Philosophy 103
Essay Topic for Plato's Republic
Due Thursday, Sept. 23rd
I have suggested in class that one of the fundamental questions of
moral philosophy is, "Why
should I be moral?" In the Republic,
Glaucon, Adeimantus, and Socrates take up this issue
in the form of the question, "Why should I be just?" (Or "What is the
value of being just?")
Your task in this 3-5 page (typed, double spaced) essay is to set out
and critically assess the
views that Glaucon and Socrates develop in answer to this
question. Be sure to focus on the
following:
--A careful explanation of Glaucon's
and Socrates' position regarding justice
--A clear and detailed explanation of the arguments each provides in defense
of his position
Once you have set out each view as carefully as you can, critically evaluate one or both of
them.
This can be done in a number of ways. Perhaps you think one of
the
key claims in one of the
arguments is false. If so, explain why exactly you think it is
false. Perhaps you think that the
reasoning in one of the arguments is flawed.. Try to show clearly how
this is the case (explain
how all the premises could be true and yet the conclusion still false).
Be sure to consider
what
responses a defender might
offer to your objection. Finally, consider what your critical
evaluation leads you to conclude about the nature of justice and its
value.
Enjoy!
Papers are due Sept. 23rd
Note: Please feel free to ask for my help as
you're
working on your essay. I'll be happy to answer
your
questions. I'll even read an outline or a rough draft and give
you some ideas for what
might improve it.
Please review my comments on plagiarism in the syllabus. Minimum
penalty for intentionally
plagiarized work is an 'F' in the course. You do not need to consult outside sources
in
writing this essay;
however, if you do consult outside sources, you must cite all quotes
and paraphrases
appropriately and include a bibliography listing all sources used.
Some tips that may help you write an excellent paper:
--Stick to the essay topic: make sure that
your discussion doesn't wander from the focused topic
of
the essay.
--Clarity and detail: write as clearly and
in as much detail as you can manage. Remember, when I
read
the paper, you won't be there to help explain unclear passages.
Thus, be sure your points
are
easy to follow, and try to develop important issues in as much detail
as you can.
--Avoid excess use of quotes: a short, apt
quote here and there can be very effective, but make
sure
you don't let quotes speak for you. As always, be sure you cite the
source and page
number for all material quoted or paraphrased.
--Avoid long introductions and conclusions:
this is a very short essay; it is best to use only a
brief introduction so you can move quickly to the heart of the essay.
--Organize carefully: try to organize the
essay so that it flows smoothly from sentence to sentence
and
paragraph to paragraph. Think about the order in which you want to
address the issues
involved. You will find that creating a detailed outline of the essay
before you write it will help
tremendously with its organization.
--Proofread: I won't penalize you for
spelling and grammar mistakes, but when they are plentiful
they
can be distracting, making it difficult for the reader to concentrate
on the content of the
paper. Reading the paper aloud to yourself, or having someone else read
it, will often catch a
lot
of mistakes and may also alert you to passages that are unclear.