DIRECTIONS: Select a passage from Book 3 of Plato’s Republic and perform the instructions below.
Part 1 – Analysis of Readings – You will choose a portion of the primary source (Plato’s Republic) and the associated commentaries by Bloom, Strauss and Drabkin and write an analysis of these readings using the primary source and two of the three associated commentaries. First, you will summarize or paraphrase the argument(s) of the characters in Plato’s Republic. (Drabkin’s textbook will be particularly helpful for summarizing.) Then you will find the related commentary in two of the three associated commentaries and summarize or paraphrase these passages.
Part 2 – Identify at least one philosophical branch or doctrine that defines the discussion in the passage and why it falls within that philosophical branch or doctrine. The Basics of Philosophy (Links to an external site.)
Part 3 – Re-state the position presented by any one of the speakers in the passage you have selected. Identify a philosopher who holds a similar position and state this philosopher’s similar position. Identify a philosopher who holds an opposing position and state this philosopher’s opposing position. Note: You may NOT use any of the speakers in the passage from Plato’s Republic, NOR any of the three commentators (Bloom, Strauss, Drabkin) as the philosopher identified for the similar or opposing position.
