philosophy

Notes:

· Please refer to the  Discussion Guidelines and Grading Rubric  for further guidance on how your discussions will be graded (70% of your Discussion Grade is in the quality of your Original Post, 30% in your Response Posts)

· Do not cite or use internet sources other than those provided under the Readings and Learning Materials . In other words, use only the learning materials and links provided in this course.

DISCUSSION #1:  Ethics : Examining the Life of Socrates. In the Apologia, Socrates describes himself as a gadfly, as a person who is only concerned with the truth, and as modest.

Answer the question: What does it mean to lead a good life by the example of Socrates?

In other words, what do you believe the actions and words of Socrates teach you about your own life? Use examples from the Apologia, the Learning Resources and your own reasoning in your argument. 

DISCUSSION #2:  Political Theory : A Just Death?   In Socrates' Trial in the Apologia, Socrates is found guilty of treason by the Athenians and sentenced to die by drinking hemlock. Examine the idea of justice in Socrates death.

Answer the question: Was it just or unjust for the Athenians to sentence Socrates to death?

Use examples from the Apologia, The Learning Resources, and your own reasoning in your argument. 

DISCUSSION #3:  Aesthetics : Inspirational Art. There are many great quotes by Socrates in the Apologia. For example, "I know only one thing, and that is that I know nothing" or "The unexamined life is not worth living". Choose a quote by Socrates that you found appealing in the Apologia and create an Inspirational Artwork by placing the quote together with an image of Greek art (a sculpture, building, pottery etc.)

Answer the question: What makes this Inspirational Artwork valuable to me and why should others accept my definition of its value?

Use your knowledge of the Learning Resources in your Original Post.

· MLA Citation:  http://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/mla_tutorial.cfm

Week Two Learning Resources

I. REQUIRED READING

(1) [PRIMARY TEXT]  Plato and Benjamin Jowett. Apology. Project Gutenberg, n.d. Project Gutenberg, Etext.

The text of the Apology (Apologia) of Plato translated into English by Benjamin Jowett.

(2) Russell, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy. vol. [New ed.], Routledge, 2004. Routledge Classics.

 (a)  Chapter 11: Socrates, pp. 89-99.

(3)  Ellis, Robert P. "Apology by Plato." Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2018.

An Introduction to the Apology of Plato and the background of the Trial of Socrates. [ADA: Audio option]

II. SUPPLEMENTAL READING

(4)  "Greek Philosophy." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1p. 1.

A short introduction to Greek Philosophy. [ADA: Audio option]

(5)  "Aesthetics." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1p. 1.

A short introduction to the philosophical study of Aesthetics. [ADA: Audio option]

(6)  "Plato." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1p. 1.

A short introduction to the Greek philosopher Plato. [ADA: Audio option]

(7) Satris, Stephen. "Socrates." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2013.

An introduction to the Life of Socrates. [ADA: Audio option]

III. SUPPLEMENTAL AUDIO/VIDEO

(8)  "The Ancient Greeks: Crucible of Civilization – Episode 3: Empire of the Mind (History Documentary)." YouTube, uploaded by AgeOfAntiquity, Feb. 15, 2014.   [VIDEO: 55:01]

A documentary, narrated by the actor Liam Neeson, that recounts the Trial of Socrates and the political and social situation of Athens at his death.

SAMPLE DISCUSSION

In "Plato's Allegory of the Cave", the prisoners in the cave believe the images they see on the walls of the cave are real or true because that is all they have known since birth.  They were never exposed to anything else; and, therefore, do not know some other form of reality.  This knowledge is what they believe to be the truth. One could argue that truth to the prisoners in the case of the shadows is based on the correspondence theory because their idea of truth corresponds to their “facts or reality.”  (Philosophy, para 8). 

Even though one prisoner is left out of the cave and sees another world, he has a difficult time believing what he sees because he does not know this other world.  He doesn't believe when he is told that the shadows are not real because his only knowledge of what he believed to be true was based solely on the objects on the wall in the cave.  With a bit of time and seeing images such as a reflection in the pond, the images become clearer.  As his eyes start to adjust to the sunlight, he becomes knowledgeable about this new world and realizes that maybe what he saw in the cave was not true.  With this knowledge in hand, he goes back to the cave and has a hard time seeing the images on the cave wall.  The prisoners think that he is foolish for not believing that the shadows are real, and they refuse to believe that there is any other truth than what they have seen in the cave.  This is an example of how "most people are not just comfortable in their ignorance, but hostile to anyone who points it out" ("Plato's Allegory of the Cave" 2:22). 

I think the prisoners' knowledge of the world was based on rationalist beliefs.  They believed the shadows were real objects from their experience of seeing only the shadows in the cave.  The prisoner who was released proved English Philosopher John Locke's argument that "the rationalist belief that the principles of knowledge are intuitively self-evident, arguing that all knowledge is derived from experience, either from the experience of the external world, which stamps sensations on the mind or from internal experience, in which the mind reflects on its own activities." ("Epistemology" para 5).

 I think I justify my beliefs to others based on what I know from my experiences.  For example, I believe in God based on my upbringing and my experiences in going to church and listening to what was preached to me.  I went to a Catholic church and was told that God exists; therefore, I believe it because that is what I was taught.  That is how I would justify my belief in God.  However, after becoming interested in other religions, I still believe in God but not only the God I was told to believe in.  With a bit more knowledge, I know that there are other Gods and not everyone believes in the same God.

In sum, I think the difference between truth and belief is truth is based on facts and belief is what we think is true. 

Works cited:

Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2018, 1p. “Epistemology.”  World Book, Inc. Chicago. 2021,  https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d01a6104-81f1-4c3d-b350-7ffb2dd7e9a8%40sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=ep050300&db=funk .

Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. 2018, 1p. “Philosophy.”   World Book, Inc. Chicago.  2021,  https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=0f131593-e3fa-4051-92c3-dea9a5521635%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=ph068900&db=funk .

Gendler, Alex. “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.”  YouTube, uploaded by TED Ed., 17 Mar. 2015,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWOpQXTltA .