Writing Prompts

The answers to the writing prompts are graded on a pass/fail basis.

There are ten prompts (two for the Presocratics, one for Socrates, three for Plato, three for Aristotle, and one for the Hellenistic Philosophers).

To pass, you must turn in your answer on time. In general, without prior arrangement, I do not accept late work. You must answer all parts of the prompt, and your answer must be understandable to someone who does not already know the answer. ⊕ Take these instructions seriously. The grade you receive is final. You are not be permitted to rewrite your answer.

You are free to post questions about the prompts if they are not simply requests for the answer.

An Example Passing Answer to the First Prompt

I provide an example passing answer to the first prompt so that you can see what I expect.

This example answer is not passing because it is the only correct answer to the prompt. It is passing because it answers all parts of the prompt and is understandable to someone who does not already understand the philosophical and historical issues in the prompt.

⊕ Everyone receives a pass as their grade for this first prompt. Do not submit an answer to it. For the module on the Presocratics, only submit an answer to the second prompt.

Presocratics

1. Describe the kind of understanding the Milesian inquirers tried to provide. In your answer, explain the circumstances that led to a desire for this new kind of understanding. ⊕

2. Describe Democritus's conception of reality. Explain how he understands the drops of rain and other objects traditionally thought to exist. Explain how he thinks that Thales and the Milesian inquirers into nature became confused about these objects. Explain why he thinks that although these inquirers were confused, the inquiry into nature itself is consistent with Parmenides's conclusion that nothing comes into or goes out of existence.

Socrates

3. Describe how Socratic Intellectualism conceives of desire. In your answer, use an example to show what is supposed to happen in the soul when someone acts.

Plato

4. In the Meno and Phaedo, Socrates presents the Theory of Recollection. Explain this theory. In your answer, be sure to explain the epistemological and ontological theses.

5. In Book IV of the Republic, Socrates presents the Tripartite Theory of the Soul. Explain this theory and the argument Socrates gives for it. In your answer, be sure to explain whether the Tripartite Theory of the Soul is consistent with Socratic Intellectualism.

6. In Book IX of the Republic, Socrates draws his conclusion that the most just are the happiest. In the course of this discussion, he gives the following argument

⊕    1.  In the just soul, the parts of the soul have their truest possible pleasures.
   2.  In the unjust soul, the parts of the soul do not have their truest possible pleasures.
   3.  If (1) and (2) are true, then those whose souls are just have more pleasure.
   ----
   4.  Those whose souls are just have more pleasure.

Explain why Socrates thinks that premise (3) in this argument is true.

Aristotle

You are to answer three of the four prompts.

7. In his Posterior Analytics and the Metaphysics, Aristotle says that human beings are not endowed with reason at birth (as Plato seems to have thought) but acquire it in a natural process that occurs as they become adults. Set out the steps in the process Aristotle describes. Be sure to explain how Aristotle understands experience in this process.

8. In On the Soul, Aristotle argues the soul does not exist apart from the body except in account becuase it is the form of the body. Explain what he means. In your explanation, use the ship of Theseus example to explain how Aristotle understands forms in matter.

9. In his Metaphysics, Aristotle argues for the existence of the first unmovable mover as a teleological cause of change. Set out the main lines of Aristotle's argument. Explain how first unmovable mover is different from Plato's divine maker in the Timaeus.

10. In Book I of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle gives an argument from function for the most beneficial life. Explain what he thinks the human function is. Be sure to give this explanation in terms of Aristotle's understanding of reason in the soul.

Hellenistic Philosophers

11. Describe how the Stoics understand knowledge. In your answer, be sure to explain how they understand impressions, assent, cognitive impressions, cognition, and opinion.