Due Oct 8
Write a paper on one of the following prompts:
- Poetry in Plato and Aristotle:
Plato in the Republic and Aristotle in his Poetics discuss story-telling, poetry, and its influence on the public. Thoroughly explain Plato’s inhibitions about poetry and his challenge to defend poetry, from the Republic. Then show how Aristotle’s Poetics provides an account of poetry that offers a response to Plato. Finally, comment on whether you find Aristotle’s defense of poetry adequate. Examples from contemporary film are welcome, though not required.
- Pleasure in Plato and Aristotle:
Plato in the Laws and Aristotle in the Politics discuss the role of pleasure and amusement in the life of the individual and of society. Explain Plato’s misgivings about pleasure in the Laws. Then show how Aristotle’s Politics provides an account of pleasure, amusement, and leisure that offers response to Plato. Finally, comment on whether you find Aristotle’s defense of pleasure, amusement, and leisure compelling. Examples from contemporary film and video games are welcome, though not required.
Formatting Requirements:
- 5 pages (4.5 is too short)
- 1-inch margins
- Times New Roman
- 12-pt font
- Double-spaced
- Page numbers on bottom right
- Heading on top of first page only, single spaced (as shown above)
- Title
