Political Philosophy and Brief Critical Evaluation

Sample essay questions? 1. Describe Platos scheme for communism in the Republic. (Discuss each of the main features of this life-style. ) Which classes, according to Plato, should practice this way of living? What apology does Plato offer for advocating communism? Offer a brief critical military rating of Platos communism. PHL 107 study guide for exam 2 page 4 2. (1) Briefly place Platos allegory of the cave. 2) Then state how the allegory expresses Platos position on (a) the place of the Philosopher-Kings in Platos utopia, (b) Platos distinction between opinion and genuine knowledge (wisdom), and (c) Platos position on the motives of the Philosopher-Kings for ruling. 3. (1) What is Platos dualistic metaphysics? (2) How is this metaphysics expressed in the allegory of the cave? (3) How is it tie in to his position on the nature of the human individual? 4. (1) What is Platos assessment of democracy, and (2) how is this linked to his theory of jurist? 3) How might a contemporary d efender of democracy respond to Plato? 5. What is the mimetic theory of art? Did Plato invent this theory? Did he accept it? How is this theory related to Platos criticisms of the arts? 6. (1) What two reasons does Plato give for proposing to banish the arts from his Republic? (2) How is his position on the arts related (a) to his Theory of Ideas and (b) his position on the highest inclination of human living? (3) Offer a brief critical evaluation of Platos position on the arts. . (1) What does Rawls mean by the original position . . . under(a) the blur of ignorance and how does this serve as the basis for his theory of justice? (2) What are his two principles of justice? Explain the two principles.? (3) Offer a brief critical evaluation of his theory of justice. 8. (1) Starting with Rawls original position . . . under the veil of ignorance, do you think you would arrive at a principle or principles of justice kindred to those of Rawls, or if different ones, which?Defend your po sition. (2) As part of your answer give a clear statement of what Rawls means by the original position . . . under the veil of ignorance. 9. (1) What is Aquinass causal strain for the existence of God (the 2nd of his five telephone circuits)? Sketch the argument. (2) Critically evaluate the argument. What appears to be the weakest part of the argument? Do you think the argument can be defended in the character of this proposed weakness? Explain. 10. (1) What is the design argument for the existence of God?You may present every Aquinass (his 5th) or William Paleys or the fine-tuning version of the argument (but only one). (2) Why does Darwins theory of evolution appear to undermine Aquinas and Paleys version of the design argument? Why does Darwins theory not affect the fine-tuning argument? (3) Do you think that there is some way of salvaging the design argument in the face of Darwins theory? Defend your position. 11. Describe Hobbes state of nature. What kind of a concept is t his historical, empirical, anthropological, analytic? Explain.Offer your own critical evaluation of Hobbes notion of the state of nature? Do you think it is a useful concept? Is it true? Defend your position. 12. Hobbes argues that each person has the resources within themselves to crucify the state of nature.? (1) What are these resources and how do they help the person to overcome the state of nature? (2) But why, for Hobbes, are these internal resources insufficient? Why is a very strong sovereign also needed to overcome the state of nature? (3) What role does contract or covenant play in overcoming the state of nature?