PHIL 421/422

Seminar in Philosophy: Plato: Gorgias and Republic

Spring 2010   Prof. Cherubin


Longer writing assignments (both are required)

First longer assignment, due February 17 or 24 (guidelines and some topic suggestions)


Second longer assignment, due May 7 (due date changed to accommodate snow day make-up schedule)

Shorter writing assignments (select two)

1. First short writing assignment option, due in class on March 17
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester.)

 Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 386a-397a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on March 17.



2. Second short writing assignment option, due in class on March 24
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester.)

Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 427e-436a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on March 24.

3. Third short writing assignment option, due in class on March 31
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester.)



4. Fourth short writing assignment option, due in class on April 7
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester. If you wish to work on both passages assigned for this week, please write two separate papers - do not combine them into one paper.)

Option (4a): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 489e - 497a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 7.
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Option (4b): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 497e - 506d.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 7.



5. Fifth short writing assignment option, due in class on April 14
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester.)

Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 521d - 530a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 14.



6. Sixth short writing assignment option, due in class on April 21
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester. If you wish to work on both passages assigned for this week, please write two separate papers - do not combine them into one paper.)

Option (6a): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 559d - 569c.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 21.
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Option (6b): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 547a - 555a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 21.



7. Seventh short writing assignment option, due in class on April 28
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester. If you wish to work on both passages assigned for this week, please write two separate papers - do not combine them into one paper.)

Option (7a): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 573d - 580a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 28.
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Option (7b): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 581d - 587c.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on April 28.


8. Eighth short writing assignment option, due in class on May 5
(Reminder: You do not have to do this particular paper. You need to do any two short papers, plus both of the longer papers, over the course of the semester. If you wish to work on both passages assigned for this week, please write two separate papers - do not combine them into one paper.)

Option (8a): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 595a - 602c.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on May 5.
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Option (8b): Type of paper: Exegesis of text.   The passage to work on: Republic 608d - 614a.

        Briefly trace and summarize the arguments or sequences of ideas presented. What are the starting points, the basic assumptions and hypotheses and definitions from which the arguments begin? Are there any unstated assumptions? Are there any stated but (as yet) uninvestigated and unsupported assumptions or hypotheses? Does any character say anything here that appears to conflict with other things he has said so far? If so, how if at all could such conflicts be resolved? Also, does any character make any statements in this passage that seem irrelevant or unrelated to the main point of the passage? Are there any equivocations or ambiguities that compromise (or have the potential to compromise) the arguments?

        You may certainly quote the text, but when you do so you must explain what you think the quotations mean and imply. Do NOT use any sources other than the class text. This paper should be approximately 4-5 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins). It is due in class on May 5.