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1. Construct a dialogue between Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes concerning the issue of a first principle and whether it is or ought to be something familiar or mystical, or both. Give as much force to each position as you can. You need not decide the issue, but you should try to provide the best case you can think of for each position and how the other two might/would respond. It will probably be helpful to have the interlocutors discuss, at some point, how this distinction arises with respect to their views on the elements, i.e. how they think of the role and function of the elements (whether they think of them in the same way that "we" do, etc). Construct your dialogue as continuing from the following statement uttered by Thales:
. . . . and that's why, I think, we must start with trying to articulate a first principle (i.e. an arche) . . . .
2. Compare and contrast Thales' and Anaximenes' views about nature, with respect to the elements, with that of a twentieth century "scientific" view of nature and the "elements." In other words, point out the similarities and differences between their views of nature, and give some account of the "methods" employed by these two Milesians and contemporary science. Is one approach or method better or more interesting than the other? Why?
3. Compare and contrast Taoism with your favorite Presocratic philosopher from among the five studied in class.
4. Select a topic of your own that concerns the Presocratics and that provides for what you consider an interesting reading/interpretation of that/those presocratic(s). If you wish to take this approach, please speak with me first.
1. Suppose that technology has enabled us to live on another planet and that the authorities decide first to send up a trial community (you can assume a story along the lines of a number of science fiction scenarios, e.g. Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, etc.). Now, suppose that this trial city consists of the minimum number of practioners of various trades, so as to enable the community to be self sufficient, i.e. they're able to raise their own food, process it, distribute it, etc., etc.
Provide an account of whether any sort of leadership, i.e. steering committies, police force, military, etc. will be required, i.e. will it be an anarchic city or an ordered city, or might there be a third alternative. You might want to think about whether you want a blueprint or a recipe for your ideal city. In establishing your blueprint/recipe for this city your task is to construct a city in which justice resides. You, therefore, need to convince the authorities of what justice is, and how your city will attain that goal.
2. Assume that your task is to establish a University that will be overseen by an advisory group. The advisory group establishes two major criteria that will determine the success or failure of the University. The first criterion is that the success or failure of your University will be determined by factoring the number of students who matriculate into the University against the number of students who complete their degrees. In short, the success or failure will be determined along the lines of its efficiency. The second criterion, to determine the success of the University, is how well trained its students are to perform particular functions, i.e. technical tasks, etc. The success of this criterion will be measured by the success your students have in landing jobs as based on their technical abilities.
Provide a Platonic criticism of this University on the basis of the implications the two criteria impose on the role of education. You may discuss the roles of the faculty in such an institution (e.g. are they experts, and if so, what does that mean?), what will be considered knowledge, how that will determine the character of the students (will they simply be those who become experts, like their instructors? What will that mean?), etc.
3. Select a topic of interest to you that is related to the Platonic dialogues we've studied. Provide an account of what Plato was up to and how he might have dealt with the issue, i.e. how it's defined, and some critical analysis of it. Again, please talk to me first.
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