CHOOSE ONE OF THE THREE TOPICS BELOW. Based on the chosen topic, incorporate quotes from the appropriate attached reading. Meaning you don’t need to incorporate every one of the readings attached, only the one that centers about the chosen topic.
Instructions:
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.
TOPICS:
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.
