PHIL 3 Essay 1: Warnings from Plato’s Republic Due via Canvas on Tuesday 5/14 by 11:59pm Pick ONE of the following essay prompts: 1. Is Democracy Fundamentally Flawed? Analyze Plato’s criticisms of democracy in Book VIII of The Republic. In your analysis, explain democracy’s version of the “Good” and the consequences of this for the city. Interpret whether these criticisms also apply to American democracy? What specifically can American democracy do to protect itself from the problems Plato raises? 2. Does Capitalism Make Cities Sick? Analyze the following passage from Book VIII, line 550e “[Is] virtue in tension with wealth, as though each were lying in the scale of a balance, always inclining in opposite directions?” In your analysis, explain Plato/Socrates’ definition of justice from Book IV. Based on this definition of justice, does capitalism prevent a healthy, just, and harmonized city?  If you agree, use concrete examples to illustrate your point. Raise a strong objection to your view and respond.  If you disagree, then explain your reasoning using concrete examples and critique Plato’s definition of justice if necessary. 3. “Living My Best Life” Book X of The Republic ends with the Myth of Er, an argument for an immortal soul, citing reward in the afterlife as the justification for living a just life. On the surface, this appears to contradict what Socrates/Plato said in Book II about justice being intrinsically good. Analyze this argument from Book II and compare it with the Myth of Er. In your analysis, be sure to explain the goals for the Myth of Er—what are we supposed to learn from it? Next, interpret whether Socrates/Plato’s argument for the just life is convincing. Is there reason to live justly even if there is no fear of punishment (ex. Ring of Gyges)? Links for inspiration: http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-19-4-c-plato-and-the-republic http://bigthink.com/scotty-hendricks/why-socrates-hated-democracy-and-what-we-can-do-about-it Guidelines:  3 pages minimum (4 pages max)  MLA format: 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins  Base your interpretation on class reading—outside sources are acceptable for examples  Use MLA format—Works cited page + in-text citations (Author ##). o http://library.csun.edu/egarcia/documents/mlacitation_quickguide.pdf o http://www.easybib.com/ o Use line numbers for Plato—For example, (Plato 347a). o I discourage citing the PowerPoint slides o Avoid using long quotes to fill space o Be sure to explain all key terms PHIL 3 FILE FORMAT: Canvas only accepts the following file formats: doc, docx, pdf, txt, and rtf (Google docs and Pages files won’t work). Also, Canvas will not process file names that include special characters or dashes. If Canvas doesn’t accept your file, then I can’t grade it. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Submitting this assignment to Canvas will check for plagiarism and originality through Turnitin.com. Don’t plagiarize or buy essays online—it’s not worth it. I report all instances of plagiarism to the Honor Council. If you’re struggling to complete the assignment, then please please please come to office hours so we talk it over. We might clarify confusing things from class, make an outline to get you started, and I’m also open to reasonable deadline extensions.