PHI 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Discussion Papers

Paper One

The Buddha (Kessler p. 37ff.), Walpola Rahula (Kessler p. 39ff.)

What is Wisdom, according to Buddhist teaching?

Paper Two

Confucius The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean (online), Lau (Kessler p. 45ff.)

What qualities would Confucius look for in a political leader, and why are those qualities so important?

Confucius online:

• The Great Learning
• The Doctrine of the Mean
• Also of interest: The Analects

Paper Three

Plato, Gorgias (pp. 27-31)

Socrates engages his companions in dialogue so as to get at the truth about whatever matter they are discussing. He usually claims not to know the truth of the matter himself, and therefore uses rational arguments simply to determine whether his companion's views are true or not.

Socrates typically uses a pattern of argument called the elenchus to discover, and then show, that his companion's view cannot be true. In the Gorgias, he uses it to show Gorgias that his belief that oratory is the greatest art and the bhest way of life cannot be true. He also uses it against Polus, to show that having great political power (which is the aim of the orator) cannot truly be the highest good.

A logical argument consists of one or more premises, which give reason to accept a conclusion. The elenchus is an argument in which Socrates

1. elicits a precise statement of a view from his companion,
2. supplies additional statements so as to arrive at a conclusion, which the person accepts,
3. repeats the process to arrive at another conclusion, which the person also accepts, and
4. shows that the two conclusions are not compatible.

Since the person has agreed that both conclusions legitimately follow from the original statement, the upshot of this process is that the original statement must not have been true.

For Discussion Question 3, outline the elenchus Socrates constructs (with Polus's inadvertent help!) on the question of whether having great power is good. The elenchus appears on pp. 27-31 of your copy of Gorgias. State Polus's view on the matter, state the additional premises that Socrates supplies and the two conclusions he draws from this view, and then state the contradiction.

To do this assignment, you will need to read the text carefully and understand not just the words, but what is being said, so that you can state the argument in your own words as briefly as possible. Good luck, and welcome to the most distinctive technique of Western philosophical thought.

Paper Four

Plato, Gorgias (esp. pp. 54-86, 88, 107-113)

What, according to Callicles, is the best life for human beings? What is it according to Socrates?