Write six (and only six) pages on one of the
following essay topics. Papers should be
double-spaced with one inch margins, headers, and footers in 12pt type.
As a general rule, approximately four pages
should be careful and sympathetic exposition of the relevant positions or
arguments. Approximately two pages, at least, should reflect your critical or
reflective engagement with the relevant positions or arguments. Exposition and
critical engagement can be intermingled.
But, as a rule, first write four pages of exposition. Then write at least two pages of critical
discussion. Do not neglect either task;
doing both well is essential for the assignment.
Use helpful examples and apt quotations. Carefully organize the flow of ideas. Above all, strive for clarity.
1. Immediately after Socrates’ leaky
jar analogy, Socrates and Callicles disagree
over what makes a person’s life good. Present
at least two of Socrates’ arguments against Callicles’ position, being sure to
carefully formulate them and situate your reconstruction with reference to the
text. Give reasons why you think each argument does or does not succeed. Pose and answer potential objections.
2. Using an example, explain why Ryle
believes there is a fundamental difference between “knowing how” and
“knowing that.” Explain Plato’s view that moral knowledge is
knowledge that. Explain Aristotle’s view that moral knowledge is instead a
matter of know how. Give reasons for either Plato’s or Aristotle’s view,
considering objections and offering replies.
3. Plato and Aristotle accept what
Parfit calls an “objective list” view of the good life for a person. Explain that position and explain how both
experientialism and desire-based theories differ from it and from each other in
view of Parfit’s and Nozick’s discussions.
Make a case using one or more examples for one of the views in view of
problems you develop for the others.
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