Introduction to Philosophy                                                                                                                         Mr. Pendergast

Socrates & Plato Reunited

QUESTION: Plato has faithfully recorded Socrates’ ideas for posterity, but has he remained true to the fundamental teachings of his master?

 

  1. Divide into teams representing Socrates and Plato

  2. 10 Minutes Team Prep: 

 

    1. Decide what you want to say to your long lost pupil/teacher

    2. Decide which main points of your philosophy that you want to debate

 

                                                              i.      Socrates Team – Where did your pupil begin to drift from your original teachings?  What do you think of the new ideas he began to teach?

 

                                                            ii.      Plato Team -  With all due respect to your former mentor, be prepared to clearly and logically explain your new ideas.  Why, for example, do you believe that, in spite of Socrates’ dismissal of the Pre-Socratics, you now believe that no one should enter the “Academy” who is “ignorant of Mathematics?”
 

    1. Anticipate your pupil/teacher’s responses to your questions and be ready ask other challenging questions.

    2. If you’re Socrates, decide what you think of the direction in which Plato has taken the Academy (after he founded it of course in your name).

    3. If you are Plato, be ready to defend your new ideas and explain why they are still consistent with what your master had always taught.

  1. Format:

    1. Socrates’ Opening Speech – 1 Minute

    2. Plato’s Opening Speech – 1 Minute

    3. Dialogue – back and forth for 30 second each:

                                                              i.      All questions are rhetorical – you may ask, but they don’t have to answer

                                                            ii.      If you interrupt when the other side has the floor, your side loses their next 30 seconds.

                                                          iii.      NO PHANTOMS – All members of both teams MUST participate at least once (if it is only once, it better be good!).

  1. Closing:  Same order as opening – Socrates first, then Plato.  Socrates gets the first word and Plato gets the last (seems appropriate, doesn’t it?).

  2. Debrief Paper – DUE WEDNESDAY, October 1:  “Who do you think was the wiser philosopher, Socrates or Plato”

 

    1. One to one and a half (1 - 1½) TYPED pages, double spaced, one inch margins, 12 point font, PASSED in on paper at beginning of class.
    2. Clear Thesis in first paragraph
    3. At least 4 supporting points, each explained in a separate paragraph.
    4. You need argue for the philosopher you played in the debate.