HUMA1010 – The World’s Great Thinkers, I

Order Description

INSTRUCTIONS

You must answer a total of TWO questions. You must answer ONE question from Part I, and ONE question from Part II, and submit your answers in one document.

PART I – THE ANCIENT GREEKS (Lecturer: Dr Joe Mintoff)

Answer ONE question from this section (750 words, 20% of final mark)

(I-1) Thrasymachus claims in Republic that justice is the interest of the stronger. What is Socrates’ response to this claim, and how plausible do you think that response is? Consider in relation to the lecture readings for week 1.

(I-2) Describe in your own terms Plato’s vision of the ideal state in Republic, and why the philosopher-kings have absolute power. Why does Plato think that this state is ideal, and is he right? Consider in relation to the lecture readings for week 2.

(I-3) Explain in your own terms what the ultimate point of education is, according to Aristotle. He claims that music (and the liberal arts more generally) are an important part of education. Why does he believe this, and how plausible do you think his claims are? Consider in relation to the lecture readings for week 3.

PART II – RELIGIOUS THINKERS AFTER THE GREEKS (Dr Sean Durbin, Dr Tim Stanley)

Answer ONE question from this section (750 words, 20% of final mark)

(II-1) Drawing on the lecture and readings from week four, briefly outline Augustine’s discussion of the “two cities” in the City of God and describe the ways in which his social and political circumstances shaped his theoretical argument.

(II-2) How does Avicenna argue that the soul causes the body? Avicenna’s writings on Psychology respond to a number of debates about the nature and existence of the soul as they had developed from Platonic and Aristotelian sources to Islamic kalaam and falsafa. The week 5 lecture and readings will introduce students to these issues and provide further reading to pursue.

(II-3) In The Guide for the Perplexed, why doesn’t Maimonides think that the Jewish scriptures should be interpreted literally when they speak of God? Maimonides’ develops a philosophical approach to anthropomorphic reference to the divine and develops what is often referred to as a via negativa, or negative approach to such concepts. The week 6 lecture and readings will introduce students to these issues and provide further reading to pursue.