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ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS |
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WRITING
AIDS |
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For assistance in writing essays, see Writing an Effective Essay and Avoiding Plagiarism.
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| ESSAY I |
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PLATO'S
"ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE" After
reading excerpts from Plato's Allegory of the Cave,
imagine that you are walking through the woods on a crisp Autumn day and discover a cave
that you did not know existed. When you enter the cave, you observe that it is the same
cave that Plato talked about in his Republic. Describe in your own words what you
see and explain the difference between the shadows and the ideal forms. Does the existence
of these ideal forms provide the basis for absolute values? According to Plato, how do men
and women acquire knowledge of absolute truth, justice, virtue, etc.? Was Plato right
about the existence of this so-called "World of Ideas?"
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| ESSAY
II |
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AUGUSTINE'S
CITY OF GOD
After
reading excerpts from Augustine’s City
of God, write the dialogue for a talk show on which Plato and
Augustine are guests. Compare
their ideas about the "World of Ideas" and the "City of God."
Indicate where each of these places is located, describe the
characteristics of each, and explain the difference between earthly peace
and heavenly peace. Would Augustine feel at home in Plato's
"World of Ideas?" Would Plato be comfortable in Augustine's
"City of God?" Explain.
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| ESSAY
III |
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ABELARD'S
"THE STORY OF MY MISFORTUNES"
After reading excerpts from Peter Abelard’s “The
Story of My Misfortunes," write an essay describing the
limitations which were placed on people, living during the Middle Ages,
who aspired to use reason, to seek knowledge, and to become well-educated.
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| ESSAY
IV |
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della
Mirandola's "Oration on the Dignity of Man" and Machiavelli's The
Prince
After reading excerpts from Pico della Mirandola's
"Oration on
the Dignity of Man" and Niccolo Machiavelli's The
Prince, write an essay describing Renaissance humanism and
contrasting the two men's views of human nature. If both men are
classified by historians as humanists, what conclusions can you draw about
the nature of humanism during the Renaissance period?
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