Suggested Paper Topics for Senior Seminar

If you wish to develop your own topic, or wish to develop a variant of the topics below, you may do so, but you must develop your topic fully and in detail, and submit it to me for review, no later than the class of Tuesday, February 16^th, for your first paper, and Tuesday, March 16^th, for your second paper. (If you are only doing one long paper, the deadline is Tuesday, February 16^th). In your submitted topic, make sure you include the following: 1) thesis statement, 2) outline, and 3) bibliography in progress. Papers submitted that are not on approved topics will not receive credit.

1. Ontology, the question of the basic “stuff” of the universe, was an absorbing one to the Greeks. Compare and contrast the views of Plato and Aristotle on this issue.

2. Compare and contrast the positions of Plato and Aristotle on how we come to know about the basic material of the universe. That is, compare and contrast their epistemologies with respect to the fundamental substance(s) that exist.

3. Some commentators (present company excepted) have remarked that Aristotelianism is simply warmed-over Platonism. Taking as an example the question of the virtues (their origin and nature, whether they can be taught, whether they are the midpoints of extremes, etc.), show whether that claim is justified.

5. How does Plato explain cognitive error? How does it arise? How, if at all can it be avoided?, etc. From a critical standpoint, do you find his position convincing? Why or why not?

6. In Book III of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle distinguishes among three categories of action: voluntary, involuntary (unwilling), and nonvoluntary. Carefully explain the subtle distinction among these, and explain the role of each in Aristotle’s moral theory. Include at least three secondary source commentators on this issue, as there is some controversy about Aristotle’s meaning and intent.

7. In The Republic, Plato describes the life of the Philosopher King as one that requires material simplicity. They have no luxuries nor private property. Aristole, on the other hand, believes that a certain material comfort (though not, of course, extravagance), is necessary for the proper upbringing of a child and also for a fully functional life as an adult. Compare and contrast their views about the role of material goods. Then, argue for what you take to be the appropriate role of material goods (and the pursuit of material goods) in the happy (good) life. You are welcome to draw from authors other than Plato and Aristotle in advancing your own position, but please remember to credit such sources, and avoid reinventing the wheel. Remember to consider at least a few strong objections and replies to the position you advance.

8. Compare and contrast the dialectic of Plato with the contemporary view of the scientific method, both as methods of inquiry as well as with respect to their limitations and context of use. It may be worth mentioning in your paper that there are several notions of dialectic. Your account of the scientific method should take into account the criticisms of Hempel (see, for example his Philosophy of Natural Science).

9. At first glance, Plato’s sexual egalitarianism appears to make him accord more fully with contemporary feminist themes than Aristotle, who held various views that assigned women to an inferior status. Is this first glance justified, on a deeper account of both authors? Compare and contrast Plato and Aristotle with respect to their views of women in light of contemporary feminist ideals.

10. Compare and contrast the views of Plato and Aristotle on the notion of the soul.

11. The so-called “Third Man” argument, found in both the Republic and Parmenides (but dubbed “Third Man” because of Aristotle’s criticism), has a long and scholarly history. First, summarize the argument as it is attributed to Aristotle, then trace its further development in more contemporary authors (see, for example Cornford’s work, Plato and Parmenides). In the end, decide for yourself (and present your analysis to that effect) whether it is or is not an effective challenge to Plato’s doctrine of the Forms, and in what way, specifically, it is or is not.

12. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, in the 20^th Century, was revived and developed under the name of “Virtue Ethics” (see, for example, Anscombe). Compare and contrast Aristotle’s classical notion of ethics, as set forth primarily in Nicomachean Ethics, with at least two prominent, contemporary virtue ethicists. (You might point, for example, to such specific points of comparison as notions of vice and virtue, and/or happiness, and/or character.) Then, address whether any version of virtue ethics provides a better alternative to ethical decision making than such typical competitors as Utilitarianism and Kantianism, and in what respects it does or does not.

13. The position that Thrasymachus articulates in Book I of the Republic, that “might makes right”, has been the subject of scholarly debate since Plato wrote it (and probably before). First, do a critical examination of the argumentative exchange between Socrates and Thrasymachus; does Socrates succeed in fairly refuting or even addressing Thrasymachus? Explain why or why not. Next, apart from the responses made by Socrates and Thrasymachus, how have some other leading scholars weighed in on this debate? What do you take to be the best arguments for either side? Formulate your own best, considered view at the end of your paper, taking into account the foregoing scholarly positions on the debate.

14. Provide a full explication of Aristotle’s notion of friendship. What does he seem to mean by it? What forms does it take? What is its relation to virtue? What are some of the seeming implications of this view for friendship among various parts of society? (Can women and men be friends, for example? Can one have a friend in one’s pet dog or cat?) What are some leading scholarly critiques of Aristotle’s notions of friendship? In the end, in what ways do you agree, and in what ways do you disagree with Aristotle’s conception of friendship?

15. Plato makes several strong arguments against a democratic form of government. Explain his position on this form of government and his argumentative defense of it. Then, examine some others. (An aside: Winston Churchill is said to have quipped that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others..” and also, that, “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”) In other words, examine some scholarly philosophical sources for a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic form of government. Be sure to specify, in any relevant cases, what is meant by “democratic”. Who, in your view, has the best argument in this matter? Explain why, specifically.