SOLUTIONS

Practice

Exercise: Page 36, Textbook of Literature 9, Volume 2

Read the following text and answer the questions.

TIME IS GOLD

An old proverb says: Time is gold. But while gold can be bought, time cannot. This shows that while gold has value, time is priceless.

Indeed, time is life. If you visit a hospital, you'll see that a seriously ill patient can live if treated in time, but delayed treatment could lead to death.

Time is victory. Ask any soldier; in battle, seizing the moment to strike the enemy at the right time brings victory, but missing the right moment leads to defeat.

Time is money. In business, producing goods at the right time means profit, but at the wrong time means loss.

Time is knowledge. To be skilled, one must constantly study. If you study a foreign language intermittently without perseverance, you will never become fluent.

This shows that if we use time wisely, we can achieve much for ourselves and society. Wasting time brings harm, and later regrets are too late to reverse.

(Phuong Lien)

Questions:

a. What type of argumentative essay is this?

b. What is the issue discussed in the essay? What are its main arguments?

c. What is the main mode of argumentation in this essay? How convincing is the reasoning?

Essay answers:
a. This is an argumentative essay on a philosophical or ethical issue.
b. The essay discusses the value of time.
Main arguments:
Time is life
Time is victory
Time is money
Time is knowledge
c. The primary mode of argumentation is analysis and proof.
The reasoning in the essay uses real-life examples. The structure is simple but concise, clear, and solid.