Philosophies of the world paper

1. Choose one of the proposed definitions of “courage” in the Laches and show how Socrates uses the Socratic Method (elenchus) to refute that proposal. Be sure that in the course of your answer you define the Socratic Method. Do you think that the Socratic method is capable of making philosophical progress? Why or why not?

 2. Explain Socrates’s view in the Laches that virtue is a form of knowledge (the unity of the virtues). How does this view make akrasia impossible? How does Plato’s tripartite account of the soul (which you should explain in your answer) both explain the possibility of akrasia and provide a way to avoid it?

 3. What is Plato’s view regarding how the philosopher should view death as expressed in the Phaedo? How does Plato employ his dualistic metaphysics and his theory of Forms in the argument for the immortality of the soul? Be sure that you define/explain both Platonic Dualism and the theory of Forms in your answer.

 4. According to Sextus Empiricus what is the goal (end) of skepticism? Discuss at least two of the arguments (modes) that Sextus provides to support this conclusion. Do you think that Sextus’s skepticism is self-defeating? Why or why not?

and here is the readings articles:

https://bblearn.nau.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_6089580_1&course_id=_154669_1&launch_in_new=true  

https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-6089581-dt-content-rid-91768601_1/courses/1181-NAU00-PHI-150-SEC002-3730.NAU-PSSIS/Plato%27s%20Conception%20of%20Virtue%20Reading
https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-6089582-dt-content-rid-91768536_1/courses/1181-NAU00-PHI-150-SEC002-3730.NAU-PSSIS/Allegory%20of%20the%20Cave%20Diagram

PHI 150 Philosophies of the World

Paper Assignment Instructions

Dr. Russell Pryba

1. Submission Details

a) Paper Assignments will be posted to BB Learn under “Paper Assignments.”

b) To submit your paper to BB Learn click on the title of the assignment (i.e. “Paper 1”) and follow prompts to attach file.

c) You must upload your paper as either a (x) or file. If BB Learn cannot open your paper file, you will receive a zero and be asked to upload your paper again.

d) Do not submit your paper in the “comments” field. If you do so, you will be given a zero and asked to resubmit your paper.

2. Specific Requirements:

a) Answer only
one
of the questions provided.

b) Papers must be at least two full pages but no more than three full pages. Make sure that you answer the question completely.

c) Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and Times New Roman font (i.e. no excessively large fonts designed to take up extra space).

d) Papers must include at least one direct quotation of philosophical significance from the primary source (assigned course reading) the question you are answering addresses. You should provide an internal citation that includes the author’s (last) name and page number on which the passage appears in parentheses after the quotation i.e. (Plato, 82). Quotations must be from the primary source and not the editor’s introduction to the reading. The primary source always follows the introduction and is indicated by a three-digit number (for example 3.1.1).

e) You must then provide an exegesis of the passage that you have quoted.

An exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text (or portion of a text). Your primary task is to show how the passage you have quoted directly answers the question that you are addressing. Thus, these papers are designed to improve your ability to use a text as evidence or support in answering a philosophical question. The goal of these papers is to sharpen your ability to interpret the meaning of philosophical texts and as such you should feel free to explore the passage you are discussing in any way you see fit as long as you answer the question directly in the process.

f) Secondary sources are not permitted. The only source that you are permitted to use in these papers are the assigned readings from our textbook Introduction to World Philosophy.

g) You are not required to provide a complete bibliography/works cited since the only permitted source is the required textbook.

h) Your papers must begin with a clear thesis/introductory paragraph. In the case of these assignments your “thesis” will be a restatement of the question you are addressing. Nevertheless, your introduction should provide structure to your paper as a whole by signposting all of the points that you will discuss in your paper. If the question you are addressing asks you to take a position, then your thesis/introductory paragraph must include a statement of the position that you will take in your paper.

3. Grading:

a) Papers will be graded on a 10-point scale.

b) You may lose points for any of the following:

i) Failing to write two full pages.

ii) Failing to answer the question completely

iii) Failing to include at least one direct quotation from the primary source reading that you are discussing.

iv) Providing an incomplete or superficial explanation of the meaning of the text.

v) Choosing a passage from the text that is not relevant to the question you are answering (part of the purpose of these assignments is to sharpen your reading skills so that you will be better able to determine which portions of a text are the most significant).

vi) Using a quotation from the introduction to the reading and not from the primary source. The purpose of these assignments is not to see how well you can summarize the editor’s summary of the primary source but to develop your own ability to critically interpret a primary philosophical source.

vii) Failing to provide a complete citation for any quotation from the text.

viii) Handing in work that is not entirely your own will result in a zero.

ix) Failing to provide a thesis/introductory paragraph or including one that fails to include all of the points that you will discuss in your paper.

4. Late Policy:

a) Papers submitted within 48 hours of the due date will automatically receive a deduction of one point.

b) Papers submitted after 48 hours past the due date will receive half credit.