Political Philosophy and Brief Critical Evaluation Essay Example for Free

Political school of thought and Brief Critical Evaluation EssaySample essay questions? 1. Describe Platos scheme for communism in the Republic. (Discuss each of the main features of this life-style. ) Which classes, according to Plato, should practice this way of living? What justification does Plato offer for advocating communism? raise a instruct critical evaluation of Platos communism. PHL 107 study guide for exam 2 page 4 2. (1) Briefly describe Platos allegory of the cave.(2) Then state how the allegory expresses Platos target on (a) the place of the Philosopher-Kings in Platos utopia, (b) Platos distinction between opinion and genuine knowledge (wisdom), and (c) Platos vista on the motives of the Philosopher-Kings for ruling. 3. (1) What is Platos dualistic metaphysics? (2) How is this metaphysics expressed in the allegory of the cave? (3) How is it related to his position on the genius of the human person? 4. (1) What is Platos assessment of democracy, and (2) how is this united to his system of justice?(3) How might a contemporary defender of democracy respond to Plato? 5. What is the mimetic possibility of art? Did Plato invent this theory? Did he accept it? How is this theory related to Platos criticisms of the arts? 6. (1) What both reasons does Plato give for proposing to banish the arts from his Republic? (2) How is his position on the arts related (a) to his Theory of Ideas and (b) his position on the highest goal of human living? (3) Offer a brief critical evaluation of Platos position on the arts.7. (1) What does Rawls mean by the master position . . . under the veil of ignorance and how does this serve as the tail end for his theory of justice? (2) What ar his two principles of justice? Explain the two principles.? (3) Offer a brief critical evaluation of his theory of justice. 8. (1) Starting with Rawls original position . . . under the veil of ignorance, do you compute you would arrive at a principle or principles of justi ce similar to those of Rawls, or if different ones, which? substantiate your position. (2) As part of your answer give a clear statement of what Rawls means by the original position . . . under the veil of ignorance. 9. (1) What is Aquinass causal account for the existence of God (the second of his five jousts)? Sketch the argument. (2) Critically evaluate the argument. What appears to be the weakest part of the argument? Do you think the argument can be defended in the face of this proposed weakness? Explain. 10. (1) What is the design argument for the existence of God?You may present either Aquinass (his 5th) or William Paleys or the fine-tuning version of the argument (but only one). (2) Why does Darwins theory of growth appear to undermine Aquinas and Paleys version of the design argument? Why does Darwins theory not affect the fine-tuning argument? (3) Do you think that there is some way of salvaging the design argument in the face of Darwins theory? Defend your position. 11. Describe Hobbes state of nature. What kind of a concept is this historical, empirical, anthropological, analytic? Explain.Offer your own critical evaluation of Hobbes notion of the state of nature? Do you think it is a useful concept? Is it true? Defend your position. 12. Hobbes argues that each person has the resources within themselves to overcome the state of nature.? (1) What are these resources and how do they help the person to overcome the state of nature? (2) But why, for Hobbes, are these internal resources depleted? Why is a very strong sovereign also needed to overcome the state of nature? (3) What role does contract or covenant play in overcoming the state of nature?