Problem
• In some of the chapters, there is a section about the nature of reason and how arguments work. What does he say about reason and how it is supposed to function? (In the Introduction the author speaks of philosophy as careful reasoning. What does that mean? What are the different aspects of careful reasoning? Later, in chapter three he notes that arguments have two key components. What are they? Can one have a sound argument separated from the truth?
o Are some of the guidelines that the author of the texts gives important for public discourse? Give examples. Soccio notes that Socrates uses dialectics. What are they and how do they help arguments? According to Plato, are most people capable of making sound arguments? What does the text say? Explain. Soccio argues that Socrates argues for a functional view of morality and not an instrumental one. What are those two views? Why does Socrates argue for functional view of morality? Why is that consistent with what he believes?
• What is philosophy and what is the purpose of philosophy? Why is philosophy important to human life? What do we learn from the pre-socratics about the nature of philosophy? What are some of the answers they give to the question of the nature of reality? What do Heraclitus, Parmenides and Democritus say as to what is real and orders reality?
o What is Plato's view of reality? What is ultimately real? What does he mean by the term Form? What does it mean when he says that most people get caught up in appearances? Is there a difference between what appears to us and what is real? (What would Plato say? Why?) What does that tell us about what we sense and real knowledge?
• According to Soccio, what is the purpose of education for the sophists? What do they believe about truth and human life? Is such relativism, true? What is Socrates' response to the sophists? Why does he reject their relativism? What does Socrates believe is a good human life? Why is this linked to a life of virtue? What is the place of the soul in human life? What are virtues and why are hey important in human life?
o According to Plato, why are most people not wise? Should they rule? Why is democracy a problem? Does democracy lack self- control and wisdom? Do not the passion control the people - they resist all restraints? Who should rule and why? Is this at all possible?