PHI217 - Plato

Outline:

The Philosopher and Mathematician A N Whitehead once characterized western thought as a "series of footnotes to Plato". The thought of Plato and his teacher Socrates, who both lived in Greece around 400 years before the start of the Christian era, set the agenda for much subsequent philosophy and did much to define our ideas of what philosophy is. This course will introduce students to the study of the philosophy of Plato through a close and critical study of his most famous dialogue, the Republic.

Reading

The one book you MUST buy is the set text for this course.

Plato: Republic. There are many translations but I strongly recommend the Hackett edition translated by G.M.A. Grube, revised by Reeve.

If you fancy a fun introductory read before the course starts you might enjoy:

Simon Blackburn: Plato’s Republic: A Biography

      Assessment:

      Two coursework essays (50%) and a two-hour UNSEEN examination (50%)

      Advised for:-

      Aristotle

      Leturer:

      James Lenman

      Lectures: Spring Semester

      Mondays 2-3pm AT LT1
      Mondays 4-5pm AT LT1

      Seminars:
      Thursdays 1-2pm [AT 11.31]
      Thursdays 3-4pm [AT 6.26]

        Some SAMPLE exam questions

        This course will an UNSEEN examination. The exmination paper will comprise seven questions of which you must answer two.

        The questions that below are SAMPLE questions to give you an idea of the sort of questions you may be asked.

        1. Is there any merit in the case made out in the Republic for the censorship of poetry and music?

        2. And Adeimantus interrupted: “How would you defend yourself, Socrates, he said, if someone told you that you aren’t making these men [i.e. the guardians] very happy…?” (Republic 418e-419a) How does Socrates defend himself against this complaint? Is his defence credible?

        3. Explain and critically examine the argument in Republic IV for the tripartite division of the soul.

        4. How much light, if any, does Republic V cast on the issue of sexual equality?

        5. What are Plato’s reasons for wanting to abolish the family. Are they good reasons?

        6. How does Socrates in the Republic understand the distinction between knowledge and opinion? Is the case he makes for understanding this as he does a credible one?

        7. What are Plato’s reasons for thinking philosophers should rule? Are they good reasons?

        8. “[T]here are four… conditions in the soul, corresponding to the four subsections of our line.” (Republic VI, 511d) Elaborate and explain.

        9. What does the allegory of the Cave tell us about Plato’s understanding of the good?

        10. What is dialectic and why do the ruling guardians need to study it?

        11. What, according to Socrates in the Republic, is wrong with democracy? Has his critique any merit?

        12. What arguments does Socrates offer for thinking the just man will be happier than the tyrant? Are these arguments sound?


          Coursework Assignment 1

          TBA

            Coursework Assignment 2

            TBA


                  See also