DUE FRI 3/16 Personal Reflection and Plato Assignment

DUE FRI 3/16

The following is class work for Friday 3/16 while I’m away. There is no homework, but if you don't finish something in class you can do it over the weekend.

1. If you did not finish yesterday’s class work, you can do it today (Friday). I will collect it when I return on Monday 3/19.

2. Blog entry: “Personal Reflection 3/16” – Since Socratic philosophy is largely about definitions, lets start with some of our own. In one paragraph (or more) define what a friend is and how you should act towards a friend. Instead of that, you can write a paragraph (or more) that defines what an enemy is and how you should act towards an enemy. Of course you can also write about both if you like. These are topics that you will read about in the assignment below.

3. Read The Republic Part I Section 2. “The Conventional View of Justice Developed” pp. 8-15

Answer question(s) from one or more of the sections that follow. You have to answer all the questions in each section, but you only have to answer one section. Don’t forget to cut/paste them into your blog and to print them out and keep them in your binder for easy access later.

Section 1

Short responses 2-5 sentences

A) In your opinion, is Polemarchus definition of justice, derived from the poet Simonedes, an improvement from his father’s definition?

AND

B) What is Simonides definition of justice? Has Polemarchus interpreted him correctly?

AND

C) What problem does Socrates see in the phrase, “helping one’s friends and harming ones enemies”? Why is this not an accurate definition of justice?

AND

D) What lesson do you think Socrates/Plato is trying to prove by having Polemarchus give in to Socrates when his father (Cephalus) would not?

AND

E) Whose argument do you find more convincing, Polemarchus or Socrates? Why? (This should be a longer response, short paragraph, about 5 sentences).

Section 2

Paragraph response

A) Amongst other things, Socrates strategy includes an attempt to define a friend (Section 334c-335b) and a critique of the idea that a just man can do harm (Section 335b-336a). Why did he start this line of questioning? What questions does he ask and what responses does he get that leads him to win the argument? Are his points valid and convincing?

AND

B) List 3-5 of the questions that Socrates asks that you think are the most useful in arguing against Polemarchus. Why are these questions useful for Socrates purposes?

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C) What lesson do you think Socrates/Plato is trying to prove by having Polemarchus give in to Socrates when his father (Cephalus) would not? Short answer response

Section 3

Write your own interpretive prompt/question. However, before you do you must also try to answer my question, What lesson do you think Socrates/Plato is trying to prove by having Polemarchus give in to Socrates when his father (Cephalus) would not?

Criteria for writing your own prompt/question

1) It must be related to the text and you must have to refer/cite the text in your answer

2) It must be interpretive, or “open” – there must be multiple ways of answering it.

3) You must demonstrate that you read the text and that you have thought about it, not necessarily that you are “right”, but that you thought about the text.

4) The response must be at least ½ page long.

4. Work on digital portfolios – don’t forget to add your Fahrenheit 451 essay or other essays that you want to have on there. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR FLASH ANIMATION ON YOUR D.P. FOR EXHIBITION, which is in two weeks.

Good Thinking,

Mr. J