Week 2: Plato & Socrates (Jan. 7-11)

Assignment due!

The What is Philosophy? Part 1 assignment is due Friday, January 11, by 5pm. This is the assignment where you write up a short paragraph about your initial view of philosophy.

 

Monday, Jan. 7

Required

1. Watch two background videos on Plato and Socrates, which will help you understand Euthyphro. The end of the first video talks about a text by Plato called Apology, which we are not actually reading in class this year.

Historical background for Socrates and Plato (Video 1) Links to an external site.Historical background for Socrates and Plato (Video 1)

Background for Socrates and Plato (Video 2) Links to an external site.Background for Socrates and Plato (Video 2)

 

2. Read Plato's dialogue called Euthyphro.

This is a dialogue written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, with Socrates as a character (as noted in the above video Plato often does). This dialogue is fictional in the sense that it may not have taken place exactly as written (Plato probably wrote it after Socrates' death). But Socrates was indeed a real person! Socrates is speaking with a priest named Euthyphro, and asking him about the nature of piety. Socrates is looking for a single, universal definition of the concept of piety.

  • Pay attention to how Socrates speaks/acts in this dialogue, as I'll be asking your views on it in class!
  • Also, look for definitions of piety by Euthyphro and criticisms of those by Socrates. By "piety" they are talking about a religious notion (doing what the gods want), but they are also talking about doing the right thing. So if it's easier for you, you can substitute "morality" in your head for "piety."

You can either use the Word or PDF documents below (same text in different formats) for Plato's Euthyphro, or access this text in html, epub or kindle versions on the Project Gutenberg site. Links to an external site.

Download Plato, Euthyphro (MS Word version)

Download Plato, Euthyphro (PDF version)

Optional:

 

Wednesday, Jan. 9

Required

Read Plato's dialogue called Crito.

This is a dialogue between Socrates and a man named Crito that takes place as Socrates is in prison after his trial (described in the videos above), awaiting his execution. It is fictional in the sense that we don't know if the events depicted here actually happened (nor was Plato sitting in the room writing down the dialogue if they did), but what is known for sure is Socrates remains in prison and is executed. The part about the execution being delayed because of a religious festival is also believed to be true.

  • Look for: (1) Crito's arguments for why Socrates should escape from jail, and (2) Socrates' arguments for why he wouldn't. He answers each of Crito's arguments, though not necessarily in the same order.

You can either use the Word or PDF documents below (same text in different formats) for Plato's Crito, or access this text in html, epub or kindle versions on the Project Gutenberg site for this text. Links to an external site.

Download Plato, Crito (MS Word version)

Download Plato, Crito (PDF version)

 

Discussion meetings

Discussion meetings will be held Wednesday and Friday this week, and the other weeks during the course when classes are in session (except the last week of class).

You will sign up for a day on which to lead a discussion in a small group, in your discussion meeting this week.

 

Checklist of what to do this week/before next week

 

Image at top of page: Bust of Plato Links to an external site., public domain on Wikimedia Commons.