Today’s Plan:
- Opening Activity
- The Other Opening Activity
- Discuss Plato
- Homework: McComiskey
Opening Activity (10 minutes)
Let’s watch S. Peter Davis’ Three Minute Philosophy video on Plato.
After the video, I’d like you to briefly write on a connection/contradiction you identify between the video and our reading.
I might want to watch this too.
The Other Opening Activity
8 groups of 3. Below I cite a single line and a place in the text. Work together, give us a short synopsis of what is going on in that moment (look at what comes before and after in the dialogue) and how it helps us answer our Reading Space questions. Also, what is Plato’s angle at that point in the text? What’s the subtext?
Passages to examine:
- 456 d, Gorgias: “One should, however, use oratory like any other competitive skill, Socrates” (hint, look at 457c)
- 459c, Socrates: “Oratory doesn’t need to have any knowledge of the state of their subject matters” (hint: look at 459e)
- 463a, Socrates: “But what I call oratory is a part of some business that isn’t admirable at all” (hint, look at 464d, too)
- 481d-e, Socrates: “I notice in each case you’re unable to contradict your beloved, clever though you are, no matter what he says or what he claims is so” (Put 482c in conversation with Socrates’ argument to Polus at 474a)
- 482e-483, Callicles: “Although you claim to be pursuing truth, you’re in fact bringing the discussion around to the sort of crowd-pleasing vulgarities that are admirable only by law and not by nature” (this is a tricky argument, Callicles’ critique of Socrates’ style; perhaps compare to 484d?)
- 483d, Callicles: “But I believe that nature itself reveals that it’s a just thing for the better and more capable man to have a greater share the the worse and less capable man” (see also 492a-b)
- 491b, Callicles: “…by the ones who are the superior I don’t mean cobblers or cooks, but those who are intelligent about the affairs of the city, about the way its to be well managed”
- 504d, Socrates: “And the name for the states of organization and order of the soul is “lawful” and “law,” which lead people to become law-abiding and orderly, and these are justice and self-control” [often translated as “regulation”]
Other passages: 452e, Gorgias’ definition of oratory. Socrates’ and Polus, 480c, 481b.
On Plato’s elitism: 511d-512b. 513b!
Discuss Plato
Homework
Read Cavarero 11-30 and McComiskey 17-31. I will set up a Reading Space for each reading (please do one entry/response for each). Note: I think the Cavarero is accessible, though perhaps more sophisticated than it initially seems. She is also doing something strategic with her style.
Thursday we will be meeting in the Ross 1240 Computer Lab.
