Purpose: The primary purpose of this exercise is to expose you to two of the seminal and most original thinkers in the history of Western Civilization, namely Socrates and his pupil, Plato. This assignment will enable you to confront their philosophy and explore its ramifications for some of the major themes of this course, as well as for your own lives. Specifically, these four dialogues ask you to consider the role of the philosopher in society, the rights of the individual, the strengths and weaknesses of democracy as a form of government, the meaning of death, and abstract concepts like 'being' and 'reality'. The assignment will therefore give you practice in thinking and writing critically about subjects which have delighted and perplexed men and women since the beginning of civilization. In short, this exercise asks you to practice the roles of both historian and philosopher.

Length and Format: You should write as much as is necessary in order to treat the subject adequately. A length of 4-5 pages should be sufficient. Your review must be typed neatly and written in clear, coherent English prose. Anything less will, inevitably, detract from your final grade.

Content: Your opening paragraph should briefly introduce the work, its subject matter, purpose, scope and character. Biographical details concerning the author are only worth relating if, in your view, they explain something important about the work.

The remainder of your report should consider no more than two of the following questions:

     - What are the advantages and disadvantages to the dialogue form as a means to convey complex philosophical concepts and
       arguments? Give examples from the text.

     - What is the Socratic method? Is it purely negative and critical or can it be used to discover positive truths? Give examples from
       the text.

     - Why was Socrates put on trial? Was he guilty as charged? Did he deserve his fate?

     - Does Socrates remind you of any person or group within today's society? Is our society more or less tolerant of individuality,
       questioning and difference than that of classical Athens? Provide compelling examples.

     - Why did Socrates choose not to escape? What was his reasoning? Do you agree or disagree? Are the laws of the state always to
       be obeyed? If not, under what circumstances may they be violated?

     - Do you find Socrates' arguments for immortality in the Phaedo consistent with the rest of his philosophy. Are they convincing?
       Why or why not?

Your answers must be supported by quotations and citations of the text, referenced by page number.