General Philosophy                First Paper Assignment

 

Due: Monday, February 18

 

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 five 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).

5. 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.
6. 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?
7. 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. 

 

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 Crito) that it would be wrong for him to escape from prison.
4. Whether Socrates’ argument in the Crito shows that it is always wrong to disobey the law.
5. Socrates’ argument in the Meno that knowledge must be recollection.
6. Can virtue be taught?
7. What is virtue?
8. One or more of Socrates’ reasons for claiming that the soul survives death.
9. Socrates’ argument (in the Phaedo) that experience cannot give us knowledge of general concepts (or Forms) like Equality.
10. Socrates’ view that we should care more about the state of our souls than about our bodies or wealth or success.
11. Whether the unexamined life is worth living.
12. Whether Socrates (as presented by Plato) provides a good model of a philosophical life or of philosophical inquiry.