Basic
assignment: Write a 3-5 page (typed, double-spaced) paper explaining and
supporting your position on some issue raised by Plato in one of the dialogues
we read or in our class discussion of Plato.
Some
guidelines:
1. Your paper should
contain your thoughts and opinions, not just Plato’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 Plato’s thoughts: your topic should be reasonably related to something Plato said, and your paper should take some care to show that you have understood what Plato said. Give references to the text to support your interpretation of Plato’s view.
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).
Some possible topics:
1.
Socrates’ argument (in the
Apology) that death is a blessing.
2.
Whether Socrates’ successfully refuted the charges against him or
whether he was guilty of corrupting the youth.
3.
Socrates’ argument in the Meno that knowledge must be recollection.
4. Can
virtue be taught?
5. What
is virtue?
6. One
or more of Socrates’ reasons for claiming that the soul survives death.
7. Socrates’ argument (in the Phaedo) that
experience cannot give us knowledge of general concepts (or Forms) like
Equality.
8. Socrates’ view that we should care more
about the state of our souls than about our bodies or wealth or success.
9. Whether the unexamined life is worth living.
10. Whether Socrates provides a good model of a
philosophical life or of philosophical inquiry.