Ancient Greek Philosophy                Second Paper Assignment

Due: Monday, November 9

Basic assignment: Write a 4-6 page (typed, double-spaced) paper explaining and supporting your position on some issue raised by one of the texts we have read since the last paper was due.

Some guidelines:

  1. Your paper should contain your thoughts and opinions, not just Plato’s or Aristotle’s or someone else’s.  Tell me what you think, not just what other people have said.
  2. At the same time, I do want you to address the texts we are studying: your topic should be reasonably related to something some ancient philosopher said, and your paper should take some care to show that you have understood what that writer said.  Give references to the text to support your interpretation of their view(s).
  3. Be sure that the question or issue your paper is addressing is clear and well focused.
  4. Be sure that you have provided a clear statement of your position on that issue (or your answer to that question).
  1. In addition to explaining what you think, your paper should contain reasons why you take the position you do.  Your main job is to explain why a reasonable person should agree with the opinion or position you are expressing.
  2. Whatever your position is, there will be other points of view on the issue or topic you are discussing.  (This is philosophy!)  So, include in your paper at least one (more would be better) objection to your view and a reply to that objection.  How might someone who disagreed with you criticize your argument?  And how can you respond to that criticism?
  3. You are not required (or encouraged) to consult any other sources besides those already assigned for class reading.  If you do use any other sources, give them credit for whatever you take from them: list them in a bibliography at the end of your paper and give specific references for any ideas you have borrowed.  (Use the standard numbering system for your references to Plato’s and Aristotle’s texts.)

 

Some possible topics:

  1. Whether Aristotle’s account of the soul provides a good solution to the mind body problem.
  2. Whether Aristotle has good criticisms of Plato’s theory of Forms.
  3. Whether the arguments of the ancient skeptics show that knowledge is impossible.
  4. Whether Aristotle is right to say that virtue and vice are ‘up to us’.
  5. Whether the Epicureans provided a satisfactory way of reconciling human freedom with materialism and atomism.
  6. Whether hedonism is correct to identify happiness (the human good) with pleasure.