The sun rises in the east/East.

[Sammy Sam]

Should we capitalize the names of the directions especially when one of those come in the middle or end of a statement like in the following statements.

1. The sun rises in the East.
2. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

or should they be

3. The sun rises in the East.
4. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

 

[emsr2d2]

Sentences 1 and 3 (note that I have numbered them for you) are identical.

 

[jutfrank]

You should capitalise the cardinal directions, yes. It doesn't make any difference whether you're making a statement, and it doesn't matter where the word appears in a sentence.