Assignment:
1. Write a dialogue between yourself and an imaginary Socrates. You will debate the question of free will versus determinism. Remember that the Socratic Method involves asking a series of questions to clarify key words and ideas. In your dialogue, the imaginary Socrates must be asking clarifying questions, and you will be answering them. Please refer to the excerpt from Plato’s Meno as an example (below) to model your dialogue. This post should be 3–4 paragraphs or more.
Your post should be a dialogue, which addresses the following questions, using the Socratic Method:
1. What is the definition of determinism?
2. What is the definition of free will?
3. Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause?
4. How do you define event?
5. How do you define explanatory cause?
6. Do you agree that every human choice or event has an explanatory cause?
7. How do you define human choice? How do you define human event? Are they different?
8. Do you agree that to have an explanatory cause is to not be free?
9. How do you define free?
10. Do you think that free will and determinism can coexist in any way?
11.Is it possible to have external determinism and internal free will?
To have cohesion and reach solid conclusions, your imaginary Socrates will probably ask you more questions than the ones listed above. Be sure to include all of the above ideas in your dialogue.
Review Checklist before submitting post:
Your dialogue should also include all of the following:
Use the Socratic Method to form all conclusions (this will be achieved by the question and answer dialogue between you and the imaginary Socrates).
Clear and concise language, using proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Correct definitions of free will and determinism
Logical explanations and valid reasoning for each conclusion
Clear answers to each question with a definite stance or position
You must reach a conclusive answer to each question
Example:
Click here to read and excerpt from Plato's Meno (Soccio, 1995). (Michael.smith, I will include an attachment of this excerpt in case the link doesn’t work)
Reference
Soccio, D. J. (1995). Archetypes of wisdom. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Excerpt from Plato’s Meno (Soccio, 1995)
Socrates: …Do not all men…desire the good?
Meno: I think not.
Socrates: There are some who desire evil?
Meno: Yes.
Socrates: Do you mean that they think the evils which they desire, to be
good; or do they know that they are evil and yet desire them?
Meno: Both, I think.
Socrates: And do you really imagine, Meno, that a man knows evils to be
evils and desires them notwithstanding?
Meno: Certainly I do.
Socrates: And desire is [for] possession?
Meno: Yes, [for] possession…
Socrates: Well, and do those who, as they say, desire evils, and think that
evils are hurtful to the possessor of them, know that they will be hurt by
them?
Meno: They must know it.
Socrates: And must they not suppose that those who are hurt are miserable
in proportion to the hurt which is inflicted upon them?
Meno: How can it be otherwise?
Socrates: But are not the miserable ill-fated?
Meno: Yes, indeed.
Socrates: And does anyone desire to be miserable and ill-fated?
Meno: I should say not, Socrates.
Socrates: But if there is no one who desires to be miserable, there is no one,
Meno, who desires evil; for what is misery but the desire and possession of
evil?
Meno: That appears to be the truth, Socrates, and I admit that nobody
desires evil.
Reference:
Soccio, D. J. (1995). Archetypes of wisdom. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.